Distant

Melisa sat on her bed. Next to her, Isabella looked like a drowned kitten, her usually perky fox ears drooping with the weight of the rain and her emotions.

[Fuck, she looks awful,] Melisa thought, her heart aching for her friend. [What the hell happened?]

"Izzy," Melisa said softly, reaching out to touch Isabella's arm. "What's going on?"

Isabella took a shuddering breath, her green eyes meeting Melisa's red ones. The pain Melisa saw there made her stomach clench.

"It's... it's Mom," Isabella began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I came home and... and..."

She trailed off. Melisa scooted closer, wrapping an arm around Isabella's shoulders.

"Hey, it's okay," Melisa soothed. "Take your time."

Isabella nodded, taking another deep breath.

"There were Shadow Mages," she continued, her voice stronger now. "At least ten of them. They'd broken in, and... and Mom..."

Melisa's eyes widened.

[Oh shit. Oh no.]