《Flames of Solitude》 Scarred for Life "Jes, help your sister with bathing," Meren spoke to her daughter before leaving the house. "Okay, Mom," Jessica replied. Taking four-year-old Melody by the hand, Jessica led her to the bathroom. Although she was only five years older than her younger sister, at nine, she had already started helping her mother with household chores and taking care of Melody. Since their father had left them, their mom had to work twice as hard. Jessica could see the growing shadows under her eyes and hear the quiet cries from her mother''s bedroom in the darkest hours. So, young Jessica, who would have loved to go out and play with her friends, stayed at home to bathe her younger sister and do whatever needed to be done. She believed that everything would be alright when she could finally see her mother''s smile again. She prayed to God that this day would come soon, the day when she could play outside without worrying. Splash The sound of running water filled the bathroom, accompanied by a young girl''s cry. "Ah, it''s too cold!" Melody exclaimed, holding her hands over her head to shield herself from the freezing water. "It will warm up soon, just wait," Jes reassured her. She turned the showerhead away, testing the water until it reached the right temperature. "Better now?" "Yaa," Melody replied happily. Despite the chase through the entire house to get her into the bathroom, she seemed to enjoy her bath. Jessica applied a bit of soap to her hand and began to wash Melody''s hair, marveling at the color ¨C the same fiery red as her own. Jessica had endured a slew of nicknames for her hair at school: tomato head, carrot top, strawberry... Hmm... As she pondered this, she realized that all these names were related to food. There was one nickname, however, that stood out ¨C Firecracker. It was a name she hadn''t heard in years. Her father used to call her that, and it was also why it had been so long since she last heard it. He used to say it described not only her hair but also her personality, although Jessica hadn''t understood that at the time. Back then, she would just run around wildly, screaming, "I am a firecracker!" and laughing like crazy. Strong emotions welled up in the young girl''s heart, accumulating until a tear formed in the corner of her emerald eye. "Are you crying?" she heard her sister''s voice amidst the splashing water. "No," she replied quickly, aiming the showerhead at her face. "Ahhh, stop!" Melody protested. *** After taking care of Melody''s shower, the next task was to prepare their meal. Meren had prepared sandwiches for her girls, along with some ingredients that Jessica would need to mix into a sauce just before eating. Jessica followed her mother''s instructions dutifully. Soon, the sound of munching could be heard emanating from the small kitchen. At a table large enough for three or four plates, Jessica and Melody enjoyed their meal. "Mhm¡­ It''s yummy," Melody exclaimed. "That''s because I made it," Jessica replied with a smile. "I want to make it too!" Melody exclaimed. "Maybe next time, I''ll show you how," Jessica promised. "Yaay!" Melody cheered, swinging her head from side to side and kicking her legs under the table. Jessica knew this because her energetic sister kept accidentally bumping her shins. After the meal, they settled in for the wait, knowing their mother would return. Of course, Jessica wouldn''t just sit around. Someone had to clean the house, play with Melody, and do her homework. So, in the living room, Jessica sat on the couch with a book in her hand, while Melody played with her toys on the floor. Jessica despised studying, simply because... it was studying. An irrefutable argument, not that anyone would dispute it. Nevertheless, she pushed herself, hoping that a good grade might bring her closer to her ultimate goal ¨C seeing her mother''s happy face. The image of her mother''s happiness brought a small smile to Jessica''s lips. With renewed determination, she gripped the book and began reading the first sentence, which happened to be about history. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. God made the whole world. All of us must follow God''s rules. The first rule is¡­ That''s when Jessica gave up and tossed the book aside. ¡°Ahhh, I hate studying," she grumbled. Her plan to work toward a good grade went up in smoke. Surely, there must be different ways for her to achieve what her heart desires. She didn''t have to ponder this for long, though, because she heard a key turning in the main door ¨C her mother had finally returned. "Mooom." The girls dropped everything to fall into their mother''s lap. Meren hugged her daughters tightly, kissing both their foreheads, her brunette hair falling into their faces. Trying to get Meren¡äs attention, Jessica grabbed her mother''s upper arm, only for her hand to be pushed away. "Don''t touch me there," Meren hissed in pain, immediately reaching for the spot. Jessica belatedly noticed a bruise on her mother''s arm. "Mom, what happened? Did someone hit you?" Jessica''s eyes brimmed with concern, her hand trembling from her mother''s cold touch. "Don''t speak! This doesn''t concern you." Meren''s voice felt colder than the icy water she had showered her sister with, but for Melody, it was just her skin turning cold. For Jessica, this freezing sensation seemed to seep through her entire being, causing her young heart to ache in her small chest. "I-I''m sorry," Jessica apologized. "It''s okay. Did you take care of your sister?" "Yes!" "Good job." Meren gently rubbed her daughter''s fiery hair. And just as quickly as her young heart had been about to freeze into an ice statue, the ice melted under the warmth of her mother''s caress. Jessica was like a mirror, reflecting Meren''s ever-changing emotions. As with any other day, the two girls took turns telling their mom what they had been doing all day. Not that they did anything different, but the urge to share overtook them every time. These two girls were a party unto themselves, a trait they had inherited from their father, along with their red hair. In the evening hours, as the sun cast its final rays in a farewell to the world, Meren took out a book to read to her daughters. It was a routine firmly embedded in their everyday life, and like every other day, Melody would fall asleep before her mother could even read the first sentence. This was a blessing for Jessica because it meant she could have her mother''s attention solely on her. In the living room, Jessica sat on her mother''s lap, embraced by her arms that held onto a book. Her head found its resting place on Jessica''s shoulder. "Do you want to read, Jessica?" "Okay!" The young girl joyfully hummed on her mother''s thigh, her tiny finger pointing at the beginning of the sentence on the first page. "Princess Marina was like a rose in the middle of the garden, the most beautiful princess in the world. Her hair was curly like a cluster of magical cinnamon swirls¡­ Oh, can we get some cinnamon swirls tomorrow?" Jessica paused to ask an important question. "Sure, you glutton," Meren replied with lightly closed eyes, savoring the moment. Jessica giggled, thinking about the tasty snack, before continuing to read aloud. "Her skin was golden brown, kissed by the light of the sun¡­." As Jessica continued reading, she noticed something peculiar. The paper under her finger began to curl and turn dark, small wisps of smoke rising into the air. Curious, she moved her finger swiftly across the page. To her surprise, the dark spot stretched into a line, following her fingertip and the edges of the dark line glowed in an orange-red hue, like burning coal. She was too engrossed in examining the paper to notice the small flickering fire that had formed on her fingertip. Suddenly, Meren sniffed the air, detecting a burnt scent. She assumed she might have forgotten something in the kitchen and opened her eyes, only to witness a sight she could never have imagined. "Jessica! Your fingers!" she shouted. Startled, Jessica looked at her hands, and to her horror, tiny flames curled around her ten fingers as if dancing in her palms. For the not-yet-ten-year-old girl, this scene was a nightmare¡ªshe felt like she was burning alive. "MOOOOM!" she cried out. Both mother and daughter couldn''t comprehend what was happening. Jessica was overwhelmed as the flames grew with every passing fraction of a second, turning into fiery serpents that consumed her arms. Two pairs of eyes reflected terror and fire as they watched helplessly. In less than a second, Meren reached out to grab her burning daughter, desperate to do anything to extinguish the flames, but it was already too late. There had never been a chance. The flames, seemingly in response to Jessica''s chaotic state of mind, roared with a force so tremendous that scorching gusts of air swept through every corner of the room. An anguished scream, forever etching itself into Jessica''s memory, pierced the living room. The fire reached out for the next source to consume, which happened to be Meren''s body. Like a blazing torch, the flames enveloped both Jessica and Meren, their agonized screams echoing so loudly that they reached the ears of their alarmed neighbors. Meren''s chestnut hair, covering her body, was the first to vanish, reduced to ash, followed by the scorching of her skin. In a reflex, Meren threw herself to the ground, rolling to smother the flames. Jessica tumbled with her, the flames greedily devouring her clothes like ravenous moths. Strangely, they couldn''t harm a single strand of hair on her head, but being surrounded by fire was distressing enough for the young girl to overlook that detail. For what felt like a moment later, Jessica sensed a cool liquid flowing over her body, and the flames vanished. When she opened her eyes, she found herself staring at a familiar face, its mouth agape, and its breath heavy. Neighbors, who had rushed to investigate the screams, arrived just in time to see Melody running out of the house, tears streaming down her face, pleading for someone to save her mother and sister. Shortly after, they discovered Melody''s family members engulfed in flames. It was a horrifying sight, only made worse after the fire was extinguished. Meren''s hair had been nearly entirely singed, her skin charred in some areas and redder than the fire itself in others. She was lucky to be alive. But as if Meren had borne all the misfortune of the house, Jessica remained miraculously unharmed, her clothes the only casualty, reduced to ashes. The book that had been in Meren''s hand lay abandoned on the floor, its pages still smoldering and emitting a thin wisp of smoke. As the flames consumed its contents, Princess Marina''s story turned to ash, as though the fire itself sought to craft its own narrative. A story of a fire that would one day