Chapter 5: A Fire

Sorry it took so long

The car stopped suddenly. I sat there leaning forward, blinking. No it couldn't be. I told myself, no not a fire, no. Slowly the car rolled onward, towards our house.

All over our lawn where people in their night gowns watching the great flaming monster burn our house. There faces were flushed from the searing heat and their eyes reflecting the bright flickering flames.

I got out of the car and ran forward pushing through standing as close as I dared too. I watched as this monstrous fiery fiend took away my home, the place I felt the most comfortable and safe. This place where so many memories where born, where I spent my childhood days. Soft tears spilled. It was taking away all of our beautiful things, all of our colorful joyous rooms. NO!

I didn't even realize I had sunk to the ground until I let my hands drop to my sides. My hands had hovered over my neck fingering my locket. When I felt soft, cool grass instead of air I was shocked, confused. I shook my head and turned back toward the fire.

Why was this happening? Was it my fault? Was I dammed? Cursed? Was I paying for the sins of the people born before me, my grandmother, grandfather? Didn't they suffer enough? Wasn't I a new person? Couldn't even God see that I was a new person?

I was emotionally drained. I cried all the tears I could. I couldn't stand it anymore. Anger began to bubble inside. I wanted to lash out at anything, everything.

I threw my head back and screamed. The fire cackled on ignoring my ear piercing scream. I felt someone touch my arm. I turned around my face fierce, ready to have let my rage.

I turned around to see my father staring at me with a tired, worried face. He looked so old then. I always thought my father youthful but just this day itself aged him years.

"Its ok honey, it's ok."

I breathed in deeply and turned back towards the fire. Swallowing my anger and rage for the time being but someone would pay for this.

"Honey, come back from the flames." My father reached for my hand trying to pull me back away from the blazing flames. But I pulled away and stood my ground. I wanted to watch it burn it the ground. I would remeber this day.

The fire brigade had come to put out the fire but it was out of control so they made sure it didn't spread.

Once it was all over the fire men went around asking the maids and people in the house on how the fire started. I crept back into the car onceit was over. My eyes were red from all the ash and soot.

Deirdre had the window down breathing in the cold air. She had been crying the whole time releasing her grief. I could hear snippets of conversation.

"You see this lady arrived. And she was wearing pink and she had blonde hair. She was demanding to see the family. Now I know I just a neighbour but I was watering my garden and I over heard what she was saying you see." Mrs Goldberg, the kind old lady next door who gave me treats when I was a kid.

"I said no and the lady she kept yelling at me and said she was a friend of Mister Marquet. Now Mr. Marquet didn't tell me about no guests. She kept trying to push past me." That was Maria our house keeper.

I heard all of this it past through my mind but it didn't sink in. They were just words without meaning. I looked at Darren and Deirdre, only half my brother and sister now. Would it matter? Would we care? Daddy and Uncle Bart were halves and not fulls but they didn't care? They still loved each other and considered each other fulls.

I could feel the rage that flowed through me still simmering. It scared me to think I could feel this rage,scared to think i would want to hurt someone with it.Is this what Grandmother Cathy felt when she heard her mother's name? Was she filled with this rage, the need for revenge? I shuddered. Maybe I deserved the fire. I probably was bad luck.

I lay down in the seat of the car and comfortably as I could. I rubbed my eyes spreading the ash and soot. It stung.

I knew quite a lot of time had passed and it was quite late in the night but I had no recollection of it. Eventually I realized Darren wasn't in the car. I lifted my head and peeked about.

"His out there" Deirdre said wearily. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. A cool breeze was blowing her hair all over her face. I stared put the window to see Darren in the rubble. How long ago had the fire stopped? Carefully I rose meaning to make my way outside when Deirdre reached out to touch my arm.

"Don't leave me" she whispered. Her fingers were ice cold even with the blanket around her. It amazed me how all of this had turned my strong sister into a small child.

I just nodded and sat back.Soon we left the house and drove to Foxworth Hall. Only once did I look out the window, down at the road we had just come down. Only this time I wasn't filled with joy.

Maybe I should have listened to my inner feelings I thought.

But would it have changed anything?

Quite short but yea. R&R! Next one is heaps longer I promise.