She didn't know what was in the portal but it wasn't good; slimy tendrils were wraping around her arm and waist pulling her in. They tightened on her tan skin, their goopy slime burning her soft flesh, turning it raw and blistering.

She kept screaming, out of fear and pain. This hadn't happened on the way over. It had been bright and soft, but she had barely felt it. She definitly felt this.

She struggled harder, pulling away from the wall with a gut-wrenching RIIIIPPPP! and collapsed in Acily's arms.

Everything hurt. The world spun.

Her vision faded in and out; it felt like the life was sucked out of her. Tamryn ignored the pain, a new thought shoving to the surface.

She couldn't go home.

Images of her mothers face, screwed up into an expression of worry, tears fighting thrugh the corners of her eyes. She pictured sleepless nights and phonecalls to the police, and her mother's loving gaze replaced with one of hurt and suffering.

Her mom had looked like that once, when her husband had married again. Left without a trace, except for the bruises dotting her arms and cheeks.

Tamryn had to get back. Maybe, if she pushed really hard, she could make it to the other side.

She shoved to her feet and turned towards the wall. Tamryn was afraid. 

But she could do this. She had to. She-

Someone grabbed her hand. Acily.

"What are you doing?!"

Tamryn opened her mouth to answer, then closed it. What was she doing?

She felt weak and sick, and though she wanted to run at the portal full force, her body wouldn't let her. Whatever was in there, it had taken its toll.

And she couldn't go home.

The awe of this new world vanished. She was trapped. She couldn't leave. She couldn't reach her mom.

She yanked her arm from Acily's grip and with the last of her stength, ran down the road and fell to a sitting position on the wall.

This was a nightmare. It couldn't be real. She'd wake up and see her mother's smiling face. Everything would be okay.

No matter how many times she said it, it didn't get any more true.