Elementals

Fire

(Trigger warning)

Hestia Ingis:

Age: 16
Sex: F
Element: Fire

Two children in white summer dresses played in a field of long, dry grass, a warm breeze making the blades dance gracefully. Laughter filled the air as the two raced around jovially.

One girl called out to the other as she was being chased around, her short, dark hair bobbed playfully, framing her soft, childish features perfectly.
"Tia, hurry up, you're never gonna catch me at that rate!"

The other girl laughed, speeding up to reach her friend. Long auburn hair billowing out behind her in a loose braid. She reached out her hand as she drew closer to her friend, crying "You think, Ellis?" Just as her fingers brushed the fabric of her flowing, summer dress, "I've... got you!"

Immediately after she took hold of her friend, Ellis's, pure white skirt, a spark was created, quickly swallowing the young girls in flames.

Within moments, the laughter was replaced with screams as the entire field was set alight. Black smoke filled the air as one survivor stood in the centre of the flames, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.

- - -

Hestia woke up in a cold sweat, haunted by the images of the memory from years past.

Within her dim bedroom, she sat alone, pondering that moment staring at the palm of her shaking hand as though mere willpower could make the thin fabric she held in it all those years ago magically reappear.

As she held out her hand, a small flame burst to life, and danced in the middle of her palm. Hestia watched it, letting the warm light illuminate the room for a second, before wrapping her fingers around the fire and feeling the energy fizzle out, and absorb back into her skin.

She let out a heavy sigh as she put on her red framed glasses, and glanced at the clock by her bedside. 04:53.
She could hear the patter of rain on the window as the storm outside slowed down. She sat and listened for a minute, acutely aware of the sounds of her parents sleeping in the room across from hers. They wouldn't care if she left for a couple hours. Hell, they hardly noticed her when she was here; it wouldn't make much of a difference if she went on a walk.

Dragging herself out of bed like all her bones were made of lead, she threw on her black leather jacket over her deep red, baggy t-shirt and a pair of stylish autumnal red trousers. She stepped into her worn leather boots, slipped on a pair of cool leather gloves, and left her tiny room.

Before she left the house, she took a moment to look at herself in a nearby mirror. Her hair was the same as it had been on that day, from the shade of deep reddish brown, to the side braid that kept the long locks somewhat manageable. Hestia looked at the hair disdainfully, as if it, along with everything else that reminded her of that dreadful summers day, was somehow to blame for what had happened.

Apart from her hair, Hestia took note of her brown, almost red eyes, and, more importantly the purple bags directly beneath them. She briefly considered hiding them with concealer, but quickly shot the idea down; putting on makeup was too much of an effort right now, and it's not as if she was trying to impress anyone.

With one final once-over, Hestia was prepared to leave, shoving a pair of keys, her purse, and her phone into a small handbag, slinging it over her shoulder, and
Stepping into the cool, damp air. The sun was just starting to rise, illuminating the undersides slowly-parting storm clouds with brilliant shades of pink, purple and gold.