The Blazer

Chapter 1: Gaining Faith. Then to lose it.

The boy squeezed his eyes shut. Flames slashed at anything it could devour, gradually growing bigger as they covered more ground. Behind him the boy heard his house tumble down. Tears ran down his pale, freckly cheek as he pivoted to watch; tormented. Outcries filled the air. He built up the courage to run forward, however his trip came to a finish too soon when a muscular arm yanked him back, winding him. The boy curled up around the warm arm and decided to weep.

His tears came to a sudden holt when he thought he heard his name being called. He twisted this way and that searching the area, but couldn't hear where it was coming from. He stopped attacking the arm and just listening. He wiped the remaining tears off his face and slipped under the arm, running to the familiar scent of sweet vanilla essence with a hint of ash. His grandmother Rosie. Arms stretched out he continued to approach the silhouette. Grabbing his grandmother around the waist he buried his face into her itchy jacket; not to mention the bits of fluff sticking up his nose, however at the moment he didn't care he was just glad to have her in his grasp. He couldn't lose another family member. The whistling of the fire engines zoned out as he closed his eyes not letting go, as if his life depended on it.

As Grandma Rosie caressed his head she spoke breaking the silence, "Raven everything will be okay...it will be alright." Although he knew she didn't really believe it as he could hear her heart beat speed up as she said that.

A few months had passed since the fire destroyed his home. Raven had barely left the house, only if it were a necessity such as the doctors to make sure there was nothing wrong him. He knew there was nothing wrong however Rosie wasn't so sure, she watched him day and night he left his bedroom only to use the bathroom and grab food when he absolutely needed it. He wouldn't go to school because he couldn't concentrate on anything and couldn't focus for longer than two minutes. Many times Rosie tried talking to him but couldn't get a single word out of him, once a look dead in the eye and a nod to say he needed food.

The sun rays shone through Raven's room as another day approached, he didn't flinch in his green spotted with white specks as Rosie stepped into his room. Rosie began to talk to him about eating. He turned his gaze from the horizon to look at his Grandmother. He had never really looked at her before, her skin looked so soft like a baby's bottom but the creases that lined her face showed that she was beginning to age. Her eyes a piercing blue, same as his mothers. He shook his head and turned back to look upon the horizon once more. Rosie stood there for a while longer watching him. The pain he felt was shown through his scrunched up face that tried holding back the many tears he could unleash into this world and his bottom lip trembling. She turned and headed for the door, swirled around to look at him once more then left.

They lived like this another few months, until one day a miracle happened.

The fog smeared the windows of Raven's bedroom, while the autumn leaves glided down to the ground. He sighed heavily. He advanced to his chest of drawers and pulled out a pair of underwear, knee length denim shorts knowing the day would warm up soon enough, a faded brown t-shirt branded with the Nike tick, and a black jersey because the walk to school would be a cold and miserable one without it. He stalked over to his bedroom and left with satisfaction.

One hand grasped the stair rail while the other hand held his school bag. He begun down the stairs. Considering to sneak out the back door he turned towards the laundry, but changed his mind when he thought of his Grandma Rosie. She would freak. He entered the kitchen. There was a new look in the room but Raven couldn't figure it out, so he just looked around trying to keep his vision away from Rosie.

A chair screeched behind him and a lump grew in Ravens throat. He turned to see his Grandma standing, frail and worn out. A tear caught the suns reflection and gleamed brighter than a glow worm. Raven hesitated for a moment before leaning forwards and embracing Rosie in a hug. Her breathing was heavy and uneven, the tears that were spilt soaked into his shirt. He pulled away first and stood there awkwardly not sure what to say. Rosie was the one to break the silence.