scorch the entire world. A Mothers Agony, A Daughters Desperation Following the accident, Meren was brought to a hospital where she stayed for a few weeks to allow her horrible wounds to heal and to become stable enough for release. In the meantime, Jessica and Melody stayed in the care of their neighbors. No one understood what had happened, only that Meren and Jessica had somehow caught fire. Melody had woken up from her mother''s scream and didn''t know much else. Jessica could only recall the darkening pages of the book, her fingers suddenly burning, and the scream of anguish her mother had released. A scream that echoed whether she fell asleep or stayed awake, haunting her throughout the day. But when questioned by neighbors, guards, and everyone else, she had no answers; she was as much in search of them. "What a horrible situation. Meren would have been better off if she had died that day. To live with such scars will be... difficult." "Don''t wish death on anyone. God does not want this." "But He cannot want this either¡ªa young woman, unrecognizable, her own daughters won''t even know it''s her." "That''s enough. The matter is over anyway." Jessica overheard her neighbors, but she didn''t understand. She thought they were kind people. They had saved both her and her mom. Then why did they say her mother should have died? *** The next day, Jessica and Melody eagerly awaited their mother''s return. They had waited for her release from the hospital for far too long, and the thought of her coming back to them made tears flow down their faces as they stood at the doorstep. And then, when a figure, supported by strangers, appeared before them, their eyes turned into endless rivers of tears. Finally, she was back. It was time to return to their familiar lives. Both girls had already taken off to plant themselves in their mother''s embrace but were held back by their neighbor at the last step. "It''s okay... just be... careful," a hoarse but familiar voice spoke. Meren''s body was wrapped in bandages, her skin¡ªwhat was left of it¡ªalmost completely hidden. Her beautiful brown hair had vanished, concealed under a white covering. Although it had been weeks, it was still too early to remove them. She was discharged because Meren was deemed capable of changing the bandage herself, once a day. Jessica and Melody cautiously approached her. They couldn''t recognize her by her altered appearance, but her voice, her silhouette, and the aura she emitted were enough for them to immediately identify their mother. Soon they gently embraced her, and Meren''s eye, the only one of the two visible, peered at Jessica from above. Unseen by the girl, who felt relief and warmth in her mother''s presence, was the look that flashed in Meren''s emerald eye. For a moment, the green eyes held a chilling gaze akin to frost-covered leaves on a bitter cold morning. Meren reached for the two girls'' heads as she always did and ruffled their hair. But the pain she felt from such a simple gesture made her pause and inhale sharply. Jessica trembled at that sound, feeling guilty, not exactly knowing why¡ªperhaps because she had not been able to do anything to help her mother. Later, after the neighbors helped Meren settle in, they left the family of three alone, promising to assist when needed. Before departing, they prepared a large pot of soup for Meren to eat. Jessica held a bowl of soup in her hands, carefully walking over to her mother and placing it in front of Meren. As the fire had even burned part of Meren''s mouth, both drinking and eating had become torture. For a long while, she would have to combine both to avoid straining herself and eat soups or similar foods. Her bandaged fingers reached for the spoon, dipping it into the liquid and moving it to her lips. Slowly, she gulped, her grip on the spoon tightening, and her empty hand balling into a fist. Her lips curled inward as she leaned forward, and erratic breathing sounds followed. With each spoonful of soup, Meren felt the warm liquid flow over the blisters inside her mouth, gliding down a burnt throat. The hot air she had breathed in weeks ago was more than enough to scorch her from the inside out. Every swallow turned into torment. Jessica watched her mother endure the pain, but no matter how long she pondered, there was nothing she could do, so she sat in silence. Melody, quietly sitting next to her, too young to understand what was happening, felt the uncomfortable atmosphere and fidgeted around. After finishing her meal, Meren told them that she would rest and that a visitor would come soon. They should wake her up when someone knocks on the door. *** Jessica and Melody sat in the living room, unsure of what to do. Their mother had returned, but she was not the same. Of course, Jessica understood that she was in pain, but she, who had wished for nothing more than to see a smile on her mother''s lips, found her state unbearable. Would she ever be able to smile again? Were all her efforts in vain? She curled up, knees to her chest, embracing herself. Where was her father? She needed him. Why did he leave them? Questions she had asked her mother many times without getting an answer filled her mind. Instead of bringing clarity to the situation, these questions seemed to spiral into an abyss of doubt. Did he not like them? Did Jessica do something wrong? Was that the reason he left? Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. She looked at her fingers, only for bone-chilling coldness to grip her chest and run down her spine immediately. Her eyelids shut as fast as possible, trying to banish that image from her head. That fire that had engulfed her body had come out of nowhere and destroyed everything. Jessica''s head fell onto her knees, tears streaming down, wetting her pajama pants. Before she realized it, she drifted into a short slumber. *** Knock-Knock. "Jes... Jes!" Jessica woke up with a start, her head shooting up, locking her gaze with a set of big green eyes. Melody had shaken her awake. "Ugh... what?" still half-asleep, she tried to figure out what the commotion was about. "Someone is here! They knocked!" "Who is..." Remembering her mother''s words, Jessica stood up immediately. "Go wake up, Mom!" "Okay!" While Melody rushed to the bedroom, Jessica went to welcome the guest. Knock-Knock. Picking up the key and turning it in the keyhole, the door opened with a click. Standing before Jessica was a tall man in a half-white, half-black robe. At chest height, a red discontinuous circle was drawn, divided into five parts separated by thin spaces. Straining her neck, she met a pair of brown eyes looking at her beneath a head full of gray hair. The man smiled, forming wrinkles on his face. It was the old priest of the village. "Hello, Priest Amarill¡­anilo." A hand emerged from under the long sleeves of his robe, tousling her hair. "God bless you with all his love, Jessica." Jessica turned around when she heard footsteps behind her. Meren, with Melody behind her, had come to meet the priest. "Father Mariliano... I have been... waiting for your visit. Please... come inside." "Do not strain your voice, my dear daughter." The priest stepped past Jessica, gently embracing the bandaged Meren. "Oh Lord, you have tested your faithful daughter. See how strong her faith is. She never faltered and went to the church in the darkest hour... You have done wonders, Meren. From now on, only grace will befall you and your household." Although the priest seemed to speak without pause, Jessica couldn''t quite grasp the meaning behind his words. Did God test them? Had He sent the fire? Did God not love them? In the living room, the priest recited some prayers and discussed various topics like the church, God, and other matters that Jessica did not understand. Judging by how Melody began playing with her toys on the floor, it seemed she wasn''t following the conversation either. After a while, her mother and the priest stood up. Jessica silently prayed that the visit would be over, as she was too bored to listen to more stories about how many times Father Marilli prayed in one day or how Father Amado helped build a church in another village. "Jessica...stay here... with Melody... I..." The priest interrupted her, "It''s okay, I can speak for you." He smiled softly, his eyes brimming with love, as if he were addressing his own granddaughter. "Jessica, play with Melody for a while. I''m going to talk to your mother for a bit." Jessica nodded in response. The adults moved toward the bedroom, only entering once Meren had made sure that Jessica wouldn''t follow them. With a click, the door closed behind them. For around five seconds, the living room fell into absolute silence, broken only by shuffled noises as Jessica and Melody almost instantly appeared next to the bedroom door, their ears pressed against it. "Ahh, I don''t hea... mhmmm!" Jessica had to silence her younger sister, who was about to give them away. Her palm pressed down on Melody''s mouth to prevent any inadvertent noise. Then she focused again, trying to hear as much as she could. But she could only pick up snippets of the conversation. "...I.....live like that." "Trust.... God''s love...." ".......afraid." "It is... another way..." "How?" "Take this...." For a while, they fell silent. Jessica tried to press her ear against the door more forcefully, flattening it against the wooden surface. Meren began to speak again, her voice trembling so clearly that even Jessica could pick up on it. "I-I....impossible." "You must." For some reason, the voices became clearer. "You need to believe. Death is shackled, and life is boundless." "What...if...I....don''t return?" "Do not cultivate doubt in your heart, Meren. This is not a secret. You will return and without blemish." That''s when Jessica realized the voices weren''t just becoming louder but seemed to be moving closer to the door. She stepped away, walking backward when she saw the doorknob turn. This was not good. They would know that she had spied on them, and her mother would be even more upset. She couldn''t allow it. When the doorknob came to a halt, she anticipated the door opening, but that didn''t happen. They were probably still talking at the doorstep with someone pushing the doorknob down. But Jessica didn''t care. She pulled Melody along, retreating on her tiptoes to the living room, and pretended to play with her, or at least she tried to act that way. A moment later, Meren and the priest returned to the living room. "Did you play?" Meren asked, prompting a response from Melody. "Yes, I did not hear anything," the little girl pouted. "Hear what?" "Ah..ahhh...she meant she did not hear you coming back," Jessica lied through her teeth. Luckily for her, the priest was a busy man and bid his goodbyes, sparing her further questioning. "Think about my words, Meren. If you