Sunflower

1- past

Tw for blood and gore

Her hands shake as she lowers herself to the ground. He's dead. He's dead and she killed him. She didn't mean to, but he's dead.
Rocks dig into her knees as she leans forward over her friend, "I am so sorry."
She sobs.
He was an idiot who stepped in front of a sword. He tried to be the hero and now he's dead. With tears still streaming down her face, she picks him up and drags him closer to the water edge, "Why did you do that?"
She kisses his forehead and pushes him into the lake. She sits by the water edge, her knees in the water. Her dress is soaked with water by the time the villagers find her.
She stands up quickly and turns around when she hears the pump of a shotgun. She looks wearily at the men and they return a look of hatred, "Murderer! We have finally found you! Who was that you just killed?"
"I did not mean to kill him." She whispers.
"Who was it?" One of the men asks.
The girl is no older than 13, one of the younger girls in their town.
"Albel Ruch. My friend..." She wraps her arms around herself.
One of the men growls, it's Albel's father. "Where is your weapon?" One of them asks.
Before she can answer Albel's father aims his gun at her and fires. She keeps her arms wrapped around her but forces the bullet to stray away into the water. Now all the guns are pointed at her, "Witch! You are hereby sentenced to death by fire!"
They step towards her and she steps towards them, "I am not your murderer. I am your savior. Albel was the only good one. The rest of them were monsters, you just could not see it."
"One of them so-called monsters was my brother!"
"Then I am sorry for your loss." She snaps her fingers and fire lights in her hand. "I am not the murderer."
"You are a witch and a liar."
The men, along with guns, brandish pitchforks from their farms. She takes one and catches it in her hand. She tosses it backwards into the lake, "I am going to leave now."
"Like hell you are! You need to be burned for your sins."
"Then I shall burn." She smiles and erupts in a tower of white flame.
When the fire clears she's gone. But just around the corner she's running towards her home. Her skirt is in her hands as she makes her way through a field. She goes quietly into her home and sneaks up the stairs. She grabs her bedsheet and puts a few dresses into it. She takes the makeshift bag with her and goes back down the stairs. She goes through her mothers food supplies and steals a few things. She freezes when a bottle soars past her head. "You're stealing my food? Just because you got caught? You stupid child give it back!"
Aelia looks out the window and grows a few crops, "There. Now you won't have to worry about running out of food. I'm leaving."
"No you are not! The town is searching for you. You will not make it out alive."
"What do you care about me? You will not have to worry about me anymore." The girl mutters, "You should be happy."
"I am."
"Then act like it." The girl mutters, grabbing her things.
"Aelia, enjoy hell."
"Very original." Aelia leaves her home and sets off across the country.
She uses her magic to speed up her trip and she stops to rest at a travelers rest stop. She goes in and finds herself a room to stay in.

A few days later she leaves her room and wanders around the rest stop in confusion. Everything seemed to change overnight. The people dress weird, talk weird. And everything is so bright. Three people catch her eye in particular, she follows them around, trying to talk to them but they leave before she gets the chance. She quickly goes back to her room and gets her stuff. She leaves hoping to catch up with the three people but when she leaves she is frozen in place in awe. She's never seen Los Angeles like this.