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Fire. It was as if a scorching blaze had erupted beneath the surface of her skin, radiating an overwhelming heat that consumed her cheeks. The feeling was far from gentle; it was a fierce and powerful burn. It seemed as though an inferno had ignited within her very own being. The flames were lost in their demonic dance and she could hear the crackling of fire.
A haunting voice echoed through her consciousness. An eerie, unknown source - coming from the depths of her dream or maybe the reality? Calling out to her, repeating the words like a mantra, "Wake up, Alice, wake up." Her eyes flew open, wide and alert, and her body instinctively contorted from the tormenting agony.Beads of sweat slid down her face, the room around her spun into a blur. Every corner of her vision was engulfed in a fiery inferno. Flames danced and leaped, devouring everything in their path with an insatiable hunger. The air crackled with the heat, and thick smoke filled the room, creating pure chaos.
The walls were just mere skeletons, their structures crumbling under the power of fire. Furniture transformed into charred remnants, consumed by the merciless flames. Anger and disbelief coursed through her veins. Someone had intentionally set this fire, she thought. The senseless act of arson had transformed her haven into a nightmarish landscape. A bone-chilling truth hit her as soon, as she lifted her gaze to the sky above. There, amidst the billowing smoke and flickering sparks, loomed an abomination that defied all logic and reason.
A creature of nightmares soared with its grace, its colossal form almost consuming light of the moon, casting a sinister shadow upon the scorched earth. The dragon's scales were shimmering with a royal glow, reflecting the dancing flames below. It could be the last beautiful thing, which wasn't consumed by merciless fire. His wingspan seemed endless, and spikes were sprouting from his spine. The dragon's eyes, like two glittering orbs full of malice, were fixated upon Alice with the burning intensity. There was something about them, some ancient wisdom, something, what was sending a shiver down her spine.
Alice just stood there, frozen in terror, trying to understand what was happening. The creature's existence was breaking all her understanding. Time stopped, and there was only her and this ancient evil, lurking in the shadows of the world. Suddenly, a dragon's haunting screech pierced the air, reverberating through Alice's ears. Her scream mixed with its chilling roar - primal force that shook the ground beneath her feet.
Alice's senses only kicked in when the dragon began to glide down. She sprinted blindly, as fast as she could, tripping over the remains of the foundations. The dragon's wings sliced through the smoke-filled air, creating a vortex of ash and debris. His descent was relentless, like an arrow hurtling towards its target. The ground trembled beneath his monstrous weight, leaving shattered remnants in its wake.
In her frantic attempt to escape the creature's claws, Alice was stumbling and falling, her hands and knees were scratched because of the scorched earth. She pushed herself up, gasping for air, but her lungs were burning from the acrid smoke. Each breath was a struggle, and the air she desperately needed to fill her lungs with, only choke her more. The dragon, fuelled by his huge hunger, closed the distance with terrifying speed, casting shadow over Alice. With each beat of his monstrous wings, gusts of hot air were burning her more. Alice scrambled to her feet, her muscles were working only because of her fear. Beast was hunting her with no mercy. Trees were uprooted just in a few seconds, like they weighed nothing, buildings were reduced to ashes, and the earth itself quaked like a bag of grains. She still believed she was able to escape, but the dragon drew in a deep breath, and a vivid green flame erupted from his wide maw. The intense light painted the sky with its ethereal shades.
In the last second, Alice, with her trembling legs, pressed herself against the tall lonely rock, sticking herself to its rough surface, hoping that it would give her shelter. The dragon landed, causing another ground shake. His massive claws dug into the scorched earth, leaving deep gouges inside. The sound of his heavy steps echoed, and Alice covered her ears, crying like a baby. She tried to control her breathing, but her heart was hammering against her chest like a ticking bomb. She could clearly hear, like a beast drew in a slow, deep breath, his enormous lungs were inhaling the scents of her perfumes and ashes, which were still lingering in the air.
Dragon's serpentine neck snaked around the rock, bringing its head face to face with Alice. His breath, full of sulphur, washed over her like a toxic gas from the depths of hell. She locked her gaze with the dragon, her eyes were drawn to his piercing irises. They were like two diamonds, which she discovered in her last moment of life. Full of wisdom and hunger, both mixed, scary yet devastatingly beautiful. She saw her own reflection in these two oceans of colours, suddenly she was small and so insignificant. Suddenly, she wasn't scared anymore. As the dragon's gaze bore into her soul, Alice braced herself for what lay ahead.
There was an inexplicable connection between them. Alice, overcoming her fear, reached out, gently placing her hand upon the creature's royal head. Beneath her fingertips, she felt the heat of its scales, a powerful and pulsating energy resonating through her touch. As the dragon closed his eyes, a serene peace settled upon them both. He bowed its head slightly, and Alice was thinking that they formed some kind of bond. Yet the dragon's eyes suddenly opened, gleaming with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. In a mesmerizing show of his power, he unleashed a torrent of an emerald fire from his jaws. The flames consumed her and the rock behind which she had taken her refuge.
The boundaries of her existence dissolved, and she merged with the essence of the flames, becoming one with the very element that granted her freedom. A gust of wind woke up from the ashes, taking them higher into the sky. It was the true essence of freedom, without the limitations of the physical world. Her spirit travelled with the dragon, through the vastness of the universe. It was almost like she clung to his back, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Both for the first, and for the last time were sharing this majestic flight.
After a long and arduous illness, Alice drew her final breath in the comfort of her own home. Her loved ones gently caressed her cheeks one last time. "Sleep, Alice, sleep," they whispered softly. But she was already free, her spirit soaring far like the wind, on the back of the dragon - the beast which she couldn't conquer.
