The Fire Inside

2. Riley & Emmalynn

Saying that Jimin was terrified was an understatement. She couldn't stop trembling in her loose, black combat boots, as she ran into foreign territory. Was she going to die? Was there a way out? Or would she be lost in the forest forever? She tripped and fell, for the hundredth time that day, and scraped her knee. She looked at the gash and saw large amounts of blood gushing out. She quickly ripped off the sleeve of her jacket and made a makeshift bandage. Living with her danger prone sister meant knowing a thing or two about medical care. As she tightened the bandage and got up, her head started to spin. She braced herself against a tree and held her head in hopes for the pain to go away. Soon she found herself talking to her mind.

"It's ok. You'll be fine. You're not burning up. You don't have a fever. Be strong!"

"Don't go back. I know you want to, but do not."

Jimin flinched as the foreign voice entered her mind.

"Who are you?" She asked the voice.

"Don't worry about that. For now, know that I'm here to help. As best as I can."

"Then what do I call you?"

"How about nothing? Just call out to me. I'll hear you."

Jimin smacked her head twice before looking around. Suddenly the voice disappeared. She looked around in confusion before her head started to hurt.

"Argh!"

She clutched her chest as a burning sensation burned through her body. Falling to the ground, she heard rustling behind her, but couldn't even move. Soon after she blacked out.

When she finally woke up, the first thing she noticed was the two girls leaning over her. One seemed older while the other looked around her age. The taller one had fiery red hair that reached her shoulders. Her eyes were like shiny emeralds and freckles adorned her olive skin. She smiled at Jimin and made her feel safe. The other girl was the opposite. She was silent, no smile, but seemed a bit sad. Her jet black hair reached the bottom of her neck and was very choppy—not messy though. Her eyes seemed like they changed colors, but if you looked close enough, you could tell that her eyes had multiple colors. It was like looking through a kaleidoscope. Jimin was shaken out of her trance as the shorter girl started to speak.

"So, is she dead?"

"Hey! Don't say things like that! She looks like she's getting up though."

"Trying you mean..."

"Emmalynn!"

"What?"

So the black-haired is Emmalynn, Jimin thought.

"Who- Who are you guys?" Jimin croaked.

She tried to get up, but felt a piercing pain in her head and chest.

"Woah! Slow down there! You're still a bit sick. What happened to you?"

"I- I don't wanna talk about it."

"That's alright. My name's Riley Berry. Nice to meet you..."

"Jimin. Jimin Song."

"Nice to meet you Jimin. This here is Emmalynn Brennis. Don't mind her closed off nature. She can be like that sometimes."

"You don't need to talk for me," Emmalynn said.

"Sorry for causing you guys trouble," Jimin mumbled.

She felt guilty for imposing on the girls. She tried to get up again, and with the help of Riley and a little prompting for Emmalynn, they got Jimin into a sitting position. She analyzed the small room she was in a realized she was in a three room hut. She was in one of the rooms and there was one across from her. Besides that, she could see a glance of the main hall. It reminded her of her home. The one that was demolished by the hairy man. Jimin shuddered at the thought of the hunter.

"Did you guys build this home?" Jimin asked.

"No. I found it. Just like I found Emmalynn."

Jimin saw Emmalynn blush. Cute.

"So what are you doing in these woods, if you don't mind me asking?" Riley slowly asked.

"Well...I don't really know. All I can remember is that some hunter with a big axe hacked down my village. But what I don't get is how it happened so fast."

"What do you mean?" Emmalynn questioned.

Riley raised an eyebrow, to which Emmalynn glared. She looked back at me and cocked her head like a little puppy.

"You remind me of my sister...she would've loved to play with you."

"Why? Is she alright?"

"I'm the only one who survived. Everyone else in the village died. They've been annihilated."

Emmalynn's eyes widened as Riley came over and hugged Jimin.

"We're here for you. Promise. We're so sorry."

Tears started pouring out of Jimin's eyes. Soon, she was clutching Riley's dress and sobbing into it. She cried about how she was lost and would never see her family again. How she was hurt and was hearing things.

"Hearing things? Like what?"

Jimin's breath hitched. She shouldn't tell them. It was way too weird.

"I kept talking to myself and it just creeped me out..."

When Jimin finally stopped crying, Riley helped her up and out of the small bedroom and into the main hall. There, Jimin saw a little table, a cot, and a mini kitchen. The doorway was wide and windows big enough that she didn't even feel like there was a wall between her and the outside. She walked towards the door, but was stopped by Riley.

"How about you eat something first."

"Yeah. Ok. Is this an empty spot in the middle of the woods?"

"Yeah. Basically. Cool huh?"

"Yeah. But I'm still confused."

"About what?"

"How'd I get sick? I was only running for an hour max—right?"

"I don't know, but after seeing your condition, you definitely touched some plants that are definitely not safe. There's actually a plant some ways far from here. I guess isn't he direction you arrived, but they're practically poisonous. Luckily I found you in time, otherwise you'd probably be dead."

"Then I owe you. Big time."

"Nah. You don't owe me anything. Just stay till you feel better. Lemme see what we have for you right now. Emmalynn, could you look for the bread? I'll get the stew."

Jimin fought back tears. That had been the same thing she ate before the disaster.

"We're out of bread. We'll have to go to the market," she turned to Jimin," Hey missy. You ok?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I'll be fine."

Emmalynn looked at Jimin once more before awkwardly giving her a hug.

"You'll feel better. I got over it. You'll get over it too. C'mon, I'll lend you something. Your clothes are a mess."

Jimin looked down at her dirtied outfit.

"Can I get something in black?"

"What're you, emo?"

Jimin gave Emmalynn a long look.

"I'm kidding," Emmalynn reiterated, "I usually wear short dresses, but I should be able to find something. Hurry up, we need to get you dressed quick. We're going to the market."