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afailedwriter · 2 years

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Random Writings #2

Fire in the Rain

I wrote this short story a few years ago and just finished giving it some light editing. Focused around themes of fantasy, with a little bit of romance. It's a little lengthy at almost 2k.

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I heard Celia long before I saw her. The front door slammed hard, and heavy footsteps followed. She flopped down on the sofa without even bothering to take her shoes off. On any other day, I would’ve scolded her, but it was best not to prod her when she was like this.

“I take it you lost?” I asked.

“No.”

I waited for her to continue, to explain what was happening, but she stayed silent. I tapped my fingers against the table before getting up to close the curtains. Celia hardly paid any attention to me.

“So, what’s wrong?”

She grunted.

“Celia, you know what happens if you don’t talk about it,” I pushed, reaching on top of the cupboard and feeling around for our last candle. “I really don’t feel like moving cities again.”

She let out a loud sigh. “It’s Delilah. She tripped me over. On purpose. She and Henley started laughing at me and I… I guess I sort of lost it. I pushed Delilah over, into the mud on the edge of the training grounds. Coach pulled me off. Told me I had to be nice to my teammates. I tried to explain, but he just wouldn’t listen. I’ve been benched for the rest of the week.”

I sat down on the floor beside Celia as she balled up her fists. A gust of wind played with my hair and rattled one of the already-cracked vases on the table. And they said I would be the angry one.

“Celia,” I warned.

The wind stopped.

“Sorry,” she muttered.

I placed the candle on the table and she sat up a little. “What are you doing?”

“Do you want to sit in darkness?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow.

She shrugged but pulled herself upright to watch anyway. I rubbed my hands together to warm them up a little. Then, I held up one finger and called up the flames. My fingertip burst into flames, as though it were a match being struck. It built up quickly and steadied, until it was about the size of my pinkie nail. I saw my sister grinning a little at the sight, as she had always done since we were kids. Careful not to burn anything, I placed my finger against the wick of the candle and watched as it sprung to life. I lifted my flaming finger towards Celia and she let out a light breath, just enough for her to kill the fire.

We just sat there in silence for a while, watching the dancing flame and letting our minds wander. I had to leave at six to go meet up with Andy. He’d finally worked up the nerve to ask me to dinner and I wasn’t going to miss it, not even for Celia. She must’ve noticed my constant fidgeting and glancing at the clock, because she rolled her eyes at me.

“Go get ready,” she told me. “I’ll be alright.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yep. Now go. You can’t be late,” she ordered, pointing to the door.

“Thanks,” I told her, jumping up and running upstairs to my room.

The moon was in full view from where Andy and I stood on the sidewalk, waiting for a line of carriages to pass. The stars glittered overhead, forming constellations that I could still recognise from the astronomy books I loved as a child. Andy glanced over at me, then followed my gaze to where I was watching our source of pale light.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” he said, leaning his head back to take in the moon and its surrounding sky.

“Mm-hmm,” I responded, not moving even as the road cleared up.

“See that one there?” he asked, pointing up to one star with a pink glow around it. “That’s my personal favourite. Amore Stella. It means-”

“Love Star,” I finished. “Said to be the combined souls of Giella and Moret, the universe’s first pair of lovers. Their people exiled them for acts of treason, but their story spread across the galaxy and soon everyone was acting on the feelings they hadn’t understood before. It inspired them to be brave enough to love and to accept love from others.”

Andy laughed. “I thought I was an expert on the stars. You know even more than I do.”

“What can I say? Too many days cooped up inside with only books for company.”

If only I could tell you why. The days before I gave up trying to get out flooded my mind. Burns marks across the room. A singed curtain. The book Dr Glen had given me on emotions and how they related to my ‘condition.’ That was the word he had used. Superstition had gotten the better of the ordinary population when they found out the truth.

I snapped out of my thoughts as another line of carriages reached our point in the road. We’d have to wait another few minutes for it to clear. When it finally did, Andy and I stepped out onto the concrete and crossed over. A group of kids pushed past us and ran down the street, yelling to each other victoriously.

“My wallet!” Andy exclaimed, patting his pockets. “They took it!”

Together, we sprinted after the group, who was just turning the corner ahead of us. I picked up speed quickly, leaving Andy behind. Unfortunately for the thieves, I knew all the back alleys and hiding places in this town, having spent much time in them myself. When I reached an intersection to find them gone, I doubled back towards the gap between two small stores. I saw them there, huddled together and emptying the contents of the wallet on the ground.

“Give it back,” I ordered, catching their attention.

“Or what?” one of them sneered.