need something, I will be waiting for you in the church. I hope that next time we meet, I will see God''s blessings upon you." Once again, Jessica didn''t understand the priest''s ramblings, but the way her mother''s uncovered eye fixated on him, and her body trembled, it must have been something important. Unfortunately, she couldn''t ask her mother about it; revealing her spying adventure wasn''t an option. The priest left, and soon the silence returned. Evening arrived, and Melody, exhausted from the eventful day, fell asleep. Meren''s body also needed rest, so she retired to her bedroom, leaving Jessica alone with her thoughts. Over and over, unwanted images surfaced in her mind, ones she''d rather forget, memories she wished someone could erase. Sleep continued to evade her, as it had for the past few weeks. She remained constantly on edge, dozing off at the strangest times when her mind couldn''t endure any longer, but almost never during the night. Strangely enough, her most wakeful moments seemed to coincide with her intended sleep. And that night, she wouldn''t sleep a wink, because from her mother''s bedroom came the sound of a heavy object falling over. Immediately, Jessica sprang up and rushed to the source of the noise. When she opened the door, she saw something that would forever haunt her alongside the other dreadful images in her mind. Happy End... Jessica entered her mother''s bedroom with an urgent sense of dread. Her first instinct was to search for her mother on the bed. She expected to find her asleep there, but the bed was empty. Jessica moved carefully through the darkness, and inadvertently bumped into something soft, her feet sinking into a damp carpet. In the dimness, she struggled to discern her surroundings. "Mom," Jessica called out, her voice quivering, and she peered into the blackness, where the shadows seemed to stare back in eerie silence. Determined to uncover the truth, Jessica retrieved a candle from the nearby commode, as she had done many times before, and ignited it. The feeble candlelight unveiled the horrifying scene on the floor. There lay a disfigured body, shrouded in loosely wrapped bandages, with only the head left exposed. What she beheld was no longer a human face but a horrifying mosaic of flesh, scars, and a burnt scalp. From this grotesque visage, a single green eye stared blankly at the ceiling, its once-vibrant color now dimmed. Jessica''s lips quivered, and her hand, holding the candle, trembled slightly. The horror before her had not yet fully registered in her mind. It was only when she noticed the puddle of crimson surrounding the figure''s head that the dreadful reality began to sink in. A pool of blood had formed, saturating the carpet and seeping into its fibers. She glanced down at her own legs and realized they too were smeared with the same gruesome hue. Following the trail, her eyes settled on the source¡ªan ominous knife deeply embedded in the figure''s throat. Blood continued to flow from the wound as if it sought to drown the room. The realization struck Jessica like a sledgehammer, and her mind, as if trying to protect itself from the overwhelming terror, went blank. There was only emptiness¡ªa void devoid of sound, sensation, or feeling. An eerie silence hung in the air until her emerald eyes gazed upward, revealing the whites as her consciousness faded. Jessica, overcome by shock, lost her footing, falling to her knees and then over the lifeless body of her mother. Even then, she yearned for her mother''s embrace. *** Light poured in from the outside world, flooding the small bedroom of a house in one of the many villages within the Kingdom of Kael. Golden rays of sunlight found an unconscious girl lying beside the bed, sprawled on the floor. Her red hair, scattered across the carpet, seemed to ignite with the sun''s brilliance, each strand resembling a flame dancing upon the floor. The sunlight gently caressed Jessica''s face, coaxing her back to consciousness. She wrinkled her nose and slowly blinked her eyes open. Confusion flickered across her gaze as she took in the unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar surroundings. This was not her room, but she recognized it¡ªit was her mother''s. Thoughts of her mother sent Jessica''s heart racing, her mind rushing back to what felt like one of the most horrifying nightmares she had ever experienced. Jessica propped herself up on her arms and rose to her feet. She immediately cast her eyes toward the bed, but it was vacant. Her gaze then swept across the entire room, her head turning with it, yet nothing appeared out of the ordinary. It must have been nothing more than a bad dream, she thought, hoping it was true. Turning around and preparing to make her way to the living room to search for her mother and Melody, she stepped on something. Jessica lifted her leg to see what lay there. On the white carpet, lay a white candle, almost perfectly camouflaged had she not stepped on it. An image flashed through her mind¡ªan image drenched in crimson. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Jessica shook her head vigorously, as if trying to dislodge that haunting image from her thoughts. However, it clung to her mind, refusing to dissipate. If that image had indeed been a product of her dreams, why was the candle on the floor? Why was she on the floor? Perhaps sleepwalking was a possibility. She picked up the candle and approached the door. Before leaving the room, she turned around for one last glance. Simple was the perfect word to describe the interior¡ªan unassuming double bed, a wooden desk, and a spotless white carpet. That was it¡ªsimple. "Mom?" Jessica called out as she pushed open the bedroom door. She meticulously searched the kitchen, the living room, and her and Melody''s room, where she found nothing but a slumbering younger version of herself. However, there was no trace of her mother. Where could she have gone? Without help, Meren wouldn''t have been able to go far. Had she called the neighbors for assistance? If so, why had she seemingly ignored Jessica on the bedroom floor, or perhaps she hadn''t even noticed her? Jessica couldn''t make sense of the situation, but it was still too early to delve too deeply into it. She considered going to the neighbors, but ultimately decided to wait for a while. Gradually, she managed to regain a semblance of composure. Yet the haunting images that had flashed through her mind were unlike any nightmares she''d ever experienced; they clung to her, as if she were still trapped in a never-ending bad dream. Curling up on the couch, she silently prayed for her mother''s return, hoping that then, these horrifying scenes would finally release their grip on her. "Mom... please come back," Jessica pleaded, her voice trembling on the edge of breaking. The empty room enveloped her in silence. *** A commotion shattered Jessica''s slumber, high-pitched voices from a distance. Her groggy mind struggled to identify them, finally categorizing them as someone shouting happily, and that someone was unmistakably Melody. Rubbing her eyes and blinking away sleep, Jessica lifted herself from the couch and followed the noise, which seemed to come from the main door. "Mommy!" Melody shouted, her laughter echoing through the house. "I''ve missed you too, Melody," a familiar voice replied. Jessica''s heart skipped a beat. She would never fail to recognize her mother''s voice, but this time it was different. There was none of the strain or difficulty in forming words that Jessica had tried to adapt to since yesterday. Her mother spoke as she had weeks ago. Without wasting another moment, Jessica sprinted toward the source of the sound. There, in front of the main door, stood a tall woman with flowing brown hair that brushed against her shoulders. Her arms, unburdened by bandages, effortlessly scooped up her four-year-old daughter, Melody. Meren kissed Melody on the forehead, closing her emerald eyes to savor the moment. When they reopened, they locked onto Jessica''s gaze. Green met green, and yet, something felt wrong. The detachment in her mother''s eyes clashed with the longing Jessica had held for so long. She stopped in her tracks, unable to find the familiar warmth she had hoped for. "Jessica, what are you waiting for? Come," Meren beckoned. That simple invitation was enough to break the dam holding back Jessica''s emotions. She rushed into her mother''s embrace, tears streaming down her face. So many questions and uncertainties clouded her mind, but at this moment, the longing in her heart eclipsed all logic. Her mother had returned to her old self, the way she had prayed for. It was as if God had heard her plea and granted her wish. From now on, everything would be back to the way it had been. But as Jessica clung tightly to her mother, she couldn''t ignore the hand caressing her back¡­ It felt so foreign. Something was amiss, but for now, it didn''t matter. At this moment, reuniting with her mother was more than enough. Jessica held onto her mother as if she might disappear again. Steel. Blood. Flesh. The sounds of laughter, happiness, and chatter once again filled the house. Melody and Jessica reveled in playing with their healed mother. The neighbors visited to extend their congratulations to Meren for the miraculous recovery. Even the priest, upon hearing the news, paid a visit to them. In the living room, Jessica busied herself preparing two cups of tea for the priest and her mother, and a cup of juice for Melody. "I am so happy for you, Meren. You have not only felt God''s grace but have also touched a part of His incredible and omnipotent power," the priest exclaimed, his joy evident. Jessica couldn''t help but notice his trembling hands and wondered if he might be unwell. ¡°It was right to follow your advice, Father Mariliano. I should have never doubted the Lord,¡± Meren''s voice quivered with awe. ¡°Do not worry. We all have times when our faith falters, but in the end, you showed strength and trusted in the greatest,¡± the priest reassured. ¡°Did God save you, Mom?¡± Melody chimed in. Meren lifted her daughter onto her lap, embracing her small waist from behind. ¡°Yes, God has given me a new chance because I prayed a lot to Him.¡± Melody''s eyes sparkled with wonder, and the priest''s grin seemed to grow with every passing moment, threatening to split his face in two. Jessica watched from the sidelines, a faint unease gnawing at her. There was something not quite right, like a distant whisper in her mind that she couldn''t fully comprehend. Despite the happiness surrounding her, this moment didn''t feel exactly as she had wished for during the past weeks. Her mother was back, her sister was happy, and it was almost as if the terrible incident from weeks ago had never occurred. But it had happened. Jessica had been one of the victims, and there was still that strange memory of waking up on the carpet in her mother''s room. ¡°Mom, did you leave early today?