Shadows of Fire
*Chapter 10*
I open my eyes. And find myself in the desert.
It's nighttime. But the full moon makes it almost as bright as day.
It's silent. No birds, cars, bugs… Nothing.
"Hello?"
My voice seems to echo. Bounces off the rocks.
And comes back to me, different. Not my own.
I spot a light just a ways off and begin to walk to it.
I feel like I'm floating… Like my feet don't touch the ground.
I reach the light immediately.
It's a fire. A blue fire. Roaring with no sound. Burning with no heat.
She's behind the fire. Observing me.
She knows why I'm here. She is me. I am her.
But I don't know why. I'm in the dark.
"Why did you save me? Why am I alive?"
She moves from behind the fire and stands before me.
Straightens her stance. And continues to watch me.
"Why?" I quietly ask again.
She reaches out and lays her hands on the sides of my face,
Closes her eyes and I do as well.
Memories slam into me.
Moments with friends. Laughing, dancing, crying, studying, fighting.
Times with family. Holidays, travels, fights, hugs, dinners.
Mother… Dawn…
Events at school. Prom, lunches, classes, the library, graduation.
Flashes of enemies and lovers.
Angel… Spike…
Battles that blend together.
Patrols (hunts) Slays (kills)
Living and dying.
When I open my eyes again I'm crying. Crying without sound.
She watches me. Removes her hands and looks at the tears that have fallen on them.
Tears roll down. Down her hands and down my cheeks.
"You live in both worlds." She says with awe.
She steps back from me.
"I wanted that." She admits.
The tears have stopped. The fire's stopped. Frozen.
I watch as she sits down.
She seems like just a girl now. Not some primal deadly force.
"I made a mistake." She continues.
I sit down across from her.
"We must restore balance." I tell her.
She nods her head. "I understand."
"You're everything to him." She suddenly says.
"I know." I whisper.
We watch one another. We won't see each other again.
The night has ended and it's now day.
The sun shines down on us but gives no warmth.
The fire's gone. Leaving ashes.
"Is it enough?" I ask her.
She doesn't answer.
I didn't really want an answer.
"The chains are broken. You're released. Choose your path."
Her voice resounds in my head as we're covered in shadow.
~
*Chapter 10*
I open my eyes. And find myself in the desert.
It's nighttime. But the full moon makes it almost as bright as day.
It's silent. No birds, cars, bugs… Nothing.
"Hello?"
My voice seems to echo. Bounces off the rocks.
And comes back to me, different. Not my own.
I spot a light just a ways off and begin to walk to it.
I feel like I'm floating… Like my feet don't touch the ground.
I reach the light immediately.
It's a fire. A blue fire. Roaring with no sound. Burning with no heat.
She's behind the fire. Observing me.
She knows why I'm here. She is me. I am her.
But I don't know why. I'm in the dark.
"Why did you save me? Why am I alive?"
She moves from behind the fire and stands before me.
Straightens her stance. And continues to watch me.
"Why?" I quietly ask again.
She reaches out and lays her hands on the sides of my face,
Closes her eyes and I do as well.
Memories slam into me.
Moments with friends. Laughing, dancing, crying, studying, fighting.
Times with family. Holidays, travels, fights, hugs, dinners.
Mother… Dawn…
Events at school. Prom, lunches, classes, the library, graduation.
Flashes of enemies and lovers.
Angel… Spike…
Battles that blend together.
Patrols (hunts) Slays (kills)
Living and dying.
When I open my eyes again I'm crying. Crying without sound.
She watches me. Removes her hands and looks at the tears that have fallen on them.
Tears roll down. Down her hands and down my cheeks.
"You live in both worlds." She says with awe.
She steps back from me.
"I wanted that." She admits.
The tears have stopped. The fire's stopped. Frozen.
I watch as she sits down.
She seems like just a girl now. Not some primal deadly force.
"I made a mistake." She continues.
I sit down across from her.
"We must restore balance." I tell her.
She nods her head. "I understand."
"You're everything to him." She suddenly says.
"I know." I whisper.
We watch one another. We won't see each other again.
The night has ended and it's now day.
The sun shines down on us but gives no warmth.
The fire's gone. Leaving ashes.
"Is it enough?" I ask her.
She doesn't answer.
I didn't really want an answer.
"The chains are broken. You're released. Choose your path."
Her voice resounds in my head as we're covered in shadow.
~