I let my palms flicker with a little bit of red light. The group took a step back in fear. Andy’s wallet clattered onto the floor. Murmurs bounced off the alley walls, both of words I’d heard as a child and ones which I didn’t know the meaning of. I advanced, forcing the gang back against the wall. One of them tripped over a bag of trash. Keeping my eyes on them, I reached down and grabbed Andy’s wallet.

“Now, scram.”

The group rushed past me in their hurry to escape. I followed them calmly out of the alley. When I turned the corner, I almost walked straight into Andy. His eyes jumped straight to the object sitting in my palm.

“My wallet! But how did you get it back?” he asked.

“They dropped it when they ran,” I lied. “Turns out they were terrified of getting caught.”

Andy seemed to accept my answer, nodding as I handed back his wallet. He hesitated before speaking again.

“There’s something I want to show you.”

“Okay…” I replied with a hint of confusion.

Andy took my hand as we walked. I willed my palm to stay cool against his, even as the rest of my body heated with flame. After a few minutes, he led me up a narrow fire escape on the side of a building. When we reached the top floor, he didn’t unlock the door to his apartment like I expected. Instead, he took his hand from mine and laced his fingers together crouching down and creating a foothold for me. I frowned.

“Trust me.”

I placed one foot in his hands and held his shoulder for support. Without warning, he stood up straight so that I could reach the roof. I grabbed the concrete edges and clambered up just as rain began to drizzle. I stood and watched as Andy jumped up and pulled himself over the ledge. Then, he put his hands on my shoulders and spun me around.

The view was breathtaking. The whole town was spread out before us. Lanterns and street lights flickered in the distant market where we had come from. My house sat somewhere between here and there. The forest beyond the town was laid out like a lush green carpet, visible even through the light rain.

I knew I was burning. Rain turned to steam as it touched my skin, but I really didn’t care right now. This was officially my new favourite place in the world. Andy shuffled a step closer to me. The rational side of my brain was screaming at me to cool down, but… I just couldn’t. I felt as though it would ruin the moment.

Andy took my hand into his. He only held it a few seconds before he pulled it away and clutched it to his chest. His palm was red when he examined it.

“What did you do?” he asked, taking a step away from me.

“I- I don’t know. I’m sorry,” I told him, trying not to panic.

He took another step away. His eyes widened with realisation.

“You’re one of them,” he whispered. “Aren’t you?”

The accusation stung, even if it was true. I could already feel flames jumping up from my palms as I shook my head frantically, trying to convince him otherwise. He continued backing away, until he was standing on the ledge. He looked behind him and, with a single glance back at me, jumped. I heard the clang as he landed on the fire escape. His apartment door squeaked as he opened it, then slammed shut behind him.

I collapsed onto the wet concrete as the fire inside of me died. Rain drenched my clothes and skin. A group of people walked past on the street below me. I kept sobbing. The moon traveled across the sky, moving away from me.

After some time, Andy returned to the roof. I lifted my head. He kept his distance.

“Was I right?” he asked.

I didn’t answer. How could I?

“Thought so.” He sighed. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Andy.”

He shifted nervously. “But I have to report you.”

I stared at him, stunned. He would really report me? After everything?

“No, Andy,” I started as he turned away from me. “You don’t have t-”

And then he was gone.

I didn’t want to move towns again. Celia and I finally had a life here, things were getting better. Why couldn’t people just leave us alone?

I turned my face up into the rain and let out all of my pent-up frustration. Sparks flew off my skin, unable to properly light but unable to stay hidden. The rain sizzled before it could even get close to me.

Eventually, I ran out of energy. I sat on the ground and waited to see if Andy would really call the authorities. I wasn’t disappointed. Knocks sounded on the apartment door a few minutes later. I heard it squeak as Andy opened it.

I searched for a hiding place. A way out. Anything that would keep me safe. I didn’t want to get caught, even if it meant I would be running from my problems again. Instincts were kicking in now. The roof of the next building wasn’t too far away…. I could jump it.

I ran. Grunts sounded behind me as the police climbed onto the roof. I jumped. I flew. I landed roughly. I got back up. I kept running. And running. And running. I jumped again. I ran again.

When looked over my shoulder sometime later, I was alone. I slid down a ladder leading down to an empty street and turned towards my house. I wasn’t far from home. Celia and I could leave before sunrise.

Leave…

Just when we were starting to be happy here.

Just when I thought it would be okay.

Just when things were looking up.

Why did I let myself believe?

#writing #creative writing #short story #short fiction #fantasy #fantasy world #magical #elemental magic

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