¡± Jessica inquired. Meren shifted her attention to Jessica, but did not answer immediately. ¡°Yes, I went to pray in the morning... That is when the miracle happened.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Jessica didn''t press for more information; that explanation was sufficient for her. She must have sleepwalked into the room and gone unnoticed by her mother in the morning. Jessica recalled a classmate who once woke up in the kitchen with a piece of bread stuck to his cheek, likely in the midst of preparing a sandwich while sleepwalking. Although Jessica''s memories of the previous night weren''t humorous, she had at least found a plausible explanation. After finishing the tea, the priest bid his farewell, and Meren accompanied him to the door. ¡°Jes, play with me,¡± Melody urged, displaying the new toy she had received from the priest. Upon seeing Melody''s new doll, Jessica thought about the priest''s kindness and how he had helped their mother and given Melody a gift. Perhaps she should thank him. ¡°I''ll play with you; I just need to say goodbye.¡± Jessica had never thanked the religious man before, so she wanted to express her gratitude. Hurriedly, she made her way to the door, not wanting to miss him. Luck was on her side today, as she could see the black and white robe near the entrance, about to leave. ¡°Father, I almost forgot!¡± Jessica heard her mother call after the priest, who promptly turned around. Meren retrieved something from beneath her dress, and it caught the sunlight, momentarily blinding Jessica before she could make out its slender form. It was a shiny metal object with a pointed end and a wooden handle ¡ª a simple dagger. Yet, it wasn''t just a simple dagger; the handle was meticulously crafted with intricate wood carvings that demonstrated the artistry of the woodworker. The handle had a subtle curvature designed for a comfortable grip. Red gems were embedded into the handle, scattered sporadically like wounds on the body, lacking any discernible pattern. The steel blade shimmered brilliantly, appearing untouched, as if it had never been used before, and it was sharp enough to effortlessly cut through anything in its path ¡ª such as the skin and flesh of a human. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. These details, however, escaped Jessica''s notice. Her eyes did not perceive the dagger in her mother''s hand; instead, her surroundings vanished, replaced by the haunting image of the very same dagger plunged into the neck of a deformed figure lying on a blood-soaked carpet. Steel. Blood. Flesh. The nightmare transformed into a horrifying reality before her eyes, as if she had been transported back to that dreadful room at night. But this time, she did not lose consciousness. This time, she was not so lucky. Time and space seemed to freeze at that moment, neither moving forward nor repeating, just suspended in place. With a heavy thud, Jessica''s small body fell backward onto the floor, her trembling arms slowly reaching for her tear-filled face. Her legs moved involuntarily, as if trying to propel herself away from the horrifying image. But something stopped her progress, her back slamming into a hard surface¡ªthe unyielding wall. "Jessica?!" Meren''s voice reverberated in Jessica''s mind. But when Jessica forced her eyes open, she found herself face-to-face with the charred corpse, its scarred lips parting. "Nooooo!" she screamed. The lifeless figure rolled onto its stomach and extended its arms toward Jessica, crawling closer, its fingers clawing through the crimson-stained carpet. Its one eye, the other hidden beneath layers of scar tissue, fixed its vacant gaze on her in the room''s darkness. When it finally reached her, its skeletal hands seized her shoulders and shook her. "What is wrong with you!?" a hint of concern trembled in its voice, though hidden beneath the overwhelming terror Jessica felt. In front of her, the abomination''s face loomed¡ªan eye that refused to focus, two empty holes where a nose should have been, thin, nearly nonexistent lips that converged at the corners, dark liquid oozing from the gaps. In the dim light, it resembled black water, but it was unmistakably blood, gushing upward from the wound in its neck. Steel. Blood. Flesh. Darkness. The young girl screamed uncontrollably, her body shivering as she desperately tried to escape the vice-like grip that held her in place. But the wall was behind her, the floor beneath her, the abomination ahead, and its hands on either side. She was trapped, her sweat-soaked body flailing helplessly. Her eyes remained tightly shut, yet the haunting visage pursued her even behind her closed eyelids. Grey. Crimson. Pink. Black. And then came the light, followed by an anguished scream. This time, Meren reacted swiftly, instinctively backing away as the familiar pain triggered her mind to relive a moment she had tried to bury, albeit in vain. She faltered, her scorched hands lifted defensively in front of her eyes, the burned and blistered skin a painful sight. It was as if she had thrust her hands into a blazing fire, and in a sense, that''s precisely what she had done. Between the gaps of her fingers, an intense, searing light pierced through. A flame, as large as a grown human, flickered to life on the floor before her. A small shadow sat at its center, like the wick of a candle. The source of the fire ¡ª Jessica ¡ª was enveloped by it, her clothes disintegrating in the intense heat, devoured by the relentless flames that danced upon her writhing body. Meren stood in shock. Throughout her time in the hospital, she had reflected on the incident, forming her own theories. She had been prepared to save her daughter if such a situation ever recurred. But instead of the natural maternal instinct to rush to Jessica''s aid, a frigid layer of fear encapsulated the remnants of love and care within her, freezing them in place. Her wide brown eyes, initially filled with shock, now betrayed an overwhelming fear. A fear of her own child. That fear gripped her, taking hold and refusing to let go, much like a burning fire gradually consumes its fuel. In silence, she watched as the girl burned. Her youngest daughter, Melody, ran toward the commotion, her slight form pressed tightly against Meren''s chest, hiding her from the horrific spectacle. Tears welled in the child''s eyes, forming wet streaks on her dress. The flames continued their relentless dance. Everything that could burn was moved aside, and the fire, seeking new sources, was isolated. Meren would not allow anything to happen this time. Her hands, bloody and trembling, held her youngest close, her warmth combating the coldness within her heart. But instead of melting in the face of the fiery spectacle, another layer of ice formed, and then another. The fire outside seemed to burn for an eternity, while the ice within her continued to grow endlessly. Jessica''s body burned on the ground, her family standing helplessly at a distance, their faces etched with fear and despair. She screamed for someone to help, to save her, to hold her, to reassure her that everything would be alright. But she was alone. Alone with her fire. Flames of solitude. Lonely and abandoned. In the absence of companionship, the flames crackled, sending sparks flying in a desperate attempt to grasp something beyond their reach. And then, after a while, the fire ceased its dangerous dance, gradually calming down. The searing heat that had once danced with the flames returned to its source ¡ª a trembling girl. The fire was gone. And so was her consciousness. Meren and Melody watched over the sleeping girl. Her calm, rhythmic breathing gave no indication of the horrors they had just witnessed. She appeared almost like a sleeping princess awaiting a gentle awakening. The ground beneath her scorched figure had turned black. When she eventually awoke, steel, flesh, and blood were all gone. Only darkness surrounded her. Between Light and Darkness Jessica woke up to find herself surrounded by absolute darkness. She couldn''t see a thing. Adding to her discomfort was the chilling sensation on her skin; the floor was cold, not to an unbearable degree, but far from comfortable. Jessica stood up cautiously, trying to inspect her surroundings by stretching her arms into the darkness. Fear gripped her as she wondered where she was. "Mom!" she called out desperately. "Melody?" Her sister''s name echoed in the void, but there was no response. She was alone, engulfed by the shadows of this mysterious place. Hugging herself, tears welled up in her eyes. The only sound she could hear was her own sniffling. After a while, she took her first tentative step, wary of stepping into the abyss and disappearing forever. What if she stood on the edge of an endless cliff? But the solid feedback from beneath her foot reassured her, and she cautiously began to walk, her hands outstretched to avoid collisions. Jessica took a few steps before bumping into something, emitting a startled yelp that almost sent her tumbling. Her outstretched hands were of little help against an obstacle that didn''t reach the height of her arms. She crouched down and felt the object''s surface. It was rough with a slightly grainy texture, featuring corners and edges. An image formed in her mind ¡ª a box. Her hands explored the top surface, and she detected a gap running through the middle. Gently pushing her finger through, she opened the box and tried to discern its contents. Jessica grabbed whatever her small hands could find. It was a smooth, rectangular object ¡ª light and papery. She recognized it as a book. There were several of them inside the box. Instinctively, she knew where she was. A box filled with books like this could only be found in the cellar of her house. This realization meant she was still at home, not trapped in some horrific nightmare. The cellar wasn''t large, as far as she remembered. This box should be situated on the opposite side of the stairs. All she needed to do was turn around and walk straight ahead. Jessica promptly shifted to face the other side, only to be greeted by an endless void of darkness. Darkness was every child''s nemesis, and Jessica was no exception. Goosebumps formed on her skin, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. "Mom?" she called out once more, now that she knew she was in her own cellar. Wouldn''t her mother hear her? But the cellar remained silent, the only sound breaking the stillness being her own breathing. She took one step at a time, though for Jessica, it felt like an eternity before she bumped into the familiar stairs, almost stumbling on them. Finally, she would ascend and leave the cellar behind. She reached for the doorknob, pressed it down, and pushed. Nothing happened. Again, the door didn''t budge an inch. She let go. