Forest Fire (Ekko Arcane)

1

Forest Briggs was never raised. She was built. Built within the walls of the great Briggs manor, surrounded at every side.

Human interaction wasn't something she knew well, unless it was with her father, though he didn't speak unless it was to give an order.

The maids never spoke around Forest either, their whispers came to an abrupt stop whenever she passed.

The were afraid. Not only that, but sworn to secrecy about every operation undergone at the Briggs manor.

Despite their oaths, hushed words had been spoken on the street, passing down theories and tall tales from one person to the other. Most feared the street leading to the manor, some were curious enough to wander to the front gate and gaze upon it.

But not even the most respected topsiders would know the true secrets that lied within the walls.

Forest had heard stories of the outside world from the kids who'd sometimes stop and approach her house as a dare. They hadn't spoken to her, but she'd occasionally eavesdrop from the tree she likes to climb so often.

From everything she'd been able to pick up on, Forest was quite lucky to reside in Piltover, which some called the Topside. It was the city of progress. Zaun, or the undercity, was said to be dirty and scattered with savage people. They were getting out of control according to the girl who'd been walking along the street near Forest's favorite tree.

The Topside was civilized, organized, and progressive. The Undercity could be described as musty, criminal, and uncontrollable.

But for the strangest reason, Forest liked the idea of Zaun. The rebellious nature, the heart to fight for freedom. Though that was all it was. An idea. She would be forever trapped within the stone walls of her fortress.

"Forest!" She jumped at the demanding voice that beckoned her, almost toppling out of her tree. It was her father, who she was required to call Sir.

She leapt to her feet and climbed steadily along the long branch she'd descended from. It led all the way up to her open window, where she was supposed to be locked inside her room alone with no disturbances.

Just before her father was about to turn the door knob, forest jumped inside onto her bed, acting as if she was stretching her calf muscles.

Her father stepped inside, a quizzical look on his face. Forest was used to his intimidating demeanor more than anyone.

Matthew Briggs had hair like midnight, slicked back against his pale neck, so pale, that his veins were painfully visible. His eyes were a dark brown and could easily be mistaken for black, but could kill with just a glance. He stood at about six foot four, an entire foot taller than Forest was. Though she hoped she wasn't completely done growing, only being seventeen years of age. His tall, lanky figure only made him look inhuman than ever. But he wasn't the inhuman one.

"It's time." Were the only words Matthew spoke to her, the girl that was supposed to be his daughter. For Forest it had never felt that way.

She knew how Matthew felt about her. Forest may have been starved of social reaction, but she wasn't unintelligent. It was the same way he had felt towards her half-siblings. Each of the children had been born from a different mother, and all of the mothers had been discarded shortly after the birth, Matthew has seen to it himself.

Forest was his fourth born, and hopefully the last. She was the only one left alive. The rest of the experiments, Ondina, Tyrion, and Thali had been closer in age compared to their gap with Forest. All of them had also been pronounced deceased by the time she was nine. And none of them had made it nearly as far.