Blurry Planets

The Show Must Go On

The theatre is almost full and I think we are about to start. I check for one last time if my equipment is working. Just 5 minutes before showtime my dad arrives through the back door. That should give me motivation not to mess up.

The curtain opens to reveal the setting and I focus the light on the kid down below. I don't know his name but I can tell he's the narrator. Throughout the play the scenes shift and so does my light.

When we are about in the middle of the play an audience member stands up and walks over to my father. I'm too far away to make out what they're saying. But my dad looks worried and gets up and follows the other man outside. I find it odd but it might not be a big deal. Sometimes guys from his work come over but he didn't look familiar.

I shrug it off and focus my attention to the play. About 2 minutes go by and I feel a tap on my shoulder. What the hell? Nobody was supposed to come up here. As I turn around my shoes sqeak against the metal grating. I look up and there's a teacher I had never seen before. "I need you to come with me," he says in a stone cold voice. I reply, "But who is gonna be in charge of the lights?" "Don't worry about it."

He's acting kind of weird but I get up and follow him anyways. He heads down the stairs that lead backstage and looks over his shoulder at me several times. "Follow me," he orders as we walk outside. The night is chilly and the parking lot is almost full. All the cars here must be from the parents. He walks me all the way to the back of the parking lot. Where it ends and a huge corn field starts.

Okay, so this is kinda weird. Why would a teacher take me out of the play and lead me all the way out here? I try to get the teacher's attention, "Hey, um, mister whatever. Where are you taking me?" He stops walking and turns around to face me. He ignores my question and roughly grabs my right arm.

"Hey! What are you doing?" I yell. "Be quiet Astern," he barks. What the hell!? How does he kno - Oh my god! He's one of them. Why else would he call me an Astern? My gray eyes light up in fear. I try to break away from his hold but he keeps me still. This fire man or whatever he is yanks down my sleeve.

"Stop it! Let me go!" I try screaming, "My dad is going to hurt you!" He ignores my protests and takes a look at my fore-arm. When the Ignes attacked my right arm was burned. It wasn't that bad but it left a scar that takes up most of my fore-arm. He smiles when he sees it and says, "You are the prince." The cars around us start shaking. The Ignes notices and scowls at me, "Stop that!" "I-I can't. I don't know how," I try explaining, "Just leave me alone!" I am frantic and some cars have started jumping up and down. I keep trying to pull away from his grip but he won't let go.

The Ignes gets angry and pulls out a fireball on the palm of his hand. He brings it incredibly close to my face and I just scream. It was the most awful sound I have ever made. The man jumps a little but puts his other hand around my mouth and pushes me against a car. If there is one thing I fear the most, it's fire. I can't bear to look at a lit match or a gas stove. I never go camping and I avoid watching fire on film. But he didn't know that.

But now apparently he does. The cars have stopped shaking and I have no idea why. I have never been this scared since my mother was murdered. He looks me straight in the eye and says, "I didn't know you were scared of fire. Makes sense though. Given that your home was set aflame." He brings it closer to my face and tries to scare me. Not like I need the extra effort. I try to back away but the car stops my efforts. Fear is the only thought going through my mind.

He suddenly closes his fist and the flame is put out. I relax my body a little bit and he takes his hand away from my mouth. He grabs my arm again and starts walking towards a car. He still has a smile on his face.

I'm trying to figure out why the cars have stopped shaking. Some have their alarms blaring but none are behaving like earlier. I guess when I'm downright scared my powers don't work. The only moment in my life when I need them they don't work, that's just great.

I forget about the thought and keep walking. The fire being so close to me has left me shaking. I numbly follow the Ignes. If I try to run away he'll just pull out the fire again. I really don't want him to do that again.

I try sucking up my fear and try to ask him, "Where's my dad?" He looks back at me and laughs, "He's dead, just like your grandfather." Before I can respond he throws me into the back of the car and handcuffs me to the seat. My head is trying to process this information but it can't keep up. "Don't move," he orders before closing the door and walking back to the school.

I feel like laying down and crying but my mind is too tired. I decide I should fall asleep and hope that when I wake up it was all a dream. Before I close my eyes I hear someone knocking on the car window. I look up and see a girl.