I know Im supposed to be writing my Rangers Apprentice story but I just cant will myself to do it and this short story came to mind so….

Enjoy!

Every sense in her body screamed that she shouldn't be here. Wasn't worthy of being here. She agreed with them all.

Max. Poor, innocent Max. The young boy who couldn't use a weapon to save his own life. Even if he could have it wouldn't have helped him against Jonothan. Only his sister could have saved him when he needed help and she wasn't there. She would have done anything to take his place to die and bring him back. But there was nothing she could do. Max was gone and it was her fault.

Suddenly standing at the foot of the Institute Isabelle saw the building as everyone else did for the first time. The looming shadows looked imposing not welcoming. The building looked cold, bleak and unforgiving it didn't want her here. The huge doors weren't there to keep her safe inside this time, instead they sent her a warning. Entering here would only bring back painful memories like intentionally hitting herself over and over again.

Yet she entered. It didn't feel like a slap across the face, in fact she barely felt anything at all. As she got deeper in the house she felt the pressure starting to build. Everything reminded her of Max, the corner he used hide in when he begged to play hide and seek, the toys he played with and his clothes tossed carelessly around the house.

She could feel that Jace and Alec felt the same way, they had barely spoken since they arrived through the portal except to thank Magnus for making it for them. Alec had stayed to say a few more words promising to catch up with him later but Magnus didn't pressure him. He knew it would be a tough next few days for them all. Their parents wouldn't be back for another few days because they still had mountains of paperwork to fill in.

Stuck in her own world Isabelle accidently walked into Alec who had stopped abruptly in the hallway. She was about to go off at him, anything to get rid off all the tension in her body, when she looked up.

Isabelle felt her knees buckle as she sank to the floor wishing it would swallow her up. There in front of her was the couch by the window where Max always sat with his comics or lay there asleep with his glasses askew. Seeing the couch she could almost imagine Max was sitting there like normal. Almost.

Before she knew it strong arms had picked her up and carried her to her bedroom. She thought that she should open her eyes but she couldn't. So she kept her eyes closed as the arms placed her in bed because to open her eyes meant that she had to face reality and right now she couldn't do that.

She felt the soft blanket being pulled up to her shoulders as her mind slowly shut itself down.

Hopefully I can post the next chapter soon but no promises Im fairly busy but I'll try my best