An Ember's Tale

Epilogue

One Year Later

The first thing Mark remembered wasn't his name or anything significant about him, no. He remembered someone named Red. Or maybe it was the color? Not a person. Something of that matter that was associated with Red. It was such an odd thing to remember, but Mark couldn't help but think that it was necessary to him whatever this Red thing was.

He opened his eyes slowly to find a starch, white room that almost seemed to glow. He sat up shakily, but his head pounded violently. His vision was blurred, but he made out that he was on a small grey bed, and there was a figure sitting on a chair in front of him.

"Good, you are awake," the figure said coldly.

The figure began to become more apparent. Mark could now see a young woman with light brown hair and matching eyes. She wore a plain white dress and thick spectacles.

"Who?" he began. His voice came out dry and hollow.

He suddenly realized he was very thirsty and hungry. Extremely so. To the point where he felt like the hunger was consuming him. As if he hadn't eaten in such a long time. His throat was sore, and there was something odd coating his tongue. It tasted like charcoal- and... death. "What- Where?" Mark tried to begin again, but his mind felt like it was a million miles away from him. He could barely comprehend his surroundings, let alone words.

The woman chuckled. "You've been dead for almost a year. Everything probably seems disoriented now. Amnesia is common, but all memories will come back." She paused slightly. "Now, tell me, does the name- Ember sound familiar?"

Mark thought back. "Yes," he muttered. The name sounded very familiar, but he wasn't sure where he had heard it before. Then, slowly, but indeed, memories began to come flooding back, so much so that Mark's head seemed to explode from the rush of memories he was experiencing. "Yes, Ember, she is- the Fire Element."

The woman nodded. "And what do you feel toward this woman? Love, perhaps?"

Mark tried to think back. His memories seemed too blurred. They all jumbled together until he only remembered emotions. His emotions toward Ember came flooding back, so much so that he clutched the bed until it began to rip.

"Ember..." he muttered.

"Yes," the woman leaned in, her spectacles gleaming with curiosity. "What does she mean to you?"

Mark looked up as emotions began to consume him violently- creating his perfect storm. The storm he knew all too well. He looked back up at the woman with dangerous eyes that would cause any person to beg for mercy.

"I hate the Fire Element," he said with disdain. "They killed my parents. They are a danger to this world and must be eradicated. I hate the Fire Element... I hate Ember."

The woman smiled. "Good. Now, what must you do when you find Ember?"

Mark smirked as lightning began to flash around him. "I have to kill her, of course."