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Meren always kept the cellar door locked, fearing that Melody or Jessica would do something reckless and hurt themselves. But why was the door locked when Jessica was inside? And why was she there in the first place? Jessica didn''t know and was too stressed to think about it. She just wanted to get out, immediately. Knocking sounds echoed in the cellar, soon escalating into desperate banging, accompanied by the sniffling of a crying girl. Was no one here? Couldn''t they hear her? She didn''t want to remain trapped there forever; the thought was terrifying. What was even more frightening was the idea of looking back down the stairs. The longer she pounded on the door, the more fear and anxiety filled her mind, toying with it. What if she looked back, and the darkness reached out for her, grabbing her legs, and pulling her back? "Mom!" she cried out. Bang. Bang. The door remained unyielding, as though it were the gate between heaven and hell, refusing to let the condemned ascend. "Open the doooor!" What came out of Jessica were high-pitched screeches, but still, there was no reaction. The door seemed unfazed by the young girl''s pleas, and the shadows embraced their newfound companion. They wanted her, and Jessica knew it. They would not let her go. She felt the cold creeping up her body. Her eyelids were squeezed shut, as if the familiar blackness behind them was safer than the one looming outside. And then, like light shining through closed curtains, her eyes registered the faint glow outside her closed eyelids. She opened her eyes, only to be momentarily blinded by the sudden illumination, although the light was weak. For the time she spent in the cellar, any light before her was akin to staring at the sun in the sky. It wasn''t just the shadows that receded before the light, but also the fear that had clouded her mind, dissipating like a storm yielding to the first rays of dawn. Jessica''s small hands shielded her eyes from the onslaught of light. Her eyes were as wide as slits, and she almost turned her head away as a reflex but stopped herself. Her fear of the dark was stronger than her fear of the light. ¡°Have you calmed down?¡± Finally, the voice she had been so desperate to hear appeared. ¡°Mom,¡± instead of answering, Jessica began to cry. She took a step, about to leave the cellar, but the door was only slightly open, enough for her to see outside but not to walk through. ¡°Jessica, have you calmed down?¡± This time Jessica noticed the strange tone in her mother''s voice. But still, what did she mean? The young girl was more than confused. She just wanted nothing more than to get out. ¡°Let me¡­ out,¡± was all Jessica could manage to say between her sniffling. For a while, the world seemed to freeze. Her mother was silent, the door stood unmoving, and Jessica''s crying continued. Then came a creaking sound, and the door opened before Jessica. Without wasting another second, she ran out into her mother''s embrace, not noticing the slight jerk. She cried until her tears dried out. It was too much for her. A sigh escaped Meren, her bandaged hands were about to touch Jessica''s head, but they began to shiver and tremble as if full of fear. Instead, she let them stay at her side. The young girl hugged her mother one-sidedly. Friendly Fire An uneventful day followed the horrific experience. Jessica slept through the morning, hugging her pillow tight, her small body enveloped by a blanket. She stared at the ceiling of her room, seeking answers. However, like the ceiling above her, her mind remained blank. How had she ended up in the cellar? Her mother''s strange behavior and even Melody, who seemed to keep her distance, were all riddles she wanted to solve. She tried to remember. Yesterday, the priest came to visit, and when he left, she had wanted to thank him. And then¡­ What happened after that? At the entrance, did she say, ¡°Thank you¡±? She had a nagging feeling that something different had occurred, but what was it? ¡°Ugh,¡± she pondered, her pillow the unwitting victim of her strenuous thought process, getting strangled in her embrace. She retraced her steps, attempting to relive the moment. Every detail, from Melody asking her to play, to her rushing toward the door. She remembered the relief she felt when she spotted the priest''s robe, and then¡­ ¡°Uuuugh.¡± No matter how hard she tried, her mind refused to provide an answer. Finally, she released the pillow from its ordeal when she heard the door opening. Melody entered the room. ¡°Jes?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jessica gazed at her sister, who seemed to avoid eye contact, focusing instead on the stuffed animal in her arms. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Was she? Of course, she wasn''t okay. Everything felt amiss. But what good would it do to burden her younger sister? So, she lied. ¡°Yes. And you?¡± Instead of responding, Melody walked toward the edge of the bed and presented her stuffed toy to Jessica as though it were a gift. ¡°Here. He will help you.¡± Curious, Jessica accepted the stuffed animal, recognizing it. It was an Aquabill, a small, chubby bird with colorful plumage. Its oversized, artificial eyes gazed at Jessica. The Aquabill had a short, pointed beak with a flexible trunk below it. It was known for its remarkable ability to store water, which could be used for various purposes. When they spotted a larger insect, they extended their trunk-like appendage and released a precise, pressurized stream of water. This stream formed into tiny water droplets that surrounded the insect, creating a temporary "water cage." The trapped insect was then easy prey for the Aquabill to catch and eat. But why had Melody given her that bird? ¡°Billy can stop your fire.¡± Billy was the Aquabill, and that part was not a surprise, but the rest of the sentence made her uneasy. ¡°What fire?¡± ¡°Your fire.¡± Melody wasn''t exactly the ideal source of information, but it was enough for Jessica. Her fire. She couldn''t help but think about the fiery serpents dancing on her fingers. Had another fire broken out? Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Have you calmed down? Her mother''s words echoed in her mind. This must have been the reason she said that. Another fire... and again, it was her fault. ¡°Thank you,¡± Jessica forced out a smile, and Melody mirrored her with a happy expression on her face. ¡°Yay. Play with Billy,¡± Melody said, and then left her alone in the room. Billy sat on her lap, watching her as she lifted her hands up to her face. Her eyes scanned all ten fingers, looking for something, anything that showed where the fire came from. But they looked like they always did. Rotating her hands also didn''t help her. Jessica gave up, she took Billy and raised him to eye level. ¡°Can you really help me?¡± As if unsure, Billy seemed to hesitate with his answer, staying silent. ¡°You can''t, right?¡± He silently agreed. ¡°I knew it¡­¡± Jessica put him back down, still in her hands but at least released from the interrogation. She began to think again. The first time she caught fire, she was sitting on her mother¡¯s lap, reading a story. She felt comfortable, warm, and full of joy. The second time seemed to be when she went to thank the priest. Although she had no recollection, that didn''t account for her feelings. Because fear, horror, and a nauseating sensation filled her when she tried to remember. These emotions couldn''t be more different. But what they had in common was their strength. The young girl sat on her bed and went through these two moments. Joy, terror, happiness, anxiety. All kinds of emotions mixed, like hot and cold air creating a whirlwind, wreaking havoc in her body. That''s when she felt warmth at the tips of her fingers, a subtle sensation, like tingling just beneath her nails. Opening her eyes, she let go of Billy and watched her fingers again. The feeling was there, but from the outside, her fingers appeared normal. She tried once more, closing her eyes and reliving the pictures in her head. Delight. Worry. Bliss. Anguish. The emotional tornado grew once again, stirring up various thoughts and sensations. This time, the tingling sensation crept down her whole fingers, like insects crawling on her palms. The warmth intensified, heat radiating from her hands. Opening her eyes, her emerald-colored irises mirrored a flickering red. Jessica took in a sharp breath as her eyes shot open, witnessing the flickering fire on each palm. With wonder in her eyes, she watched the dance. The ever-changing source of light moved around her hands, winding on her fingers, tossing sparks around. It seemed to be alive, having fun on her body. She felt like she was watching mischievous kids running around playing on the streets; the flames were just as cheeky. Slowly, she put her hands together, and the flames, not shy at all, met their counterparts with a blazing kiss that ignited the air. A tower of fire shot up towards the ceiling, frightening Jessica, her head jerking back out of its trajectory, and a short scream escaped her lips. Exhilaration mixed with fear was the starting signal for Jessica''s heart to start pounding against her chest. In her excitement, she just noticed that the fire did not burn her at all. It radiated heat, but nothing more than a bit of warmth seeped past her skin. A daring idea crossed her mind ¡ª an idea she tried to implement as her face neared the flame. A strand of red hair fell directly into the blaze, and to her surprise, nothing happened. The fire did not hurt her at all; it seemed to be... friendly. Jessica smiled as though she had just found a new friend. A whole lot of ideas formed; there were many things she wanted to try out. How she was able to create fire did not even cross her mind. Instead, its usefulness to help her family was all she could think about. They could cook with it, keep themselves warm in winter, and light up the room in the dark. She had to tell her mother; she would surely be happy. Engrossed with the fiery dance in the palm of her hands and the ideas in her mind, Jessica failed to notice the opened door to her room or her mother standing at the doorstep, watching her with shock in her eyes and her mouth wide open, as if she were about to scream. Only a sharp noise broke Jessica''s concentration. A plate, with food on it, fell and splintered on the floor. Meren, in fright at what she witnessed, had lost her grip on it. In front of her was not her daughter, but the incarnation of the devil ¡ª a young red-haired girl, with flames blazing in her hands, wearing a creepy smile on her face as she watched the fire with eyes that shimmered so vividly. They were full of joy brought by the fire, as if they