Magix: Cira

Chapter 1: The Fire

     "Cira..it's time to get up! Everyone's eating breakfast downstairs." 

I opened my eyes to see Victoria's icy blue eyes staring down at me. "Mmm...I don't feel like eating.." I turned over in my bed to go back to sleep. "Cira...you know what Justin and Josephine said. You can't starve yourself anymore..it's not healthy a-and..." I looked over to see tears in Victoria's eyes. I sighed and sat up to hug her. "I'm sorry...I'll go get some breakfast..okay?" I can't stand to see her cry. Victoria wiped a tear away. "O-okay." 

     I got out of the bottom bunk and stretched as I stood on the wooden floor. It creaked as I walked out of the door to go to the bathroom across the hall. It was still a line outside out of it as usual. I shrugged my shoulders and decided to just go eat breakfast downstairs. I'll wash up later I guess. I reached the bottom of the stairs and walked into the dining room. The long wooden table was filled with food and a few chairs were occupied by other orphans. I sat down and Josephine handed me a plate with chocolate chip pancakes, already cut with maple syrup over it. "Thanks.." I mumbled.

     "What happened Cira.." Josephine asked.

     "I didn't want to eat breakfast...then Victoria started to cry. Plus, I had the dream again..."I sighed.

Josephine nodded and walked over to comfort me. She hugged me gently, then kissed me on the forehead. "It'll be okay Cira...just enjoy your breakfast." She passed me a bowl of oatmeal, sweetened with honey and cinnamon. My favorite. "Thanks Josephine." 

     As I began to eat my pancakes and oatmeal, Victoria sat next to me. I glanced over and saw that she wasn't eating her food, which was odd. 

     "V...what's wrong?" I asked her. 

She looked at me with fear in her eyes. Her body was trembling. 

     "I...I had a vision...it was about the Orphanage. I-It was.." She started to cry. 

She's had visions before..good and bad. What could it possibly be this time?  I put my hand on her shoulder. 

     "It's okay V. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

     "N-No. This is very  important." She took a deep breath. "The orphanage is going to-"

Before she could finish, Josephine interrupted her.

      "Children, get outside! Quickly before-"  

     The kitchen exploded. Flames spread quickly through out the room. Josephine was burned immediately, and Justin soon after. All the orphans began to panic and scream. As they ran through out the building, some fell to the ground. Their bodies were covered in debris and piles of wood. I wanted to stay and help, but I knew that I would just cause more chaos. I might not even get out if I were to do that...I felt guilty. But, I knew that it was what I had to do. 

     "Victoria! We have to leave. Now." I grabbed Victoria's hand and rushed out of the dining room into the hall. The front doors was just up ahead. I felt my head getting dizzy, my vision blurred. Keep going Cira. Almost there. I urged myself to keep running. I heard Victoria scream when a plank of wood fell on her legs. She was stuck on the ground. "Victoria!" I rushed over to her and tried to lift the wood off of her. I managed to lift it off and I threw it to the side. I tried to help her stand, but she winced in pain.

     "What's wrong?" I asked.

     "M-My legs...they're broken. I can't walk." She started to panic as she felt the heat of the flames coming closer to her. I knew that I could control the flames, but it means that my secret would be known to Victoria. I shook my head. That doesn't matter anymore. I pushed the flames away from Victoria and the other orphans. I summoned a fire magic circle with my hand and gathered all of the flames with my free hand. I put the flames into the magic circle and they disappeared. The aroma of spice, mixed with the stench of burnt flesh and wood filled the building. I saw all of the orphans look at me with shock and fear. I looked at Victoria to see her beginning to cry. 

     "You never bothered to tell me? I...I trusted you!" The orphans flinched at the sound of her voice.

I started to cry. I wanted to say something...but what could I say? 

     "I-I'm sorry.." 

     I ran towards the wooden double doors and exited the orphanage. I saw a few glances from people on the block.  I turned on my heel and ran through an alley on the side of the orphanage. Behind the building was a big grassy field that led to the woods. I ran through the field until sunset when I reached the forest. I fell to my knees and curled in a ball against a tree. I shivered as the breeze swept through my thin red boxer pajamas. I cried myself to sleep that night.