The Cure

Chapter 17 - XVI

  I don't get to ask them anything. I don't even have time to utter a sound before they are gone, off scampering towards the woods, away from the approaching sound of the fire brigade rounding the corner to our house. I watch them till I can no longer make out their figures in the distance. There is someone who comes around the side of the house and picks me up, taking me to the front yard where Ofelia stands talking with an officer. I'm sat down on a wooden plank but don't feel awake; it seems almost as if this is a dream; the way I'm not sure if this is really happening to me, or if I'm dreaming in someone else's place. I watch the guard question Ofelia and want to tell him to leave, I've seen enough of them in a week to last me a lifetime. If they weren't already suspicious, of Ofelia and I, they should be now.

I feel someone grip my arm as I'm still staring at the guard. I feel his hands on my stomach as he asks me to move my shoulder up and back. I only realize I'm moving it when suddenly the air is filled by a deadening crack. Only after a few seconds have gone by do I realize it was my arm that made the noise as it relocates into it's socket. Lastly, I scream, very delayed, and cry, hard.

Ofelia turns around quickly and dashes over to me. "Your arm," she squeaks. "What happened? Alls they told me was they had to relocate it."

"I...fell." I'm watching the medic who had helped me as he clears the path for the firehouse that begins to spray the back side of our house. "The basement," I say. "There were so many candles. And the two of them-" Ofelia shushes me before I can go on.

"Not here. We can't talk about it now."

She stands back up and heads over to the medics and starts talking rapidly. I turn around, slowly and watch as the bright orange flames begin to diminish and in their place dark smoke rises.

"The only person who has liability is you," I hear a guard say. "If you aren't covered then we can't do anything about the damages." I know they're talking about the house. I wonder what else was engulfed by flames beside the basement alone. What about our foundation? The house could collapse in on us during the night.

"Perhaps we could figure out some place for you to stay, for the time being until you can make repairs."

I flinch. This voice is different. This is...

Reese. All of a sudden he is in front of me, standing just out of the way of the wooden plank I rest on. I risk a look at him and he makes no expression or sign that he recognizes me. Could he have forgotten so soon?

"We are not authorized to do that, sir," the previous guard replies. "We have no liability to-"

"Alright," Reese interrupts. "You've said quite enough."

And that's that. Mouth hanging open I watch as the fire brigade packs up it's hose and leaves, the medics get back in their van and the guards say farewell and the youngest even offers his sympathies. Then, when the daylight is filled once more with silence I see the snow begin to fall around my feet.

Ash like snow.

I notice Reese is still here, talking quietly with Ofelia who nods her head and walks inside the house. I start to call after her but Reese places his hand on my arm as I watch the door shut firmly behind Ofelia.

I shrug his hand off then look away. I might say something stupid if I actually gaze at his face. After a minute goes by I wonder f he's left but one quick twist of my head and I find him still staring at our house.

"It's going to be bad in there," he ventures to say.

Silence.

"I don't think it's a good idea to stay there," he continues. "Not with the all the ash."