Carla Fire

Parst 3)

When I awoke, the first thing I felt was not the burned remains of the floorboards pressing against my back nor the smell of smoke. It certainly was not fear for myself as at that point I was too tired to care.

No.

The first thing I felt was a tugging sensation.

In my head. Urging me, baiting me, hurrying me.

A need above all others, even survival.

No, the first thing I felt was an urge to burn something. Anything!

Even people...

I felt possessed.

Something inside me kept chanting, fire, fire, fire...

When I opened my eyes, I saw no roof over my thumping head. Gently turning my head, I could only see the countryside that once surrounded my house.

Soon after the smell reached me.

The smell of burnt flesh.

I gagged, rolling over, a ringing had started.

I moved my hair back just in time before I gagged again. Tears stung my eyes, the burn in my throat not a new sensation.

     I pulled back, grimacing at the effort. I pulled myself onto my knees, getting an overview of my world. 

It was black.

Dark.

Smouldering.

Destroyed.

I trembled as sobs racked through my body, my hand trembling as I covered my mouth.

It was then I looked at my hands.

I screamed, falling back. Hearing the crunch of wood beneath me.

They were both burned.

It looked like the skin had been trying to heal for months only to keep getting re burned. The fingertips a cherry red, the burn marks trailing up my arms to my elbows.

My cheeks felt wet, my throat burned.

It was then finally registered the pain, crumpling into myself. It was raw pain.  I continued my screaming, throwing all my emotions into it.

The agony, the terror.

The Key.

Key?

My eyes widened in recognition as I saw a single key poking out from the remains.

Slowly dragging myself over, stopping every few seconds to catch my breath.

My eyes burned more than ever, smoke adding to the pain.

"Key..." I breathed out, reaching out to grab it.

I held it safely in my hand, clenching as tight as I could.

I breathed a sigh of relief, something I could take with me.

I moved slowly, pushing myself up to head towards the trees.

Gasping as pain rolled over me as waves, leaving me struggling for air. I scrunched my eyes as the pain came again.

Trembling, I used a tree to hold myself up. I clung on for dear life, wishing for the agony to stop.

Looking over my shoulder, I could just about see where there were three dents in the wood.

I shook my head. No time for more tears.

I banged my fist against the tree feeling anger course through my veins. I also felt anger that was no my own.

I gasped as a fire started on the tree.

I stood fixated.

Admiring the flame as it spread.

Placing my hand against the wood again, I recognised the feeling as when I had held my slushie for too long, my hand felt weird for hours after.

More flames spread out from my hand as I imagined them spreading, curling up the tree.

"Pretty. Pretty fire..." I giggled.

I felt possessed as if what I was feeling was someone else. Insanity.

I giggled again, feeling slightly drunk.

I stumbled into the forest, setting more trees on fire as I passed.

Giggles filled the forest.

My giggles.

My parents had been murdered and I was laughing ?!

That started another round of giggles.

"Oh gosh.." I laughed, "I can't breath!"

"Hahahhahahhaaaaaa!" I sounded demonic.

I shivered at the sound.

As I followed a well known path, I started to sing.

"Are you insane like me? Been in pain like me?

On a hundred dollar bottle of champagne like me? Just to pour that motherfucker down the drain like me?

Would you use your water bill to dry the stain like me?...."

I cut myself off, I gave up on my promise and crumpled to the ground, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Father father, tell me where are you now..."  I whispered, leaving back against a tree, my eyes drooping until I found myself in a deep sleep, haunted by flame filled dreams.