The Grey's Curse

Chapter Seventeen - Up In Flames

Unknown to the peacefully sleeping household, a dark red mist was venturing around in their kitchen, examining certain things that were laying around like spices, glass cups and plates that it purposely knocked over, shattering them and happily creating a dangerous mess in the kitchen.

Why? Well for really no reason other than to cause a mess.

It didn't stop there and it continued it's little adventure by floating up the stairs, creating little cracks in the walls that followed it's movement as it ascended up the stairs until it stopped right outside of Maria's room before it easily slid in through the door cracks that it left only a few days earlier.

It floated and hovered right by her side, nearly touching her with how close it was before it began extending it's deadly red mist, trying to encase her in it but it's efforts were all futile when it suddenly jerked away from her; making a sound similar to a hiss when it touched the plushie tightly cradled in her arms.

It lingered in the room for only a moment more before it slipped through the door cracks, and this time, traveled to the room where her mother was sleeping in.

~Maria's POV~

I was sound asleep until I smelled something...odd 'What is that? It smells like something is burning' I slowly cracked open my eyes and groggily looked around my room as if it's supposed to have the answer but the burning smell was only getting worse.

I was confused until I heard the loud beeping of the fire alarm activating.

'Is something on fire?!' Panicking, I hurriedly got up and ran through the small hallway, practically flying down the stairs and nearly tripped in my rush. the smell of smoke and ash getting stronger the closer I got to the kitchen and the sight before me had my heart stopping in my chest when I saw flames and smoke. confirming my fears.

'What happened?!'

The entire kitchen was consumed in flames that kept getting bigger and bigger; spreading and catching more things on fire with every second that passed.

"Mom? MOM!" My throat felt wrecked from my harsh and panicked screams for Mom and I had to force my body to move and run to her bedroom; nearly stumbling as I did and stopped short when I saw her door suddenly fling open as she emerged from her room and looked at me with a disgruntled expression, confused and slightly irritated.

"Mom! the kitchen is on fire! we need to leave!" My chest hurt from breathing as hard and as fast as I was and I hadn't noticed earlier but my legs felt like jelly and my hands wouldn't stop trembling.

Her mouth dropped open and there was fear in her oddly blood shot eyes before she brushed past me to run downstairs to the kitchen while I was behind her; trying to grab her wrist and drag her with me to the safety of outside "Come on Mom! we have to go, we can't stop it!" But no matter how much I tried to reason with her, she refused to move.

When I finally glanced up at her face again her expression looked dazed, almost like she was in a trance "Mom, please" I whimpered out with my voice trembling but she did nothing as if she didn't even hear me at all 'She must be in shock..' I wanted to scream and cry but I refused to.

'I'm done with crying'

I grabbed her wrist again and pushed my fears aside, letting determination and adrenaline take it's place as I tugged and pulled her to the front door which proved to be a difficult task as she was practically dead weight but I persevered and finally managed to tug her out the door, where she would be safe from the smoke and flames.