Burn Your Local Church

Ashes In The Air

Cameron shut the door firmly behind us, and we walked into the smoke infested air. Smoke filled my lungs and black air burned my nostrils. Cameron walked beside me as we kept out heads down and made our way to the forest exit.

Trying not to turn my head and glance at my mother, I clinged onto Cameron. He was breathing heavily and I couldn't feel it, but I could sense his heart beating fast.

"Jamie!" I perked my head up and looked around quickly trying to find someone who was calling my name. "Jamie!" They hollered again. I caught sight of the village leader standing in the top window of his house. His house was lucky enough not to get burned down.

I cringed at the sight of him, and pulled Cameron with me back towards the house. Cameron and I were speed walking, and Cameron was mumbling and swearing under his breath. "It's okay." I whispered to him.

"We're gonna die." He paused. "I'm gonna die."

I squeezed his hand tighter in mine and just shook my head in disapproval. "No. No, you won't."

Cameron and I walked in silence to the leader's house. We didn't even have to knock on the door before it swung open and a tall, pale man greeted us. He never smiled or said hello.

He motioned for us to come in and behind him I noticed many other people of my village. Only the important people of our society. They were all speaking to each other in a whisper, and I felt Cameron tense up. I let go of him and followed my leader into a room far away from the crowd of people he was hosting.

Cameron seemed hesitant as to where to go, but I made him come with me into the room. We all took a seat on chairs that we're placed in a circular formation. "Jamie, we all assumed with great concern that you were deceased."

"Oh, no. I'm fine."

"Fine as hell." Cameron mumbled under his breath. My face got hot and I was really hoping that I was the only one who heard Cameron.

The leader continued. "Anyways, the very large topic of your seventeenth is arising in multiple conversations." My heart started beating in my throat. "Would you still like to continue with it?"

Thoughts of burning down Cameron's town, and hurting innocent people made me cringe. I wouldn't do that out of choice.

But then thoughts of Zach killing my mother and burning down my village me my seventeenth sound worth while.

"I'd like to proceed with the production of my seventeenth."

"Well that's good for us." He paused, "I'm sure your mother would be very proud of your decision."

His words lingered in the air as he let himself out and let the door stay open just enough for Cameron and I to show ourselves out.

"What's your seventeenth?" Cameron asked in a concerned voice.

"Cameron we should go."

"Yeah we should. Zach is still going to kill me since we're late, but let's go." Cameron gently but firmly grabbed my hand on the way out and we walked past the small gathering of adults crowded in the main room. The leader was sitting alone at a high table, reading his hands.

"Jamie!" He said right as Cameron and I were going to open thee door. I jerked my head around. "I will be stopping by your villa tonight to give you something. Make sure you're there."

I nodded and shut the door behind me, with Cameron pulling me into the night sky air.