Stars Of Life

✦ Pyromania

*PYROMANIA : n. a very strong desire to set fire to things.

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Like Julie had said, there were only some of Miles' friends whom I haven't properly met ever. However, everything went good except when Miles friend, Rose showed me a video of April wishing me. She looked different than when she was here. She wasn't fine. Her skin looked thin and pale. And suddenly I started to miss her obviously.

I arrived home safely at six. Safe? That was because the weather had gone windy wild when Miles drove me back. When I get home, our neighbour 'The Wills' family were already there on the occasion of my birthday with their only child named Noe, who was so cute with brunette hair like mine. Well, I joined them until we had dinner. And my birthday celebrations was over. Finally, I gotta hit the sack.

I assume it as my dreams, in a state where I was unable to know whether I was alive or dead. But the clear picture of mine played smoothly: It was colorful in our place;spring time. I was chasing tiny butterflies in an unclear world. The surroundings was blurry. I began to run frantically in extreme happiness. I heard the call of the waves so I ran with all of my mighty speed. I felt like flying accompanied by tickling sensation. I didn't knew where the destination was but found myself running on the deserted road. And suddenly alas! I fell down when my feet hit a rock and my teeth were all gone. I started crying.

I was back in my home. My mother was frying some beans but it was burnt and the smell was closer. The smell was different than the beans. Something was burning.

It was very dark at first when I shot opened my eyes. Slowly my eyes adjusted to the faint light and I rolled my eyes in all directions. I smell fresh ashes which I found pleasant.

Pleasant! Really?

Someone was sitting on the chair infront of my study table. Radiating mysterious and warm vibes. But to my dismay, my books was already on fire. Smoke was whirling like a small vortex towards outside since the window was open. It seemed like he was suffering from pyromania.* Rare one.

I kept silent and stagnant so that he won't know that I was awake. I gulped in small amount to dodge his attention. There was nothing to do except playing dead as he wasn't a burglar but a lunatic person who loves to burn things in others home. Waiting for him to go was probably the better idea. And being alert too.

I waited for him to go. Waited-waited....One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, four sheep, five sheep, sixth sheep, seventh sheep....not so fast!

"Give something me to burn that's your least favourite." He spoke with his manly voice unexpectedly, silencing my heartbeat.

He knew I was awake?

When I didn't respond, I heard him standing up as the chair shuffled a bit. Thinking he might harm me, I swiftly stood up from the bed and turned the switches on. I blinked many times due to the intense light. And he stared me with that seething look to which I rolled my eyes to the mess he made. One of my notebook was still burning on the floor. An epiphany hit me, oh, my notebook!

My theories for test.

I bring myself near the floor beside my bed and with all my breath extinguished the stunted fire and shook all the ashes from my desk.

Soon, I snapped. "How dare you? What are you, huh? Look..." I paused everytime when I get disheartened. It was unbearable to explain him what he had done. He wasn't a toddler.

"Give me something to burn....to burn..to burn." He mumbled repeatedly as if he was drunk. Then I looked into his eyes above as he was taller than me. Much taller. His eyes was half closed, half open. He was unconscious to his deeds, probably.

WHAT IS HE? WHY IS HE HERE? GO AWAY! GET OUT! I wanted to scream those words in real so badly.

"I would like you to go. To your crib. And I beg you, don't ever disturb me!" I muttered to him which he didn't heard obviously and I mentally slapped my head.

All of a sudden, he crashed on the floor and I prayed no one had heard. Especially my parents. I panicked and sat down to his level checking if he'd hurt his crazy head. Nothing had happened him. I tried to wake him up. In vain, the clock ticked to twelve designing new patterns for the new start of hours. My eyes was still on him. It felt strange, unreal. Maybe it's my part of a nightmare. I closed the window slightly and turned off the lights. I waited him to wake up on his wits but my tired soul needed rest.

I forgot his existence when darkness overpowered my eyes.

* * *

"Hello, is this April?" I asked deliberately.

"Yeah." Her voice was small. Other side of the line was silent then. I stood infront of the mirror taking a deep breath.

"How's everything? " I asked softly.

"I miss you, Sage," she cleared her throat and coughed lightly.

"I miss you too. Um, thanks for your wishes, April."

And she was silent. What was running in her mind?

We had nothing to talk unless it was secrets. So, I kept silent too.

"May I text you?" she asked quickly as if she was really in need of telling me something.

"Sure." We hung up. After sometime, she send me a long message.

▪April▪ : I'm thankful that you're safe. I was threatened to stay away from you and stations otherwise they were going to kill my parents. They were planning so many bad things about you. I'm sorry, I was frightened Sage, and I didn't told you anything cause I was terrified that they will actually attack my parents. I'm so sorry. Are u really fine, Sage?

Me : Yes. Don't worry, no one can break our friendship from now again. Can you tell me who were those bad people?

▪April▪ : No names were mentioned. But they were obviously in late teens. Young adults would be a right word 😐

Me : I understood. If I show you their photos, can you recognise their faces?

▪April ▪: Of course. Wait, what? You aren't gonna click random strangers photos, are you?

Me : Count on me. I'm going to be a detective for a day. Anyways I also had a plan to hit the St. Mark library. Never have been, but will try to find some books that I lost yesterday night 😢

▪April▪: What happened?

Me : There is a pyro-guy in this town. Gotta go. Bye, pal. I'll keep you updated.

I put my phone in the pocket of my overcoat and left home. It wasn't snowing, however the road was covered in thick old snow.

People of this town probably doesn't like to walk on snowy paths. It was because I was the only one walking on the pavement. Alongside, few cars were running scrunching the white cold thing.

Then I wondered, does pyromania guy or Mr. Karl's elder son ever put snow on fire so that it would melt? Just for fun?