The Phoenix Girl

8. A New Start

Campsis woke with a start. Her heart was racing, and she shuddered. Was that a dream? Or was it real?

"Where am I?"  Was the first thought that came to her. 

She got up and scanned her surroundings. 

She was in a small hut, in a room where the bedroom, living room and kitchen were combined.

"Finally," said a voice Campsis whipped her head around and saw the girl who had supposedly saved her sitting on the couch sitting by the warmth of a crackling fireplace, sharpening her sword. 

"Who in the world are you?" Campsis asked.

"Wow, so much for the  'Thank you so much for saving my life!'. Seriously, a thank you would be very much appreciated" the girl snapped.

Something about the girl's attitude and boldness reminded Campsis of someone, but she couldn't remember who. 

"First of all, thanks. Second of all, what happened?" Campsis asked. 

"Long story short, you were about to start fighting when you gasped, and it seemed as if..." she trailed off.

"Like what?" Campsis pushed her to keep talking. 

The girl took a shaky breath. Suddenly she didn't seem as bold as she seemed before. It was as if what she saw changed her... or reminded her of something. 

"Your... hands. They lit on fire... I think. I can't be sure since it only happened for a brief second. Then you passed out." She finally replied, setting her sword down. 

The girl went quiet. Her sword gleamed in the light of the fire, flames dancing on the surface. Looking at the flames, Campsis felt a wave of dread wash over her. Her head was swirling with questions. Who exactly is this girl? Why is she so shaken by my hands on fire? 

Wait, what?

"HOW exactly, did my hands get on fire?" Campsis asked herself. She instantly got reminded of the memory she had just seen; the fire at her family's home. Her hands began to tremble, a lump of panic building up in her throat. 

No... no, it wasn't true. Or was it? 

Was SHE the reason that her sister and family got kidnapped, and why her house was burned down?

Campsis looked down at her trembling hands. Nothing seemed special about them. It was also possible that this girl was just imagining things since she was fighting the man at the same time...

She didn't notice that the girl was staring at her, observing her concerned face and trying to read her thoughts. 

"What happened?" she asked. 

Campsis forced the thought away. She leaned over and set her hands on the table, forcing them to stop trembling. She wasn't going to show any weakness. Not now, not again...

"I-," Campsis hesitated, deciding whether or not to explain what had been happening to her lately. "Nothing. I-I was just thinking. By the way, what's your name?" 

The girl laughed and extended her hand out to Campsis in greeting. 

"I'm Elina,"

"Campsis" Campsis replied, shaking her hand.

"Well, you should better eat something and go to bed, it's getting late" Elina said. 

"Why? What's tomorrow"? Campsis questioned. 

"Well, we have a great fight ahead of us. This man won't stop hunting us until he gets what he wants. You have to be well rested to fight."

"What do you mean? Who is this man anywa-" Campsis was cut off my Elina shoving a bowl of soup in front of her. 

"No time for questions. I'll answer them all when the correct time comes. I can tell that you will soon figure out the answers to your questions on your own. For now... well, let's just look ahead and be prepared. Today is your chance of a new start."