Phoebe, Lucas, and Prince Edward arrived at the place where they lost the amulet. It was the place they first met and had a mighty collision with one another. “I still remember this was the place we first met,” Phoebe started as she looked at the trees.
“Yeah,” Lucas answered with a smile.
Prince Edward looked at her and asked, “Are you sure you want to do this? You can go back now before it is too late.”
“When I came over to meet you both, it was because I have made my decision and I am not going to change it.”
Lucas pulled her close and hugged her. “Thanks so much for doing this.”
“It is my pleasure.”
They brought out their amulets and a light shone out of them, illuminating the whole forest. Lucas looked at Edward then at Phoebe and when the two of them nodded, they held hands and just then, a portal appeared. Phoebe couldn’t believe it was real. She couldn’t stop the smile that crossed her lips. “Are you ready?” Edward asked.
“As ready as I will ever be,” Phoebe answered.
They all walked closer to the portal and as they were about to leave, they heard a voice behind them.
“Wait!” Chad came running towards them.
The portal was still open waiting for them but they have to be in before it was too late.
Phoebe ran to meet him, “what are you doing here? Where is Gwen?”
“Mom is back.”
“What? But I thought…”
“Yeah, we all thought so too but, she is back and she wants to see you. I think she might have found that the amulets are gone.”
Lucas and Edward could hear their conversations and they were worried.
Phoebe was confused. She had no idea what to do.
“The portal is closing. We need to get in.” Lucas said.
Phoebe moved closer to Chad and hugged him. “I have to go, Chad. They need me.”
“What about mom?” She bit her lips as she thought of her sad her mother would be. “She has always protected you and you are going back to what she was protecting you for, do you know how that will make her feel?”
“Phoebe, we have to go.”
She turned around and saw that the portal was getting smaller. She ran to meet Lucas and Edward as she waved bye to Chad.
~~~
Claudia was still searching for the amulets and was waiting for Gwen and the rest but there was no sign of any of them.
She went outside the house waiting for them. She saw Gwen coming out from Edward’s apartment and she noticed her sad countenance too.
Gwen was shocked to see Claudia at the door. “Mom,” she called.
“Why are you shocked?”
“Um, it is nothing. I was just not expecting to see you outside that is all.”
Claudia ignored her reasons and asked her about Chad and Phoebe. “And why are you coming from Edward’s apartment? I thought you said she went to get things at the store.”
Gwen knew she had been cornered. There is no amount of lie she would lie that would cover up the truth. “Y…yes mom, she…”
“Tell me the truth, Gwen. The amulets missing, Phoebe is not in the house and I am sure Edward and Lucas aren’t either. All of these aren’t just coincidences, are they?”
She bit her lips. She didn’t know if she would be betraying Phoebe by telling her mom the truth. “Mom, the thing is…”
Claudia could notice a light shining a few meters away from her. The light was familiar to her; it was like she had seen it before.
She didn’t need to be told twice. She took to her heels and ran to the place where the light was coming from.
“Take care of mom and Gwen, okay?”
Chad nodded.
They turned their backs and were about to get in when a voice called Phoebe’s name.
She turned around and saw Claudia standing there looking shocked. “Phoebe, what are you doing?”
“Mom,”
“After everything I have done, this is how you repay me?”
“Mom, I am sorry.”
“Why are you going to save them? They killed your parents and everyone that is like you.”
“I know the story but this is the King’s fault, no one else has to pay for the crime of the king.”
“What makes you think that they won’t kill you like they killed your parents? What I they just want to use you? What…”
“Mom, I know what you went through and believe me I have thought about this several times and I keep arriving at just one thing…” she wiped the tear that rolled down her cheeks. “… to help them.”
“Phoebe,”
“I think my parents would want me to do the same thing too.” She thought about the time her parents appeared to her and showed her the whole thing.
“Miss Claudia, I know you hate my family and me so much, and honestly, we do not deserve this kindness but this isn’t just about me or my family. It is about thousands of innocent lives out there. Phoebe is the cure we need…” he bent down on his knees and pleaded. “… Please, let her come with us. I promise to protect her with all my life.”
Lucas and Phoebe also went down on their knees as they pleaded with Claudia.
“Please mom, let her go.” Gwen and Chad also pleaded.
Claudia looked at the portal and if she allowed them to waste any more time, the portal will close so she took a deep breath and nodded. “You better get going before the portal closes.”
Phoebe was happy. She was about to run to hug her but Claudia stopped her. “Thank you.”
Claudia nodded and bade them goodbye. Chad and Gwen also said their goodbyes.
Phoebe and the guys went into the portal and they disappeared.
Claudia tried so hard to hold back her tears but she couldn’t. The kids saw her crying and they ran to console her.
“Phoebe is a big girl now. She can take care of herself and she has the Prince and Lucas to look after her.”
“Gwen is right mom, don’t worry. Phoebe will be okay. Let’s go home.”