Into the Flames [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 39

“So, how long does this take to cook?”

“Not too long really. The outside will brown and then it should be done,” I answered, looking at Moose. “You two did a very good job on the spit.

Moose’s mouth moved like he was talking, but nothing came out. His eyes were huge as he pointed behind me. As I turned, Willow screamed. A large animal jumped on Willow, pinning her to the ground. She struggled under its grip, but its long skinny, muscular legs held her down. It bit into Willow’s shoulder. I grabbed the spear from the fire and faced the beast. Fire ate at the fish meat. I ran towards the beast, my fiery spear in hand. The beast leaped up, onto a tree, Willow in its mouth. I threw the spear. As it hurled through the air, the beast jumped back down. The spear hit exactly where its heart would have been if the beast was still there.

I ran towards the tree to retrieve the spear, but the tree erupted in flames. I pulled the spear out and ran back towards the beast. I threw the spear again, hitting the beast right by the heart. The beast growled at me as a pulled the spear out of its chest. It bit at Willow’s chest, just sinking its teeth in as my spear impaled into its heart. The beast staggered backwards, falling over.

Willow looked up at me as I approached her, “Don’t worry about me, you need to get out of here. The fire will kill you.”

“I’m not leaving without you,” I picked her up, running out of the burning woods. A cannon shot sounded in the distance. The fire seemed to follow me as I ran away from it. Willow’s eyes dropped lower and lower with every step.

“Waterlily, please put me down. Let me die amongst the dancing flames.”

I shook my head, “I can’t leave you here to die.”

“You have to, it’s not much longer.”

“No. You can’t die. You’re too young.”

“I know, but that is what the games are for, to kill the innocent and to show the guilty. I will never forget you,” Willow’s eyes closed and the cannon went off. I knelt down, putting her in a pile of fresh green leaves. I kissed her forehead and fled, just as a tree limb crashed down right where I had just been.

Tears streamed down my face as I pushed through the flames. I could see the field just ahead, but I didn’t want to make it there. I couldn’t. My only inspiration was gone and it was never going to come back.