The very same moment the portal to their refuge opened, Mari felt his little hand leave hers. His cry ripped through her bones as they tore him from her. Already out of breath from the sprint back to the ship, the harsh winds made it impossible for Mari to open her mouth and call out to him. His name caught in her throat.


    Turning away from the portal that had appeared just above the helm of the ship, she reached out for him- grabbing at the air to find nothing. The fog grew heavier with every second that passed. Mari dropped down onto the deck where the fog was thin enough to see, and… there! Running down the port side of the ship she could see the bare wild feet of a man jumping down to the dock and three others followed. She stood in a second to sprint after them, this time screaming out his name with every last bit of air in her lungs. The cry that was heard through all dimensions. And as soon as his name left her lips she was met with the force of a cedar board to the side of her head. Everything immediately clouded.


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    When Mari woke she could feel herself being dragged through the portal meant for her and her young son. Only, he was gone.


    -How could this happen again? How is it so easy for them?


    Taken from her the same way she was taken from her parents and them from theirs. Everyone thinks they’ll outsmart them. Everyone thinks they’ll never let it happen- not to them. But they are always wrong.


    -It shouldn’t be this easy. I want my boy back. I need him back.