Open Fire

Ezra

I walk across the burning fields, the smell of ash still lingers in the air. I slowly limp over pieces of broken furniture and bricks that once held houses together. Now all that's left are dust and memories. My head still hurts and i can feel the bump wet with blood. I climb over a small brick wall that seems to resemble a fire place. As i jump down i hear a faint crack underneath my feet. I pick up my foot to find a broken picture frame. I pick it up, careful not to cut myself with broken glass. After a minute i am able to retrieve the picture inside. It's black and white obviously very old. It shows a family of four all together. A broad shouldered man with his wife by his side and two of their children. The one is a young boy maybe eight or nine. The other is a girl my age with long brown hair. The only thing that comes to mind is Rowan and then guilt and sadness. I fold the picture and put it in my back pocket as I replays the events of this afternoon.

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"Ezra!"

"Ro!"

"Ezra where are you!"

Her voice gets fainter and fainter and my vision is blurred by ash that swarms the house. Then I start to see an image that must be Ro! I stops myself when i hear the sound of something cracking. A giant flaming piece of wood falls from the ceiling knocking me off his feet. I hit the back of  my head against the wall, feeling blood.

Through all the confusion I see her. I can see Ro! But someone suddenly knocks her out and carries her into the clouds of smoke and ash. I'm too late.  

I try to move but quickly become disoriented. Ican't see a thing in front of me. I have to find her! I cough and cough and fall to the floor landing on my arm. I can still save her if i can find a way out.  I pick myself back up almost loosing my balance. I spin around trying to find light. I finally do. A window almost completely covered by ash but just enough light comes through for me to make it out. I limp through flashes of yellow orange and black the heat making it unbearable. I finally reach it scrambling to get it open. But it's jammed. I desperately look around almost loosing hope. On the ground a couple feet away is a wooden plank. I pick it up and smash the window, glass shattering everywhere. 

I hoist myself through the window my arms shaking and i realize how weak I am. I fall to the grass wimping in pain. I try to stand but I feel a stabbing pain in my legs. I cough, smoke and ash burning my lungs. I have to get to the forest away from the fire. So I get on my hands and knees and pathetically crawl to the trees. Once i'm hidden in the brush I collapse and everything goes black.

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I must have been walking for at least an hour circling around the village, or what's left of it, to try and find anyone who can help me. But it's completely abandoned. I sit down and lean against a wall,  too weak and tired to do anything else. Maybe i'll stay here forever. I can just forget about everything that's happened and die in peace. I won't have to think about the war or Mason or Jeremiah....or Ro. But right now dying isn't an option. I have to find a way to save Rowan and i can't do it alone. The werewolves won't trust me and the vampires want to kill me.  For once i am completely alone. 

Just then a sound wakes me up from my daydream. It seems i was wrong. I'm not alone. I open my eyes. In the distance a small figure is approaching. To small to be anything of a threat. As the figure walks closer the details become more clear. Someone with long brown hair but too tiny and fragile to be Ro. 

"Sierra!"

I jump to my feet and run across the field of burt rubble and ash until i finally reach her. I embrace her small delicate body so thankful for her presence. 

She hugs me back and says "Where's Rowie?"

I guess she thought we were together. I knew i couldn't lie and so i had to tell her the truth.

"Rowie's......Rowie was taken....by the bad guys."

Her big eyes fill with tears and her lip starts to quiver. 

"I thought I could find her!" she sobbed "Daddy's gonna be so mad I left the camp....and i didn't even find her! And now she's with the bad guys!"

Wet tears stained my ripped shirt. I have to admit i was never really good with kids. But i knew i had to do something so i rubbed her back awkwardly and said "...uh....everything's going to be ok." even though i knew that wasn't true. 

"Wait Sierra did you say you left camp?"

"Yeah....everyone went to the woods to stay safe" she said still sniffing

"You have to take me there!" i said shaking her 

"Ok but....daddy-"

I cut her off "If you help me find the camp I won't tell daddy you left I promise."

"Uh...Um ok" she said

"We stood up and she lead me out of the rubble and ash and into the forest. You could see burnt shrubbery and broken branches from the fire. But, as we got deeper into the forest my whole world was green. It felt like we'd been walking through the woods forever but just as i was starting to loose hope, I heard voices.

I raced ahead of Sierra finding a clearing in the forest. Tents were set up out of old sheets and blankets. People walked around carrying fire wood. Someone was attempting to make dinner out of what food was still remaining. It must have been only half of what the town's population used to be. I hid in the brush so I would't be seen. 

Someone was announcing something at the front of the clearing. Voices settled down. I climbed a little up a tree so i could see better. 

The voice belonged to Aaron. 

"I know you're all scared and I am too. You have lost many loved ones." I could see the sadness in his eyes as he said that. "But we have to be strong together and fight against our enemy. I know we're not as strong as we used to be but I believe we still have a chance."

Just then another voice interrupted him. "My son" and old lady draped from head to toe in colorful cloths started walking forward. She walked with a cane decorated with beads that thumped rhythmically against it. As she walked forward i also noticed she was wearing sunglasses. She was probably blind. But she didn't need something or someone to guide her up. She knew exactly where she was going. 

"I know you want to fight but is it wise to send our wolves out when surly they are too weak? I was once the leader of these people too and i believe i deserve a say in this." She took of her glasses wiping them on her clothing. Her eyes were murky like watered down milk. Why would she need to clean her glasses if she was blind. Suddenly i realized something. I took out the picture in my pocket. She looked exactly like the girl in the picture except older. The resemblance was uncanny. 

"My son you are a wise leader but-"

Something caught her attention. She looked around as if she could see or maybe sense something. Then her murky eyes rested right on me. 

She furiously swung her cane up in the air pointing it right at me. "You!" She screamed. 

All eyes turned toward me.

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Ahhh it took me forever to write this I'm so sorry but i really hope you liked it anyway. Shoutout to my girl Jay for being the awesome person she is. Lov ya girl<3. 

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