Frozen Fire - Volume One: Fragments

10: Home

Authors' Note

GUESS WHO'S BAAAAACK???

After some questioning of life choices, coursework, despair and several other helpful situations that left me questioning if I even wanted to continue the story in it's current format, I decided screw-it-all! If Frozen Fire brings me joy then so be it! The next two chapters I aim to finish before the end of March, but no promises. They'll at least be done around early April at the latest. Also Ramadan has been fun so far, a lot easier than past years I find.

I won't be promoting my Twitter/X anymore as I barely use that platform, but do feel free to drop me a follow on IG or Tumblr, although my content on those platforms is overdue for a massive change. I think I'll open a CuriousCat or other QnA site soon so you can drop me any questions you may have! I also want to use Tumblr more for that sort of thing too!

IG: @ angel.writess

Tumblr: @ angelwritess

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"Madi," Sylvie asked, turning to her bodyguard. Madi eyed the bags under Sylvie's bloodshot eyes. He frowned, the girl hadn't been sleeping, and she'd evidently been crying. "Why do I always have to leave?" Madi sighed, leaning back in his seat.

The pair were being driven away from the estate they were living in – the Bishop parents had hoped the location was secluded enough, but somehow they caught wind of Sylvie being spotted. It was merely a group of children, including a young girl Sylvie had helped, but that seemed to be enough to warrant uprooting Sylvie's presence again. Madi couldn't help but frown, he hadn't even managed to get the young girl's name.

"Because..." Madi sighed again, glancing out the window. It had become routine for him now, trying to spot any odd shadows, any eyes trying to get a glimpse of the young girl. "Your parents are–" He started, only for Sylvie's voice to cut him off.

"Don't say it's because they're worried about me." She muttered, and Madi could feel the hairs on his neck stand on end. Sylvie had that effect, even at that young of an age. Her voice was a weapon, one that could send a ghostly chill down anyone's spine. Madi, for once, let himself close his eyes for something other than sleep, allowing himself to slip back into the memory of that day.

The day that started it all. The blood, the ice, the horrified onlookers. "I wasn't going to," he opened his eyes, turning to face Sylvie. The young girl who didn't mean for any of that to happen. "Although they are worried." He watched, amused at the way Sylvie rolled her eyes. "I was going to say it's because you haven't found your home yet."

The young girl looked at him perplexed, seeming to forget the pain of leaving everything behind again. "But... we were just at home? We're leaving it to go to another one."

Madi shook his head. "I know your family. You all talk in riddles and proverbs, so I'm sure you've heard the one about home being where your heart is." Sylvie nodded slowly, the perplexed look not leaving her eyes.

"So you're saying... I haven't found a real home yet?" Madi gave another nod.

"One day," he started, thinking of his own past, to his current present. "You'll find somewhere you feel like you truly belong. Somewhere, when you're told you have to leave, you'll refuse with every fibre of your being."

Sylvie hummed. Then she turned, giving a slight sniff before trying to compose herself. "When I do find that home, you're allowed to stay if you want." Madi smiled.