Chapter 333

Ava's POV Mom's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, I glimpsed something almost feral in her expression. "No right?" she repeated with a cold laugh. "I'm your mother. I've protected you your entire life from things you can't even imagine." I turned toward the door, grabbing my jacket from the hook. "I'm going out. I need some air before I say something I'll regret." Mom said in a low voice, "Go ahead. Try it. See if you can walk out that door." There was something in her tone, like a challenge or certainty, that made me hesitate. But my pride pushed me forward. I reached for the doorknob, determined to prove her wrong. With a subtle flick of her wrist, a soft blue light pulsed through the apartment. I felt it wash over me like a cool wave, settling into my skin. When I tried to take another step toward the door, my body refused to move. My feet felt cemented to the floor, my muscles locked in place despite my brain screaming at them to work. "What the hell?" I gasped, struggling