“I don’t understand,” Aurora pleaded, “this should work!” She tried desperately, vainly to cast some type of spell from her palms, but only succeeded in looking more like a crazy person. “Why won’t it work?”

“Because we are in the real world,” I replied, “and you’re not a sorceress.” I’d known Aurora since we were children together, but she had never gone this far off her rocker. Always one to delve into ancient ruins and dig up lost books, I suspected that she had read far too many of the fantasy and fairytale stories, and possibly taken a blow to the head in the process; her current fever certainly exacerbated her delusions of late.

“It’s always worked before,” she tried to reason as she continued to attempt to cast something at me.

“Aurora,” I tried to calm her, “you’ve never been able to practice magic. You’re sick.”

Flying into a feeble rage, Aurora lashed out and continually tried ti curse me with flourishes of her hands and arms. It was not long before she tired herself out and fell back; I only narrowly caught her in my arms as she passed out and I gently laid her on the floor. Noises from the next room betrayed my two associates riffling through the library and tossing any books involving fantasy magic or fairies in order to set Aurora’s mind right.

Rejoining the others, I perused the vast collection of books on her shelves, tossing many volumes of fantasy literature from ages past. I despised every second of the work, feeling dirty as I deprived Aurora of her cultural education.

We all piqued like prairie dogs as a smash was heard in the other room and I sprinted in in a frenzy to find the bed empty and the window broken open. With panic setting in, I sprang from the already open window and bolted down the street.

Aurora was already sick, and dressed only in her undergarments, she would not last long in the cold night. I had to find her before it is too late to save her body or her mind.

A series of surprised screams and yells erupted from the direction I was already headed and I redoubled my pace. I might just be able to catch her.