Fates Redeeming Ways

III

The Heat Of The Night



*

~In the heat of the night,

The giants are in formation

The townspeople rest and dream

While they commence their destruction~*

*Hitomi*



I was soaked to the brim when I finally got inside. I had no doubt that Yukari would be the same because when I ran away from her, I saw no motions of movement come from her. My mother was concerned when I came running through the living room, dripping fresh rain drops all the way. I announced that I was going to have a hot bath and I was not to be disturbed.

I was so relaxed and warmed to the bone after inching into the steaming water. It was incredible what a warm bath could do for the body and soul.

I must've fallen asleep in the heat of that wondrous bath because I awoke in a cold sweat. I had stirred up some of the water in my flourish so I immediately grabbed the nearest towel and cleaned up the mess I had made. Why did I dream about the city being burned again? Gods, I must be going insane or something.

I wished my mother happy birthday again before retreating to me room. I still couldn't break the cold sweat that remained on my brow. Even when I hugged my mother, she noticed. She asked if I was feeling well and I lied, simply saying I was tired.

It didn't come to a surprise to me that I wasn't able to sleep. Not a surprise at all. I began pacing around my room in fury, wondering that if I were to fall asleep, if that dream would haunt me again. Wait, that old lady said it wasn't a dream. What did she call it . . . oh yes. A vision. Right, like that would ever happen.

It wasn't a second after I thought that before the back of my mind flashed with a newfound pain and I fell to my knees. It was as though another viewpoint had been given to

me . . . almost like another set of eyes . . . When I closed my eyes, expecting to see darkness, I was faced with the outer walls that guarded the city. Again, I was floating above the entire scene just watching . . . waiting for something. Then I heard someone speaking . . . his voice cut through me like a thousand daggers . . .

"We will wait another hour. Strategos informed me that the rain will be halting any minute now and humidity will enter the area. This city is known for how dry it is, and today's rain was barely enough to quench its longing thirst. We'll attack in the heat of the night when everyone's asleep. Do you all understand?"

"Yes sir!" The thirteen men replied in unison. They sounded like trained dogs to me.

Time flashed forward and I saw their invisible outlines become more agitated. They were becoming restless. The one who had spoken earlier took the lead and flew over top of me and inside the city. As he flew over me, water from his invisible cape soaked me thoroughly. Now I couldn't tell if I was really there or not. Something wasn't right about all this.

The scent of ashes and smoke filled my senses as I turned to see the invisible giant that had flown over me setting houses on fire. I saw Yukari's roof disintegrate the instant fire touched it, then mine caught the flame from another giant as well. Then the screaming began and Yukari ran inside again.

"No!" I cried again but to no prevail yet again.

I didn't move a single inch when I reopened my eyes to face the wooden floor of my room. My breathing was shallow and I knew that I couldn't have fallen asleep for that. Damn that fortune teller. It had to be her fault.

The first thing I did was run to the nearest window that showed me the walls of the city. There they were- crumbled to the ground. I could feel the searing ash in the air, and it was biting away at my face as I stuck my head out the window fully to get a better view. I saw the giants throwing shot after shot of fire at random houses, caring less about how many people they were killing.

I ran throughout my house screaming for everyone to leave. They wouldn't listen to me. It was as though I wasn't even there. Like I was a spirit or a ghost or something.

I screamed at them, but then I saw the roof beginning to smoke so I had to run. I didn't have the strength to pull myself down the three flights of stairs that lead to the back exit, never mind carrying any of them out with me. It felt horrible to leave them there but maybe they'd get out of there in time. Just maybe.

I could hear people screaming from inside their houses, crying out for loved ones to be safe. From behind my house, I could see my parent's room beginning to light up with fire, and my mother screamed. It was the guilt that hurt me the most. I couldn't go back in there because I wouldn't be able to breathe and I would just end up dying. Yukari screamed.

I cursed at myself for not remembering that vision. It showed me more than once- Yukari went inside the burning house for me. She thought I was still in there.

"Yukari . . ."

I ran to the front of the house and saw her just inside the main room. She heard me calling for her and turned around to see me. Happiness flooded her eyes as she started to run toward me, but a piece of the house fell on top of her, pinning her underneath a beam of wood that was burning. It set off a chain reaction and soon, the entire house was falling to pieces.

"Hi-Hitomi!" I could hear Yukari shouting out for me to aid her, but there was no way I could even get inside now. All I could do was watch. Watch as my family and best friend died. They died because I couldn't save them- because I didn't save them. It was my fault.

I watched as the invisible giants attacked throughout the heat of the night, burning everything. I managed to get out using the secret underground pathway that lead to the forest behind the city. I was shocked to see that barely a handful of people were on the other side. Maybe thirty out of the thousands that lived here. Most of us were crying. I couldn't stop shaking. I couldn't get those horrible sounds or sights out of my mind. I had a feeling I never would be able to either.

~*~