A.N: Seventh chapter's finally up! Ahhh... I've waited so long for this day! Oh dear stupid exams, you're so not getting in my way! *evil laugh!*
CHAPTER 7:
Despite the loud cracking of burning wood, I still heard the sound of my heart banging against my rib cage. Everything around me darkened in the orange haze of fire. It climbed up trees, reaching to every branches and knocked them down with crashing sounds that seemed like thunders to my ears. Nothing was able to resist the greedy tongue of this cursed flame, not even my small stream, which was burning like oil when I left. Leaves and ashes surounded me, carrying little flames with them as they rose up to the sky and after a few minutes, I didn't even bother to avoid them anymore. Some of them clung to my clothes and singed my skin but somehow, I didn't even feel the pain. All that matter now was that I'd been caught up in this burning for so long. Smoke had found its way into my lungs, blurred my eyes and probably drowned my brain because I couldn't even think straight. Never in my life had I felt so afraid, not only for myself but also for my mother. What if I couldn't find my way out? She couldn't even move from her bed let alone escaping a wild fire. Natharn couldn't be trust so it was up to me to save her. And how the hell could I save her if I couldn't get out of this forest!
Thoughts about mom pumped the last bit of adrenaline up my head. I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision and raised a hand up, trying to feel the wind. It was still blowing toward my house. I picked up my pace. I was wasting the little oxygen I had left, but I had no choice. If I kept walking slowly, the fire would reach the house before I did. Mom was the only one I couldn't afford to lose.
Heat had already melted the sole of my shoes, and the hot sticky plastic stuck on my feet. I stopped quickly to peel it and kicked off my shoes. As my bare feet touched the ground, a sudden surge of energy washed over me. My whole body tingled with this lively feeling, but I daren't stop to be surprised. I ran as fast as I could, over the charred logs and under the singed branches. I ran and ran, letting the newfound energy from the ground below my feet course through me. How much time had passed? An hour? Two hours? More? I didn't care. All I knew was that I had to keep setting one foot in front the other…
Finally, I made it out of the wood. The sun was shining brightly behind the cloud of smoke, but I shuddered. The heat was helping to build the fire, and a few of the flame's greedy fingers had already reached inside my house…
Without a second thought, I kicked the back door open. The kitchen was already on fire! How it could burn floor tiles I didn't know, but fire was dancing everywhere. The lamp on the ceiling swung in the wind that came in when I opened the door, then landed with a crash. I stared at the burning in horror, but just as quick, I tried to calm myself.
"One deep breath in… one deep breath out…", I chanted continuously in my head and stepped into the inferno.
The heat wasn't so unbearable, but I kept reminding myself that even if my flesh couldn't be burned, my hair and my clothes still could. I stepped carefully around the room and reached the stair. The wood railing was falling apart, but the steps could hold a little longer. As I reached the second floor, I breathed a shuddering breath. Fire was crawling slowly, but steadily, to mother's door. And for a second, I thought I might have been so dizzy that I was imagining Natharn standing in front of her room, trying to shake the door open. I ran up to him and smashed his hands away,
"What are you doing! Get your filthy hands away from her door!"
"Brat, don't you see that I'm trying to get your mother! Why the fuck did you have to lock the damned door! Open it! Quick!"
"To keep you away from her", I spat at him, but my fingers still reached for the key around my neck.
The lock was jammed…
I furiously shock the door knob, but the door wouldn't budge! Natharn cursed loudly and threw his big body against the door.
Once…
The loud thump as he crashed into it sounded like an explosion to me…
Twice…
I looked behind, and what welcomed my eyes was a sea of flame…
Thrice…
The door stood its ground, the wooden carvings seemed to mock our effort…
Tears began to swell in my eyes. I was too late! Natharn threw me a despising look before he told me, "I thought you were of spitfire-material when you broke my nose with just a punch, but I never should have trusted my judgment"
His words stirred the anger in me. What was he to judge me like that! How could he possibly judge me when he was the one who beat her up and hurt her feelings! I was the one who had taken care of her for so long! I was the one who ran through a blazing wood to …
I ran through a blazing wood…
Blazing wood…
…
I shoved Natharn aside.
"Hey! What the fuck...!"
I scooped up a nice little fire between my fingers.
Natharn's eyes turned into perfect 'O's…
I wrapped my hands around the knob.
Now his jaw dropped…
I struggled to find the thread of energy that had coursed through my body in the wood, hoping to make the flame in my hands burn higher, hotter.
"How…", he let out a shaky breath…
"Save your breath", I ordered and concentrated on the flame as its color turned lighter, lighter then completely into white. Over the roar of fire, I could catch the faint sound of a fire truck.
The piece of metal began to melt in my hand, dripping to the ground. Natharn jumped back in shock, but in a tick of the clock, he let out an agonizing howl as he touch the wall of fire behind us.
"Hurry!", he shouted, clutching his burnt elbow.
I frowned. The knob had lost its shape and the melted metal pooled at my feet. I released it to find my hand all covered with a thin layer of shiny metal. I pushed the door open and nearly choked with all the smoke.
Mom lay at a heap on the bed, her breaths came in shallow gasps. I drove my nails into my palms, trying to subdue the worst thoughts. We took so long at the door, and now the fire was already at our heels.
"Get her and jump out of the window. I'm sure they know we're in this room, so there must be a trampoline or something down there. Quick! I'm right behind you!", I ordered Natharn and rushed to open a window.
He didn't hesitate. With his arms secured around mom's tiny body, he jumped from the edge, leaving behind only a terrified scream. I heard the crowd's voice and the sound of heavy footsteps. They probably landed safely.
I curled my fingers around the window sill and hauled my body up. But suddenly, a current of water hit me square in the face, pushing me back into the flame. I struggled to escape, but the water seemed to have a mind of its own. It pinned me down, squeezing the last bit of air out of my lungs and I choked on it, unable to chase away the fear. Tendrils of smoke rose from the ground, blinding me, engulfed me until all I could see was either my eyelids or smoke. I felt myself retreating to the peaceful darkness of death, but somehow, I managed to hold on to the only tiny bit of life I had left. The floor began to creak the weight of water…
And I felt myself falling into nothingness…