Feel the Sun

5. Silver

Several times in my life I wondered how it would feel to be burned.

I had only stood in the smoke, in the breath of a flame. I had never actually touched it and during the boring days in the palace where my thoughts would wander far and wide, I often found myself imagining what fire felt like. How would it sustain between my fingertips....?

Of course I've never been stupid enough to actually put any piece of me near a fire. But I couldn't deny I was always fascinated by it.

Though I felt like I was on fire right now - as we cruised through the desert in Rain's little vehicle with the sun blazing heat waves through the dark-tinted windows. In the rear-view mirror, several yards away, I could still spot the van that seemed to be following us down the road.

The fear and anxiety that tossed around in my stomach seemed to make the time go slower, the road stretch longer, the sun grow hotter and the silences nearly unbearable.

"How close are we to the city?" I asked for possibly the fiftieth time.

Rain's eyes didn't peel from the road. "I'd say ten more minutes. We're getting closer, Amara. Patience is a virtue."

But patience definitely wasn't on my side right now.

I cut the conversation to focus on what was coming up in the distance - the outline of a city had been visible for a while now and we were growing closer to the skyscrapers and odd-shaped buildings. I had never been to a big city before. I would be giddy with excitement if it wasn't for this van that was putting me on edge....

My parents had told me stories of this place - Paragon City was located on the West Coast of Baradae. There were parts of it that were rich, marvelous and luxurious. Neighborhoods with huge glass houses and shops and buildings made of the finest stone and material. And then there was the less fortunate side of town. Many people survived on the streets, in old, crumbling apartment buildings and in cheaply made, one story homes. My dad always showed a bit of disgust for the lowerclass. I could never understand why... Shouldn't the king want to help those in need and suffering?

We came by the sign that welcomed us to Paragon. My mouth fell open.

"Those buildings are almost as tall as the palace!" I exclaimed.

"What....?" Rain gave me a strange look. "Have you seen the palace in person?"

"Yes. It's a long story," I lied. "But I've never been here before. Look at all of the cute shops! The fountains! Oh and is that a shopping mall? I have always wanted to go to a shopping mall!"

She chuckled. "Maybe we can go later... before we leave."

"How long are we staying in the city?"

She shrugged. "Who knows?"

"How long do you typically stay in one place?"

"It depends. I just like to go when my gut tells me to go and slow down when I feel like I'm safe for a moment or two... Maybe we can stay for a few days."

"I'm sure there's so much to do. I'd love to pay a visit to the bookstore! Or maybe the furniture store? I would also like to-"

"Amara."

"Yes?" I snapped out of my daydream. "What is it?"

"The van disappeared." She said it with such a straight face that I thought she was joking. I looked around to the left, right, back and front of us and surely...

The vehicle was nowhere to be seen.

Now that we were in the city they could've taken another road and turned while we were sidetracked...