Chapter 15
The Power Within
Remembering her mother's words about inner strength, Kelly focuses her will. She tries to use the planet's creation ability, not to build, but to resist the tree's pull and the guards' influence.
Kelly’s heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage. The alien guards’ voices, so chillingly matter-of-fact, replayed in her mind, each word a hammer blow against her resolve. “The Whispering Tree… forever… part of the forest.” The idea of becoming a tree, rooted and silent, a prisoner of this strange, beautiful, terrifying world, sent a fresh wave of panic through her. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to banish the image of herself, her small hands turning to bark, her bright dress to leaves.
But then, a different image flickered to life. Her mother’s face, framed by sunlight, her voice a gentle melody. “You are stronger than you think, my little star. Your courage shines from within.” Her mother had always said that. Even when Kelly had been scared of the dark, or of falling off her bike, her mother’s words had been a warm blanket, a steady hand. “Your will, Kelly, that’s your magic.”
Her will. Kelly opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the vibrant, alien landscape. The air hummed with an unseen energy, the very ground beneath her feet seemed alive, pulsing with the planet’s unique magic. This was the place where things were made. Where the inhabitants could shape their world with their thoughts, their desires. She had seen it with her own eyes, the way a village had sprung up from a patch of earth, the way a strange, fluffy creature had blinked into existence.
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