An Ember's Tale

Chapter Ten

 Ember felt as if she couldn't breathe.

At first, she thought it was because of her dream. The powerful, draining dream that left tears streaming down her cheeks, but as her breathing grew more ragged and her heart began to quicken, she began to realize that something else was very wrong. She felt a battle raging inside of her once more. Her heart almost felt still as if she was in a state between life and death. Her body felt cold- ice cold, but feverish and far too hot. Every part of her ached and begged her for some relief from the pain that consumed her.

Ember wished she could describe what she was feeling, but all she felt was empty. As if she was some hollow vessel, void of everything she once was. She was there, alone in complete darkness, trapped in her own body that seemed to reject her.

Maybe it was shock. A type of shock where her body felt unresponsive. As if she wasn't in control of it anymore. Then who was? Her mind felt restrained, bound in chains while she tore at darkness to escape, her fingers digging into her soul being consumed by something unknown to her.

And that's when Ember felt the heat rise inside of her as if from a crude awakening. It was trying to take control. Control of her. But Ember wouldn't let it. She was still in control, and she would be in control until her lungs gave out, but with the heat rising inside of her- she felt like she didn't have very long until that sentiment became a very real one.

"Breathe," a voice echoed throughout her mind. It sounded familiar but too distant, like it was right next to her, but she couldn't reach it. "Just breathe, Red."

Ember opened her eyes as the heat ceased throughout her body, and she was cold once more. Her vision flickered, but she slowly began to make out her surroundings. She didn't even realize she was holding her breath until she began gasping for air. She hurriedly sat up to open her lungs more as she heaved and gasped as if she had just been suffocated.

Her eyes slowly adjusted, and when she turned around, she found Mark sitting beside her bedside, looking worried. His eyebrows furrowed, and his lips were in a frown. He was clutching her hand with his thumb, lightly rubbing her palm in a comforting manner that brought some warmth back to her.

"What happened?" he asked her.

"I-" Ember gasped once more. "I had a dream-" she breathed in deeply, finally letting her breaths come out in standard patterns before she continued speaking. "A nightmare, I guess. And then- I don't- I just-"

"You were cold," Mark said as he clutched her hand tighter. "As if you were dead. And your breathing and heartbeat stopped for a second."

"My powers," Ember realized as her eyes widened. "They're- they're trying to take control, control of me." She paused before she spoke next. It sounded crazy. Insane, yet if anyone knew what was happening to her, it would be Mark. "They're trying to kill me."

"No," Mark shook his head. "Not kill. Just make your body more of a vessel that they can manipulate at will."

"You know something about this?" Ember questioned with a wide, terrified gaze.

Mark let go of Ember's hand and stood up. He ran his fingers through his hair in a frustrated sigh before looking back at Ember with flashing eyes.

"It's something everyone with an element has to go through," Mark explained. "Our powers are ours for us to control, but that doesn't change what they are- pure power. And power is greedy, always craving more. It's why it's contained to us and not allowed to roam free. But with powers like ours, the ones used to create the world- they'll exploit every moment, every hesitation, every weakness to benefit them. Your dream must have made you vulnerable, which was a perfect time for your powers to try and take control. Most of us fight it when we are children, but you've kept your powers at bay for so long-"