The Bright Things That Hurt

Every shadow is cast by someone once standing in the light. Eighteen-year-old Elara Lark doesn't believe in destiny, magic, or anything she can't explain away. So when she falls into another world — monsters, shadows, and all — she's mostly just annoyed. She shouldn't have survived the fall. She shouldn't have survived at all. But something in her blood is older than the darkness closing in, and it knows her name. She also didn't fall alone. Unfortunately. A note on the AI tag: I use AI only as a light tool refine Elara's voice and word choices. The story, plot, characters, and every idea are entirely my own. Enjoy the story!