planned to let everyone share this happiness by burning them. "JESSICA!!!" Like the splintered plate, Meren''s last strand of sanity broke. Hope As if fleeing from Meren''s anguished scream, the fire dissipated into thin air, leaving behind a bewildered little girl. Stunned by the sudden outburst, Jessica sat frozen like a statue, motionless. "You were doing it intentionally!!" Meren''s voice reverberated with rage as she stormed toward Jessica, her fingers clamping onto the child''s arm and yanking her forcefully from the bed. "All this time I thought it was an accident... But you played me!" "It hurts!" Jessica staggered out of bed, nearly losing her balance, only to be hoisted up abruptly by her mother. Meren''s fingernails dug into Jessica''s delicate skin, causing her to cry out in pain. "Mom!" But Meren seemed impervious to her daughter''s pleas, her grip tightening as she continued to ignore Jessica''s desperate words. Jessica was dragged to the door she knew all too well. Behind it lay a staircase leading down one floor into the dreaded basement ¨C the very place she had recently awoken in. With a resounding bang, Meren flung the door wide open, and it collided forcefully with the adjacent wall. Then, almost with a hurl, she thrust Jessica inside. The bewildered girl was too perplexed to grasp the unfolding events. "You are going to stay inside until I figure out what to do with you." "Mom, I¡ª" Jessica attempted to speak, her voice quivering. "NOW!" Meren''s tone brooked no argument, silencing Jessica instantly. She obediently stepped further into the darkness, standing hesitantly on the first step as she turned back. "Mom¡ª" With another deafening bang, the door slammed shut, plunging her into total darkness. Not even the dim basement light was turned on for her. Tears streamed down Jessica''s cheeks as she began to pound on the basement door. And once again she felt like she was in a prison. Jessica continued to bang on the door, her small fists hammering away in desperation. She called for her mother, her voice echoing in the cold void, but there was no response, only the hollow reverberation of her cries. It felt like an eternity of pounding and shouting before she finally gave up, her throat sore and her knuckles bruised. Sitting on the first step of the stairs, she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Her tiny hands shielded her eyes from the oppressive blackness that surrounded her. She could still hear the faint sound of Melody''s running footsteps, but those too eventually faded away, leaving her alone in silence. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. As Jessica sat there in the stillness, her thoughts turned to her mother. Why had she done this? What had Jessica done wrong to deserve such treatment? She felt a surge of anger and hatred welling up inside her, but it was quickly tempered by the deep love she held for her mother. Conflicted, she needed an outlet for her emotions, and the only target available was herself. Her anger turned inward, and she began to blame herself. It had to be her fault, she thought. She had done something to deserve this punishment. Raising her hands, she examined her ten fingers, each one a potential source of the mysterious fire. She clenched her fists, frustration building within her. The fire. It was the fire''s fault. But where had it come from? What did it want from her? These questions tormented her as she tried to make sense of the inexplicable power that seemed to have taken hold of her. If she could just get rid of it, maybe everything would return to normal. She longed for the familiar warmth of her mother''s embrace, for the safety of her home, and for the answers that remained frustratingly out of reach in the gloominess of the basement. Jessica felt utterly helpless. She sat there on the cold step, her tears flowing freely until there were no more left to shed. Her emerald eyes had turned the same fiery hue as her hair, pure red. Time seemed to slip away from her, its passage marked only by the sound of her quiet sobs. Jessica leaned back against the border between light and darkness, her head tilted upward, searching for any sign of relief. But no matter where she looked, all she found was an unending void of blackness. In her isolation, Jessica wrestled with her thoughts and emotions. She couldn''t shake the feeling of being abandoned and unloved. The mysterious fire within her only added to her confusion and fear. It was a cruel and relentless presence, lurking within her like a sinister secret. As she sat there, lost in the abyss of her own thoughts, Jessica''s mind swirled with questions and doubts. She yearned for answers, for a way out of this nightmare, but for now, she was trapped, waiting for something, anything to change her fate. After what felt like endless hours in the cold room, a faint line of light appeared as the door behind Jessica creaked open just an inch. Startled, she woke up abruptly, the sudden loss of support jolting her back to consciousness. The line of light slowly widened, and Jessica squinted her eyes as it pierced through the oppressive veil. She sprang to her feet in an instant, feeling a growing sensation she hadn''t experienced in what seemed like an eternity ¡ª hope. Hope was a peculiar thing. It could be both a lifeline and a poison, capable of healing or shattering a person''s heart. But humans, like moths drawn to flames, couldn''t resist its allure. No matter how many times they were burned, they reached for it, again and again. With cautious optimism, Jessica ventured toward the beckoning light. It had lost its warmth, and in its glow, she didn''t find an angel waiting for her but the silhouette of her mother, her brown eyes fixed upon Jessica. Whether she saw her daughter or something else entirely remained a mystery. Jessica stood hesitantly at the doorway, her heart pounding. She didn''t dare to utter a word or rush into her mother''s arms as she had done countless times before. Like a wounded animal, she was wary of getting hurt a second time. Meren''s voice broke the silence, devoid of emotion. "If I see you doing your tricks again, you''ll stay down there... Go to your room." Though Meren''s tone remained unchanged, her words stung like a lash, and Jessica couldn''t help but sniffle. With her short, trembling legs, she shuffled into her room, only to realize that Melody''s belongings were absent. So, in the end, she had been moved to a different cell, but at least this one was not shrouded in darkness. Despair Weeks passed by, and the once cheerful Jessica gradually turned gloomy, as if life itself was slowly being drained from her with each passing day. Her own flames seemed to conspire against her, appearing more frequently and with increasing intensity. Initially, she managed to conceal her newfound abilities, striving to maintain some semblance of a normal life. However, her powers were prone to accidents, and mishaps began to pile up. The first victim was an unfortunate flammable blanket, and Jessica found herself confined to her room for an entire day as punishment. Then came the incident with some plants she had touched, igniting them unintentionally, rendering her unable to conceal something that no longer existed. This time, she spent two long days in darkness as retribution. Jessica eventually developed an aversion to approaching anything or anyone, even her own fingers, which she came to detest. She distanced herself from Melody, fearing that she might inadvertently harm her. However, it was unlikely she could get close to her sister anyway, particularly when their mother was nearby. Jessica''s isolation grew, and she was no longer permitted to go outside. She overheard her mother offering the excuse of her being too sick, necessitating her confinement to her room. Standing in her room, Jessica gazed at her reflection in the mirror, her red hair cascading over her shoulders. Over time, she even grew to despise her hair, as it bore the same fiery hue as her abilities. So, she took scissors and trimmed it to ear level. The strands in her grasp promptly dissolved into smoke, consumed in an instant. Over the past weeks, Jessica had managed to gain some degree of control over her powers, but her control remained tenuous at best, like a drop in the vast ocean. Flames continued to manifest spontaneously and without warning, resulting in punishment from her mother each time. With her long hair now gone, her shoulders became visible, bearing the bruises that adorned her skin in shades of blue and purple. The memories of how she had acquired those bruises were painful and sorrowful. As she donned her shirt, even the touch of the light fabric made her flinch in pain. It hurt. Today was Jessica''s tenth birthday, a day she had eagerly anticipated, but it unfolded unlike anything she had imagined weeks or months ago. Normally, she would wake up to the enticing aroma of freshly baked cake, eating sweets for breakfast as a special treat. Last year, even Melody had gifted her one of her toys as a present. But today... she would receive nothing. If she were lucky, her mother might spare her a glance, but if not, the cold darkness would be her sole companion on this special day. In an unexpected twist of fate, Jessica''s flames remained dormant on her birthday, as if destiny intended to grant her a break. As the months passed, Jessica honed her ability to control her fire. She did not release the flames; her hatred for them ran too deep. However, she managed to rein them in, preventing her fingers from unintentionally sparking. Her visits to the basement became less and less frequent. It was during this time that hope knocked on the door of her heart, an invitation she could not refuse. Thus, hope took root in the young girl, offering something she hadn''t experienced in a long while ¨C a modicum of warmth and a fragment of joy, the joy of simply being alive. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Yet, hope was a double-edged sword. One day, it revealed its darker side, tainted with the most potent poison in the world ¨C pure despair. Seated on the living room couch, Jessica watched as Melody played with her toys on the carpet on the opposite side of her. Nearby, Meren was engrossed in a book. At first glance, this scene appeared perfectly ordinary, a family spending time together like any other. Jessica leaned back, her feet caressing the fluffy carpet, which in turn tickled her toes. Cozy ¨C that''s how she would have described that sensation. A feeling that was swiftly replaced by an unexpected surge of heat. Jessica had grown so accustomed to her fire appearing at her fingertips that the notion of flames igniting from other parts of her body had never crossed her mind. It was a grave miscalculation, and the consequences became evident as plumes of smoke rose before her widening eyes. No, please! Her unspoken plea was useless in the face of the carpet now easily ablaze. The flames spread, seemingly jealous of Melody playing with her toys, eagerly advancing toward her. "Melody! Run!" Jessica''s panicked cry cut through the air, shattering Meren''s reverie as she hastily set aside her book. Her mind transitioned abruptly from the world woven by words to the reality unfolding before her, painted by the fire devouring the carpet. Instinct outpaced thought, and Meren leaped into action, almost vaulting toward Melody. She scooped up her daughter and, in one fluid motion, propelled herself away from the searing floor. A mere second later, her feet would have met the source of the engulfing heat. In a fleeting moment, Jessica''s ability could have harmed her younger sister, disfigured her forever, or worse, taken her life. "No¡­ No! ¡­ I don''t want this," she pleaded desperately. She shut her eyes tightly, as if not seeing the flames would make them disappear. But even behind her closed eyelids, their searing light pierced through. They were an indelible part of her now, tracking her every step like a vengeful ghost. "Please¡­ go away," she implored, her voice quivering. The flames flickered but persisted as if momentarily confused by her words. "Leave me¡­" Then, they vanished, not in response to Jessica''s pleas but due to a bucket filled with water that had been tucked away in one corner of the room, a safety measure Meren had implemented in the house to combat sudden fires. The floor was now marred with wet ash, but Meren paid no heed to that detail as she stormed toward Jessica. "Was I not enough, huh? You even targeted your own sister!" Meren''s rage permeated the room as her raised hand fell upon the sobbing girl beneath her. "Nooo!" A vivid red handprint materialized on Jessica''s cheek; her feeble hands raised in a futile defense. But against the fury of Meren, they were useless, serving only to further stoke her anger, as those very hands had already inflicted too much trauma. Fresh bruises would soon surface on Jessica''s body, a canvas of torment, madness, and suffering. Yanked by her short hair, she already knew where she was being dragged, though the pain of her hair almost being torn out was hardly as intense as the anguish that engulfed her mind. She was barely over ten years old, yet she had already endured more than her share. This time, Meren showed no mercy. She hurled curses and screamed words that Jessica failed to register. The only sensation that penetrated her consciousness was that of free fall as her mother flung her down the basement stairs. Jessica tumbled down the staircase, her body colliding with the edges, each impact feeling like a blow to her stomach, head, and various other parts. The torment came to an abrupt end when her head slammed into the cellar floor with a sickening thud, rendering her unconscious. One Year Waking up to the familiar nothingness, Jess saw only a curtain of blackness. She didn''t attempt to move, just lay there on the cold, hard floor. An iron taste lingered on the tip of her tongue, and she felt something dripping from her nose. Her head, stomach, elbow, shin, and back all ached. Trying to inhale, she stopped abruptly, as even breathing seemed to cause too much pain. Shallow, erratic breathing echoed in the dark. Jessica felt miserable as she lay there, motionless. The freezing ground did little to alleviate the searing pain tormenting her. It couldn''t quell the crushing sensation on her chest, as if a boulder were trying to flatten her under its weight. After a while, Jessica moved involuntarily, her limbs trembling in a desperate attempt to generate warmth. The chilling floor turned out to be not a remedy but a poison that slowly sapped her strength. Although her small body fought to stay alive, Jessica''s emerald eyes were unresponsive and unfocused. In the void, a girl lay, pain and shadows her loyal companions. Banished from the light, she was one of the condemned ¡ª a devil, a monster, or something even more malevolent. An outcast by her own blood. In a crimson pool, her limbs seared while her skin froze. Her once playful and vivid emerald eyes darkened, as if a cloud had obscured the sun, casting an enormous shadow over the meadow. The red crown, her radiant strands of hair, extinguished in the stifling gloom. There she lay, a lonely girl uncared for by the world. Even in her pain, time never ceased its relentless march. In the blink of an eye, what began as a day stretched into unending nights. At first, Jessica thought her mother would release her after a while, as she always had. One day passed, and then another. For Jessica, staying that long down there was nothing new anymore; she had adapted. But on the fourth day, she reached her limit. Occasionally, she glimpsed the light when her mother brought her plates of food and cups filled with water, but most of the time, she was left to endure the silence and darkness. In the absence of all else, Jessica had only her thoughts to keep her company ¡ª an insane psychological torture, especially for a girl her age. Humans were not made for solitude; without socializing and the warmth of others, they wilted, like flowers deprived of water. Jessica went through many stages. "Help me... please... someone help me," she pleaded, she cried. "Let me out!" she ordered, she screamed. "God... I don''t want... to be alone," she prayed, she hoped. Her words echoed back at her in the basement, reflected by those unyielding walls that kept her imprisoned. Only they heard her cries. They heard her plead for her mother, ask for her sister, pray to God, and curse her own existence, but they never spoke, only stared down at her. Cold and merciless, they showed not a hint of empathy as they held her captive. There was no one to rescue her; the heroes she had read about in all those books were mere fiction. Her mother wouldn''t release her, her neighbors had probably forgotten her, the kind priest cared not for her, and God seemed to ignore her. And then she stopped. Her voice vanished. She became quieter than silence itself. Only the sounds of her blood rushing through her veins, her heart pounding inside her chest, her rhythmic breathing, and swallowing remained. As if she had been born mute, she hid her voice. It couldn''t help her anyway. Time flowed by, and Jessica''s days turned into replicas of each other. Each day, she sat in the darkness, waiting. At some point, the door would open, light would flood the room, and a new cup and plate would appear. The bucket would be changed, and that was it. The same cup, the same plate, the same bucket, the same cold light, and the same dark room. The only thing that changed was her thinning body, her overgrown nails and hair. A year was nothing more than the accumulation of days Jessica had spent in the basement. One day, Jessica leaned against one of the boxes in the corner of the room. She had caught a cold, not an unusual occurrence given her confinement. However, this time a fever gripped her, sending her consciousness flickering in and out. To make matters worse, her mother had not opened the door for two days now. Coughing sounds, a rare break in the usual silence, shattered the monotony. Unbearable heat coursed through Jessica''s body, yet she shivered from the cold, yearning for an ice bath to relieve the burning sensation. She raised her hands, clutching her temples, as a massive headache added to her misery. Her body felt terrible, soaked in sweat, drenched clothes clinging to her skin. With a thud, Jessica''s body slid from the box to the floor, too weak to sit. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Was this the end? Had her body finally reached its limit and decided to abandon her too? Jessica felt no fear or sadness. Instead, there was a tiny glimmer of joy. She longed for release, but at the same time, she was afraid. It wasn''t the fear of dying but the fear of being ignored once again. Her mother, her sister, every person she knew, the heroes and gods, they had all disregarded her. Would Death ignore her too? Hot tears welled in her eyes, tracing their paths down her cheeks, following the pull of gravity. She didn''t want this. As Jessica sensed her last moments, her short life flashed before her eyes. Faint memories of her father, moments of joy with Melody and her mother, her life with friends, school, and church. She remembered staying with her neighbors, playing outside, and the many beautiful as well as painful memories. When her father had disappeared from one day to the next, her mother had lost her smile. There were arguments with friends, times when she got angry at Melody, and moments when she hurt herself while playing. An accumulation of disharmonious emotions weighed heavy on the eleven-year-old. But then, a fresh wave of searing heat surged through her, quelling the rising turmoil. It was then that she thought about those flames, her curse, the source of her misfortune. Many times, she had contemplated them, never arriving at a sensible conclusion, for the flames were inexplicable. A gift from the devil, a kiss of misfortune, a burden too heavy for her small shoulders. Jessica''s hatred for them had become incomprehensible. It was so intense that it spilled over, affecting more than just her flames. She detested herself, loathed her mother, despised the world, and cursed fate itself. Another heatwave threatened to consume her consciousness. She blinked repeatedly, holding on with clenched fists. A thought flitted through her mind, clinging to the last vestiges of her wakefulness. She considered the flames. If she was going to die anyway from the heat ravaging her body, why not let those flames take her? She would depart from this world, both body and mind, forever. Would her mother be happy then? Would she finally smile? Would Melody be safe? It didn''t matter anymore. For a few seconds, Jessica''s eyes remained shut as the fever battled within her. Returning to reality, as her eyes opened, a glimmer of madness flickered within them. A new wave of scalding white-hotness threatened to engulf her, but this time it emanated from her heart. Like molten stone, it surged through her bloodstream, raising her body temperature to impossible heights. Even the permanently cold ground beneath her was affected. Streams of sweat flowed down her haggard body. Jessica turned onto her back, her arms and legs stretched away from her. Her erratic breathing showed in the form of her chest rising and falling, like the tides. "Hot." There was no other word to describe what she felt. But there were two kinds of heat in her body, fighting for control. One held a sense of doom, while the other burned with life. Soon, the battle was over. And within the eternal darkness, light was born. A light that Jessica had not seen in a long time, different from the cold one that visited her every day. This one was full of warmth. She felt it tingling on her fingers. The sickness that had gripped her seemed to have vanished with this new sensation. Jessica raised her upper body and opened her eyes to the dimly lit room. The source of the shallow light was in her hand. There, a small fire adorned her, no bigger than a candlelight. When she saw that small light spreading its warmth, Jessica broke like a dam, tears washing her face. She wailed, her voice returning after a year of hiding, high-pitched and screeching. Jessica raised that small flame to her chest; she wanted more of that warmth to melt her frozen heart. Her cries fell on the deaf ears of the walls, echoed in the room, and again she thought that no one would hear her. But she was wrong. And she was incredibly happy to be wrong. For the small flame had heard her. It flared up as if wanting to embrace the hurt girl; sparks flew, like letters of solace. Intense hate should have been the only emotion she should have in front of her fire, but now that the flame was flickering in front of her, crackling, as if speaking to her, Jessica could not bring herself to hate it. It was the only one who listened to her. Her crying turned to sobbing. Her free hand wiped away the tears as she addressed the smoldering flame, ¡°Please¡­ d-don''t leave me.