Cleansing Memories in Ғɪʀᴇ

[Chapter 11] The Visions Don't Lie

Big, big fire warning. It goes for the whole chapter. 

Veritas Nunquam Perit
(Truth Never Perishes)

~Unknown

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The end came on them before they ever had a chance to react.

Flames roared over the buildings, laughing at the citizen's feeble attempts to run clear. Many perished where they had sat at their dinner tables, relaxing in the comfort and safety of their home before that illusion was viciously incinerated. The flames burned high into the sky which was filled with ashes and smoke that blocked out any sign of the moon or the stars in a thick blanket.

Mountains of fire rolled through the city, flickering to the sounds of people crying out in fear. Trees were scorched and their leaves withered in the heat. Soot spewed from the buildings and covered the street and people's hands and faces. The fire raced through the castle, the tall and oxygenated hallways encouraging it to burn faster as the tapestries and carpet gave it fuel. Flames licked out the windows and doors of the great building like some sort of twisted fireworks display.

Some people were captivated by the burning castle which towered over them as a physical manifestation of their impending doom. But it wasn't only the embers which filled the air. Flecks of blood seemed to be caught up by the breeze as the arsonists made their way gleefully among the terrified crowds, putting their swords to good use as well as their magic which encouraged the fire to greater feats.

Herobrine could barely breathe. He had been in the castle when it was set alight and he was one of the few who managed to make it out alive. Smoke and ash filled his lungs as he pushed through the crowds, coughing, trying to organise them to leave and get to safety while in his heart, he knew it was hopeless. The fire had come too suddenly, the killers too swiftly, for anything to be done. It was only individuals who could be saved, not the people group.

He heard the terrified screams of children and distraught calling of loved ones but he was deaf to it all, frantically looking around. Fire was everywhere he looked and people pressed around him, jolting him, heedless of who he was yet he paid them no attention. More fire erupted from a house to his right and he instantly raised his arm to cover his eyes from the burning night.

"Steve! Notch!" he screamed out.

He ran back against the flow of the crowd, searching for any sign of his brother. He made it to a crossroads in the street and saw people running from a burning inn, some collapsing to the ground in a few steps while others followed the flow of people. The windows of the place had gone and the timbers creaked ominously. He could see more figures still inside the building and with a thrill of terror, he recognised one as Steve.

"Steve!" he yelled, running forward.

Steve looked up and opened his mouth to call back. But nothing was said as the floor above him gave a creak and fell, crushing the few souls who were still inside, heedless of the fact that one was the King. Those closest to the inn instinctively ducked and covered their heads, freezing for a moment before fleeing once more. Herobrine was frozen for several seconds before the pressing crowds forced him to move on.

He was further down the main street now, almost halfway between the front gate and the castle which was still burning vigorously. Fresh screams came from ahead of him and the crowds scattered. Herobrine's blood chilled as he heard swords clash on each other and he pushed past the crowds, feeling the heavy weight of his own sword at his side, clapping against his leg.

He made it just in time to see the sword fall from Notch's grip and the second sword come down on his brother's body lying prone on the ground. For a moment, Herobrine forgot how to breathe, his gaze locked on the scene. He saw the green-eyed man, once his student and now his enemy, withdraw his sword from the body, looking around.

The two made eye-contact and Vito gave a sneering grin. His eyes flicked to something above Herobrine and for a moment, Herobrine saw a shadow on the ground. He spun around too late and felt the blade rip a line down his back. He bit back a scream and drew his own sword, locking it with Entity's. The man's snarl unnerved him almost as much as the fire which surrounded him.

The two fought with fury unseen in that city since their last fight. The fire cast flickering shadows of the two across the ground and the faces of the crowd which still rushed around them only to meet the blades of Entity's trainees or the chaotic flames. All the fear and anger and loss which Herobrine felt fueled his adrenaline and quickened his blade, but he could only channel so much.

The scenes which had plagued him in his youth and then for the past few weeks were coming back in their full force, bringing the emotions with them. The fear and panic which filled Herobrine clouded his thoughts and his reasoning.

He put up a good fight, but Entity's sword pierced him anyway, coming out his back. Herobrine's blood-stained white sword dropped to the ground and his body was quick to follow; burnt, covered in soot and blood and tears.

The castle came down with an almighty crash, flames momentarily leaping into the air and carving obscure words before dying out while the crumpled and crushed stones of that ancient masterpiece continued to burn to ashes.

Not one survived that day.

The city lay that way - burnt, destroyed and desolate - for many, many years. No one dared to enter it and disturb the final resting place of hundreds of thousands of people.

The castle, built by the first great King of the land, King Durim, was destroyed beyond repair and, lying on the street before it, lay two descendants of the royal line of Durim and their brother, the One Who Sees Fire.

Book inspired by Ed Sheeran's song 'I See Fire'

"And I see fire inside the mountain
I see fire burning the trees
I see fire, hollowing souls
I see fire, blood in the breeze
And I hope that you remember me..."