Ember ↠ Natsu Dragneel

Chapter Fifteen

N A T S U

My eyesight blurred, but not because tears were welling up. Everything became fuzzy; then I saw nothing at all. My consciousness was floating through an empty space filled with a thick static. Throughout the inky space, my heartbeats pounded loudly, echoing in my ears, alongside fading pleas for help. Feeling in my body drained away until finally, all was black.

I wake suddenly, every thought in high definition. My eyes take in every ray of light and without a doubt I know I've slept too long.

The shackles grazed against my wrists as I changed position in an attempt to get comfortable. I tried using my magic to burn them, but it was no use.

A silhouette of a young woman arose from the shadows, it was Karmin Thornheart. What she was doing here. Isn't she meant to be in prison with the magic council? I thought to myself.

"Nice to see you again, Natsu, did you miss me?" The charcoal-haired woman smirked at me as she stood above me.

"Aww, it's nice to see you too, not," I stated as I spat on the wooden floor.

"Are you clinically insane or incredibly annoying?"

"I don't know probably both?"

 C A M R Y N 

The daylight flows in through the window, consuming all in its path with a golden glow. However, the air hangs heavy, a small discrepancy in the peaceful environment. This is what I wake to, enveloped in the warmth of the sheets surrounding me.

 I step onto the tile, turning the metallic dial as the freezing droplets envelop me, though the unknown variation still latches onto my mind, infecting my every thought. 

 Leaving the icy cold room, I change out of my pyjamas into, turning and leaving into the living room where my brother is already awake and waiting. We share a look, the silent agreement between us confirming we both feel this way. "Let's go." I nod in agreement, following him out as we navigate the streets, finding the guild.

 Entering, we glance around, no sign of Natsu. "Where is he?" I turn, feeling as though I know, even though I don't. Gray, Wendy, Erza, Carla and Lucy approach us, Happy following behind seeming panicked. "Is everything alright?" 

 "Natsu's missing!" Happy blurts, and that pit in my stomach deepens.

 "Missing?!" Richard repeats, and I turn, running as they follow behind. I feel like this is the right direction, a sensation I can't describe leading me through the city, then dense trees, and finally, to a warehouse, long abandoned.

 My sprint comes to a halt, my heavy breaths and heart crashing against my rib cage as if a mallet on a drum, the sound resonating in my ears as the others catch up, unaware of the feeling residing still.

 Looking back, I grab the handle, pulling the heavy, decrepit, weathered wood door open and revealing the empty interior, save for the pink-haired boy lying in the centre.

 All thought leaves me as I start my sprint again, sliding to a halt next to him. My mind is blank, only focusing on waking him up. Sound doesn't exist at the moment to me, shock slowly wearing off as I hear my brother's yell. "Camryn!" 

 I turn, his figure sliding to a stop next to me, as he shouts the chant "Lightningbolt!" 

 The room glows a blinding white, returning to it's darkened state quickly after as I turn to face the same direction. He's staring at the wall, though soon a figure steps forwards. There's an aura of disappointment surrounding her, the shadows starting to encompass the room again.