EMBER

KARIM

I am extremely useless. That's the only way I can put it.

I walk through the trees and emerge into the front yard of the mansion.

Thea is gone to that suicide mission. And I couldn't stop her much less participate in anyway. I kick a stone angrily out of my way.

It's always hard to dissuade her when she's decided. Frustrating female. And am useless. I can't do anything about it. I can't be there to protect her.

I walk towards the apple tree that I have grown to like lately. Well everyone seems to like it more than the other trees littering the yard.

It has a soothing presence.

I unstrap the quiver from my back and slump down heavily leaning against the trunk throwing it beside me with the blue crystal bow and close my eyes.

Atleast her brother and sister are there with her. I convince myself and with that consolation I close my eyes.
*******************

I walk into the laboratory for my free period. It's the only place free enough. My sister is somewhere and the boys are shouting somewhere behind me. I love free periods.

The morning sun is filtering through the overly open windows but it's still very cold as it's always is. Refreshing.

Maybe by ten it will be warmer. A glow of silver catches my eye. It's the new girl everyone is talking about. She's foreign, American maybe by the looks of it.

But that's not what catches me. I feel drawn to her somehow.

I walk up to her without realizing it. Her hair is a really weird shade of silver, not like old people silver, like lustrous liquid silver. It's so thick I itch to touch it.

She's pale, really pale and she stands out among the sea of chocolate brown bodies around her. She's alone almost out of place.

There's a certain glow about her, she seems almost lost. As I get closer I notice her silver is streaked by a very vibrant red, almost pulsing. I am very mesmerized.

She is reading something. I peek around her shoulder to see. Sense and Sensibility, fascinating.

"I love Jane Austen too but I like Pride and Prejudice more."
It is out of my mouth before I could stop. Oh well, I might introduce myself as well. A pair of striking wide grey eyes focus on me.

"My name is Ahmad."
Wait what? My name is Karim. I lick my suddenly dry lips and try again.

"My name is Ahmad" Now I am panicking and sweating. All around me everything starts fading.

I make to grab her before the darkness swallows her but she vanishes like the mist too.

Am plunged into darkness. I try to run away from it but I stumble and fall really hard.

A small light appears before me. I get up shakily and follow it curious like the idiot iam. It stops before me and it glows brighter. Shinning. Expanding. I shield my eyes as I gasp.

My gut is twisting in terrible knots. The glow subsides and there standing before me is myself or atleast a something that looks like me with black eyes and a small smirk. I swallow.

The thing looks at me and without warning lunges at me. I let out a small shriek and I fall stumbling in empty darkness.

I wake up panting, the silk shirt and trousers am wearing clinging to me in cold sweat.

I look at the blue crystal bow, somehow its back in my hand and glowing a faint bluish light. That's freaky.

Before I can figure out what is wrong entirely the sky explodes with white light. The pillar of white light extends further.