Page 102 of Whispers of Fire

And all of the sudden I find myself back in my old bedroom. The one I had before we'd move into our new house next to my dark knight.

The smell of ashes and fire wake me up in the middle of the night. I run to my door but it's stuck. I can't open it. My jaw falls on the floor as I remember Father locked me in before sleep to punish me for trying to read a book from the outside world at the public library.

“You will learn one day, daughter, that I’m locking the door for your own good. Don’t ever try to get away; there’s only one key and I’m keeping it,” he said before shutting the door on me yesterday.

He locked me in.

My heart pumps in my chest, my eyes looking everywhere for a way out. The flames are getting stronger, dancing around my windows and moving dangerously close to me.

“Father! Mother! I'm here! Please!”

But no one comes. I’m stuck, the smoke filling my lungs as I kneel down, trying to find air.

I have no idea how the fire started, but in a house made entirely of wood, it isn't the most surprising thing. My hand finds my throat as I suffocate, the smoke entering my body.

It hurts so much.

“Father, please,” I try again but my voice is only a whisper now, the smoke suffocating my every word.

“Please, please,” I mouth, laying on the floor, the flames walking toward me, touching my nightgown.

I can't die here. No. There must be a way.

I glance the window and make the decision in the second.

Running toward the flames, I open it and jump out of the window. Landing two floors below on the lawn, my legs hurt and my dress is on fire while I hear voices of neighbors running toward me.

I’m in so much pain.

Everything fades to black as I try to shout.

My voice vanishes silently in the darkness around me.

-

My body floats like a cloud.

I'm light, so light. I hear an explosion, but it's far away, so far it sounds like a lullaby, melting into the background noise.

My heart slows down, beating at a soothing pace, drifting me away, telling me to let go. And because there's no more hopes of escapism, flower shops and swollen bellies, I let go, opening my arms wide.

I welcome death and think one last time of the dark knight who'll forever own my heart.

Chapter 18

Vox

I don't run. I fuckin’ sprint to my angel as the fuckin’ Amish dressed people around us stare at us in shock. Don't fuckin’ know if we're the one giving them wide eyes or if it’s the sight of my girl’s unmoving body.

No.

It can't be.

I rush to her while I notice Skarn running to a back door like a fuckin' coward.

“Get him!” I shout to Shadow, my voice unrecognizable, filled with urgency and pain.

Don't fuckin' know where Shadow shoots him but it fuckin’ pleases me to hear it, cause I'm already focused on pulling out my girl, her hair sticking to her face, her body unusually heavy and still.

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