Fern awoke to the sound of a dull boom in the distance. She was groggy at first, but the sweltering heat soon sobered her up. She jumped out of bed and brushed aside the drapery around Molly's bed.
She was gone.
"Molly?"
She hurried to the pantry, then the bathroom, but she was nowhere to be seen. Another boom sounded, startling Fern. She darted down the steps of their island to see a giant tornado of fire swirling on the horizon. She could barely make out someone standing at the heart of it.
"MOLLY!"
Fern dashed out towards the blaze, her feet burning against the ground. The air became thicker and hotter the closer she got. Her pajamas snapped and billowed around her as she tried to keep her footing against the blistering air whipping at her body. She could faintly hear Molly screaming.
"Molly!" The fiery whirl nearly drowned out her voice with its violent gales.
Soon, she was at the foot of that towering inferno. She had never been more afraid in her life, but she steeled herself. Molly's life was in danger. It was the only thing that mattered.
She leapt into the fire.
In the eye of the raging firestorm stood Molly MacDonald, untouched.
"M-Molly?"
The towering blaze that surrounded them vanished, as the Sphere returned to white and its temperature normalized instantly.
"W-what--"
"You should be asleep," Molly said without turning to face her.
"I heard you screaming--I thought you were in trouble, I--"
"Hm. That's a pretty ballsy thing to do for somebody."
"I thought...I thought the Sphere was attacking you, but...all of that...came from you."
"And the world's greatest detective solves another mystery."
"I...About earlier, that was terrible of me. It's none of my business and--"
"No. It isn't."
"I just...wanted to understand you better. We've been in this place for five months and I barely know anything about you...In the end, though, it wasn't fair. I'm sorry..."
Molly sighed.
"...You risked your life to save me. Why?"
"Besides George," Fern sighed with an abashed shrug, "you're the closest thing I have to a friend."
Molly snorted, incredulous.
"Jeez, Walters. You're hopeless. And...you remind me of my brother," she smirked, turning to face her.
"I...do?"
"Come on," Molly exhaled, heading towards home. "You look hungry."
At a loss for words, Fern followed in silence.
YOU ARE READING
Elwood Tenkaichi: An Arthur Story
FanfictionWhen Elwood City holds its very first junior martial arts tournament, kids from all over town enter to win. Their reasons are many: some to prove themselves, some to settle old scores, and some just for the prize money. In the case of Fern Walters...
