What Memory Remains

Chapter 13

“Z…Ze…phar?” Alice mumbled, inaudible to anyone else.

“Alice…” He replied helplessly, resisting the urge to embrace her. Not trusting himself, he even took a step back in fear, the flames still burning hotly from within him and all around. “Alice! You have to get up!” The effort it took to contain the blaze was getting harder, but if there was any chance she could live, he was taking it. It was impossible for him to get her out physically, and a spell would take too much concentration that he simply didn’t have.

“Wh-what’s going on?”

“Alice! You have…have to get out, now!”

“What’s….what’s wrong with you?!” She shot up from the table.

“Don’t worry…ab-about me!”

“Why are….you’re on fire.” She dropped down and moved towards him.

“Get away! Don’t touch me!”

“But you’re….”

“I’LL BE FINE YOU NEED TO GET OU…” At this, a column of fire shot to his left, catching a chair on fire. “Ahhhh…”  There were tears in his eyes now, the fear of losing control growing more. Alice saw the desperation in his eyes, and felt the anguish of his mind and body.

“Let me help,” she said, and channeled her mind into his. Zenapharr felt her enter his mind, and his concentration instantly increased. The fire died down some, and Zenapharr relaxed for a second. Until something in him suddenly pushed her out, something involuntarily.

“What-what was that?” Alice said, reeling from the force.

“I don’t know…” Suddenly, he ahd to concentrate fully to contain the fire, and it was getting harder very quicikly. Another flame shot out, this time towards Alice and narrowly missed her. “Alice….you have to…get out!”

Even talking for him was now a strain. Not knowing what future awaited them, Alice locked eyes helplessly with his and uttered her last words to him right before she sprinted from the room…

Ten minutes later, a frantic Alice continued her trek through the halls, gasping and panting with the mental and physical effort. Not knowing the entire place by heart, she had to make a mental map by reading minds as she moved along while simultaneously convincing workers that they didn’t see her as she passed. The last thing she needed was guards stopping her just before everything was incinerated. Everything was so exhausting. Despite the fact that she recovered from the tranquilizer shot so quickly, the after-effects still left her drowsy. Only the thought of escaping death kept her moving.

She thought for a moment she was going to run out of energy when she suddenly realized she was at the first floor and one more hallway from the exit. By this time, she felt like a walking zombie stumbling and pulling herself like some mannequin with someone else pulling the strings. At the final door she needed to pass through to get to the foyer area, she breathed a sigh of relief thinking she’d actually make it.

When she got into the foyer, she was more than discouraged to find five guards waiting for her there.

“Prisoner, stop where you are!” One of them commanded, brandishing his firearm. Not feeling strong enough to control his thoughts, she had to think quickly.

“You need…to get out! This place….is going to go up in flames!” She shouted wearily. The guards’ faces seemed suspicious, and they all exchanged glances to see if they agreed she was telling the truth.

“She’s a psychic! She’s just messing with us! Detain her!” One of them shouted, and two fo them followed suit. As they neared her, she used the last of her energy to convince the two guards that other prisoners were attacking them, causing them to start brawling with each other. A third guard raised his firearm in preparation to shoot, but Alice swooned. The last thing she remembered before she passed out was the continual sounds of shouting and fighting, and then a voice she didn’t’ recognize just as her vision faded to black.