Broken Prophecy

Two

Incendia.

It was dark. Alex tried calling out for her mom, but there was no answer.

Incendia.

A small light flickered in the distance. Could it be her parents?

Incendia.

Alex walked slowly towards the light, picking up her pace until she was full on sprinting towards her destination.

Incendia.

Alex could see the light growing bigger by the second. She called for her parents as she ran, tears streaming down her face. Wherever she was, it was getting hot.

Incendia.

What happened next, Alex wasn't sure. It seemed as if she blinked and suddenly she was engulfed in flames.

Incendia.

The fire was everywhere, the flames reaching for Alex. She screamed, falling to her knees. Where were her parents?

Incendia. Incendia. Incendia.

—

Alex bolt upright in her bed, waking in a cold sweat. She wiped her face, and whether it was damp from the heat or tears she could not tell. Her breathing was ragged, and her head was spinning. What had she been dreaming about?

All she could remember, the only part of her dream that lingered (aside from the fear), was one word, a word she had never heard before.

Incendia.

—

"And then the buildings are falling and Batman—well, Bruce Wayne—sees a little girl all alone and he gets so pissed." MG was telling Alex about the movie Batman vs Superman, as she had never seen it.

Alex nodded slowly, munching on her waffles. She wasn't sure she fully understood what was going on, but figured it would all make sense once they actually sat down and watched the movie.

"Ugh, can you keep it down, MG? Some of us haven't slept," Lizzie groaned. She was kept up all night helping Josie with something.

Josie rested her head in her hand. "Sorry, I didn't mean to keep you up that long."

Lizzie leaned to the side and rested her head on her sister's shoulder in response.

"Oh do any of you know when I should be getting my schedule?" Alex asked. "Dr. Saltzman said I should have had it by now but I haven't seen it."

"Maybe check your room again?" MG suggested. "I can help you look for it, if you want. I don't mind being late to first period."

Alex sighed. "If it's not a problem, then sure. I have no idea what I'm going to do if we can't find it."

"Find what?" Rafael asked, sliding into the seat next to Alex.

"Oh, I'm just having some trouble finding the schedule Dr. Saltzman sent me," Alex explained.

"Have you tried asking your roommate? Maybe she moved it or something."

Alex lit up. "Of course! I forgot I had a roommate. Thank you Rafael!"

She stood up and collected her things, motioning for MG to stand with her. "I'll let you guys know if we find anything."

Rafael turned in his chair. "Did you need any help? Aside from MG, I mean."

Alex frowned, confused. "Uh, if you want then sure. I doubt it will take all three of us, though."

Rafael stood up. "Great! Lead the way."

—

Alex knocked on her door in case Summer was in the room, and entered upon hearing no response.

"I guess she went to class," Alex said absentmindedly.

"Whoa," Rafael laughed, seeing Summer's side of the room. "Someone's obsessed."

MG shifted uncomfortably. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with a little dedication."

Alex smiled to herself and turned to face her own side of the room. She managed to put away her new clothes and unpack what little things she had left over from the fire; there was her favorite stuffed animal she'd had since she was three, her journal, and a picture of her and her parents that she convinced Dr. Saltzman to print out for her.

She began her search by removing her stuff from the nightstand to check if her schedule was placed on the top. Then she opened the drawer, hoping maybe Summer had put her schedule in it but no such luck.

Alex stepped back and sighed, running a hand through her hair. Where could it be?

"Uh, who are you?"

Alex turned around to see Summer in the doorway, notebooks in hand. She was looking at Rafael skeptically.

"Oh! This is my friend Rafael," Alex said, moving to stand next to the boy in question. "I'm surprised you two haven't met already."

Summer sniffed once and a look of disgust came over her face. "Werewolf," she muttered.

Rafael raised his head in defense, about to say something. Luckily, MG beat him to it.

"Hey now, there's no reason we can't all be friends. Let's just take a moment to—ow, okay. Okay. Noted. Ow."

Summer had walked over while MG was talking and began doing some sort of Vulcan death grip on the poor boy.

"Summer!" Alex shouted. She pushed her roommate away from her friend. "What is wrong with you?!"

Summer looked at MG with a blank expression. "You're not a real vampire if you engage with the enemy."

This time all three friends looked at Summer like she was crazy.

"Okay what is this, the 13th century?" Rafael said, scoffing. "Vamps can be friends with werewolves. There's nothing wrong with it."

Summer didn't take her eyes off MG. "Whatever," was all she said. She walked to her dresser. "Oh this is for you."

Summer tossed an envelope to Alex, who was very surprised she caught it.

"Oh uh—thanks, I guess," Alex said.

She opened the item in question and exclaimed, "Yes! Thank you, Summer!"

Rafael walked over to Alex so he could see what was in the envelope. "Is it your schedule?"

Alex nodded happily. "Yep!"

"What's your first class?" MG asked.

"Uh, let me check." Alex scanned the paper and said, "Ew, I have P.E."

"Hey, we have first period together!" Rafael nudged Alex's shoulder.

Alex smiled back at him. "Then we should get going!"

—

Okay so I originally started writing this in the first person but kept switching back to third so that's what I'm sticking with. I tried to go back and change it but I may have missed some spots. Just comment where I missed and I'll take care of it.