Flames

6. THE JOURNEY

I can hear her giggles.

She's dancing around me but I can't make out her face.

For some reason, her giggles and playfulness makes me happy.

It very bright yet she's blurry. She out stretches her hand for me to hold. I smile at the gesture.

All I want is to hug her. Maybe if I do, I'll see her face.

I stretch out my right hand to reach her but all of a sudden, she's a step further. I move closer and try again but this time she's too far away.

She's getting away.

I start to run to her. All I want is to hold her, to hug her again just this once. No matter how hard I run, I can't get to her.

Suddenly, the ground gives way and I'm falling. I land inside water and I start to drown!

I can't breath! I can't swim!

I'm drowning.

The water currents start to push me around under the water. My white hair gets tangled around my face.

I can't breathe!

Need to breathe! Air! Need air!

The water continues to push me around until suddenly it stops for a split second. Enough for me to catch an image before me.

The image of a burning golden ring.

Then the water rebegins to toss me around and I feel as if I'm finally going to die.

I'm dying..

HAY! HAY!

My name echoes in my head. The voice sounds familiar.

HAY! Wake up!

The voice calls again.

HAY! HAY!

"Hay! Hay! Come on! Wake up!"

I jolted awake gasping for breath like a person who had been under water for a long time. I was panting heavily but gradually my breath started to come back to normal. That was when I took in my surroundings.

I was soaking wet on a bed. I looked out the window and noticed that the sun was beginning to set. I was in Kelarie's room and she was sitting right beside me on the bed, looking at me with worry all over her pretty face.

I was confused for some split seconds until everything came flowing back. The Moli's attack, the Thellars, the Massacre, Riya, Reny..... The fire, how I lost consciousness. It all came back and guilt stabbed me from within my stomach.

"How long have I been out?" I asked.

"Three days."

"Ophron?"

She lowered her head at the sound of his name and sadly shook her head.

He didn't make it.

More guilt scattered within my body. If there was anyone to blame, it will be me.

I stood from the bed and made a beeline for the door when I caught my reflection in the looking glass. I was wearing a white gown stopping below my knee. Due to the fact that it was still wet, the fabric was clinging to my skin.

I opened the door anyway, walked out the living room and stepped out into the outside world. I was left devastated by the sight before me. They had tried to tidy up but there wasn't much they could have done in three days. As if my legs had a mind of their own, they started to lead me down the paths of Adrianne.