Phantom in the Fire

Phantom Under the Moon

        One night while visiting Silverglade she heard something very interesting. She walked up to the gate and heard two men talking. The moon gleamed down on her so she was showing but she knew she could run quick enough to get away. The men were saying something about a fire and Mist listened wondering if there was s0me more news about Michelle and if she was found or not but instead as she listened it was not about Michelle but her.

        The one man was saying that he saw the newspaper article and found something very curious on the picture. He saw the ashes and how everything looked black but in the very corner there was a flash of pure white.

        “It looked like a horse running, I swear it. You know, like a tail flying and a hoof.”

        “Oh yes because there are tons of wild horses nowadays that get that close to humans just after a huge forest fire.” The second man said with sarcasm dripping in his tone.

        “Well, the story said there was a young girl and a mare trapped in that fire. They say that they both died because neither one was ever found. I think that the white on the corner of the photo was that mare running still looking for its rider. Maybe she turned into a phantom horse and is haunting the forest looking for her rider even!”

        “You are crazier than I thought.” Said the old man laughing, “Well, who knows I have heard a few clips of people thinking the same thing, and maybe it will spread.”

        “Perhaps it will and maybe not as well. I’m sure it would make an interesting tale to tell to some people that’s for sure.” He laughed and Mist heard them walking away. She tilted her head and thought curiously. She looked up at the moon and then down at it glinting off her white coat. 

        “No wonder that’s what they thought.” Mist muttered. “I wonder how they would react…”

        Mist trotted through the town not seeing anyone. The men had gone into the center by the fountain and she could hear them. She went up to Michelle’s old house and didn’t see any of the lights on. She whinnied softly and pinned her ears and bolted out of the town passing the men. They gasped and the man said “What did I say?!” The other man replied in a whisper that Mist barely caught, “Well, that wasn’t normal but your right. I think that horse is a phantom.”

        Mist almost laughed and thought maybe that was a good name for her but she kept running straight to the woods. She started to go to the top but turned and went to where Michelle fell and lay down but didn’t fall asleep. She had become accustomed to not sleeping as much. She could easily go to sleep but she would always wake up sooner or later reliving a vivid dream of that night. She hated it. She wished she could just forget... But if she did, and Michelle was still alive, then what?