¡± Venomous hope coursed through her veins as she uttered those words that could crush her under their weight. Her eyes were shut tight as she waited for an answer of any kind. Her olfactory sense picked up the smell of burnt cloth, and slowly, she widened her eyes. Jessica witnessed her shirt catching fire. The flames grew, almost taking over her body. The young girl screamed in fear, although she was not afraid of death, she feared burning alive. The pain must be gruesome. Her hands flailed uncontrollably, but she could not put out the flames. With her swaying hands, they seemed to grow. Jessica''s desperate attempt was useless and unnecessary because she noticed that the flames did not hurt her ¨C a memory from a time when she sat in her room, playing with her fire, resurfaced; at that time, not even her hair had burned, even while hanging directly inside the blaze. Letting out a deep breath, Jessica calmed herself down, which was quite difficult as her shirt had turned to ash, replaced by fire burning around her. Slowly, Jess stood up, supporting herself with whatever her hands could grab in her surroundings; her body had grown too weak over time. Balancing herself, she stood in the middle of the room, her eyes slowly adjusting to the light and the dancing shadows it cast on the walls. Jessica couldn''t stop staring at her body, turning her head to see her back, bending to her legs; her skin was on fire. It was an incredibly unbelievable sight. The flames began moving around as if they had a mind of their own, tickling her, playing with her, and crackling. For the first time in a while, she did not feel alone. Once again, she had the feeling that she had found a new friend in her flames. Princess of Fire The fire danced around her, resembling birds with fiery wings, fluttering in the cold cellar. Serpents of fire writhed on her skin, consuming the last pieces of fabric on her body. Their master required no earthly materials; soon, she adorned herself in a red dress, a fitting attire for her newfound status. Jessica twirled in her fiery clothes, each movement sending sparks flying into the air. The cellar''s temperature, once dominated by cold, retreated toward its corners and walls, waging a desperate battle. But Jessica''s flames were relentless; they pursued the chill, crept up the walls that had long been frozen, walls that had absorbed the young girl''s cries and tears. These walls had to fall! Flames of solitude, sealed and confined, crackled in the presence of their master. They sent sparks flying, a desperate attempt to bring down the stone walls. The sparks collided with the stone, vanishing, only to be replaced by more. "Hahahaha." Amidst the crackling and creaking, laughter emerged. Jessica''s eyes remained closed as she danced with joy. She found countless friends, loyal companions who would never abandon her, always there to surround her when she felt alone. Warmth coursed through her veins, spreading throughout her body. She stretched her arms to the sides like an angel unfurling its powerful wings to captivate mortals. Behind her, the flames heeded their master''s desires. They would scorch loneliness, incinerate solitude, extinguish the need for anyone else but them ¡ª her devoted soldiers. Feathers of fire converged to form wings, unfurling behind the outstretched arms of the young girl. As though a devil had taken residence within the guise of an innocent girl, she stood there, a looming shadow of menace. The flames crackled, as if reveling in the presence of this entity, their dance intensifying. From flickering around on the floor, they climbed the walls, engulfing the ceiling and leaping into the air. These sons and daughters of fire turned the cellar into their playground, soon finding a box full of Melody''s toys ¡ª setting them ablaze ¡ª an old wooden bike ¡ª reducing it to ash ¡ª and a table with a broken leg ¡ª they devoured it. One of the boxes contained an array of books, filled with tales of heroes, gods, princesses, legends, and myths. The flames consumed these stories, devouring each word as if mocking their content, sending plumes of black smoke into the air. Their beloved master had no need for such tales ¡ª not the gods in the heavens, the mighty heroes, nor the beautiful princesses ¡ª all reduced to nothing more than ashes in her eyes. If she wished, they would create a new narrative, one featuring a princess and her flames reigning in a world of ash. Nothing else mattered, and so everything within the cellar succumbed to the blaze. Yet, it was far from enough! The flames multiplied without end, overtaking the entire room. However, the confines of the cellar could not satisfy their insatiable hunger. They craved more, and that''s when they discovered the stairs. Gleefully, they ascended one step at a time, approaching the cellar door. The door had been an impregnable fortress, imprisoning the young girl, a gate that kept her in the depths of hell. She, a devil, was denied access to the sky; she, a monster, was condemned to remain buried underground. Heaven was not a place meant for her. The flames crawled up the door, their fury unrelenting. How dare it stand in the way of their master''s freedom? How dare it confine her? The door cried out in agony, yielding beneath the inexorable onslaught. If heaven would not accept her presence, they would set it ablaze, dissipate the clouds, consume everything in their path, and claim their own personal heaven. The flames, liberated from their prison, discovered a newfound source of delight ¡ª an empty house. They frolicked and played, their fiery tendrils dancing wildly with their newfound toys. Smoke billowed from the empty spaces, forming a rising, dark cloud that poured out from the windows. With a resounding crack, a portion of the house crumbled, its wooden structure unable to withstand the fury of the fire. But the house was merely the beginning; like a wildfire, the flames spread to neighboring structures, leaping from wall to wall, their sparks igniting all that was combustible. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Screams of terror echoed through the small village as the fire consumed homes in its unstoppable march. Villagers desperately tried to escape the encroaching inferno, with some managing to flee to safety, while others met a horrific fate ¨C either burned alive or fortunate enough to succumb to the black and choking smoke. A thick, acrid smell was their final sensation before they crumpled to the ground. There, during the chaos, the flames devoured them like ravenous scavengers. Amidst the horror, a sickeningly sweet and foul gas mingled with the acrid scent of burning wood, suffusing the air as more and more human lives were claimed by the blaze. The fire showed no mercy; it cared not whether its victims were animate, or inanimate, large, or small, young, or old. It devoured everything in its path, fueling its army of rage. Four figures stood at the entrance of the village; their somber silhouettes cast against the backdrop of a raging inferno. Two grown men observed the relentless blaze, while a distraught woman knelt on the ground, weeping inconsolably. Beside her, a small girl clung to her, wide-eyed and trembling. ¡°This seems like more than just a mere accident,¡± one of the men said. The other nodded gravely. ¡°Indeed. It''s fortunate you decided to accompany us, sir Morend. Without your guidance, I''d be at a loss.¡± Morend lit a prepared cigar and took a contemplative puff. White smoke wafted from his nostrils as he surveyed the chaotic scene. "Hmm. Luck had little to do with it. I was just bored out of my wits," he retorted, shifting his gaze back to the village. "This looks like nothing more than a troublesome headache. The fire should have already alerted neighboring villages. Take charge of the guards and douse the flames. Pay no heed to the fleeing residents; prioritize those trapped within this hell. Everyone still alive should help too." His attention then turned to the weeping woman and her daughter. "Where was your house again?" Morend inquired. Meren struggled to regain her composure before answering, her voice quivering. "It is at the center¡­ northwest of the church," she explained amidst sniffles. "The fifth house from there." "Good," Morend acknowledged tersely. Without uttering another word, Morend ventured further into the chaos, his calm, and measured steps in stark contrast to the pandemonium around him. Under different circumstances, he might have seemed like an ordinary visitor leisurely strolling through the village, but the air of fearlessness about him was unmistakable. As he reached the remnants of the once-holy church, Morend encountered a grim sight ¨C a sacred ruin that barely retained its former glory, with a charred corpse sprawled before it, half of its white and black robe slowly succumbing to the encroaching flames. "In your next life, you may find gratitude in the Lord''s grace," Morend mused aloud, his tone dripping with a sardonic bitterness. "That is if your mind doesn''t crumble before then." He quickened his pace, eager to put this grim scene behind him. Leaving the burnt church and the lifeless priest in his wake, Morend found himself amidst a nightmarish tableau of screams, with people aflame, their clothing and flesh ignited, writhing in agony, rolling on the ground, or fleeing aimlessly. The anguished cries of dying animals reverberated in the inferno, a symphony of suffering. Morend pressed on, unperturbed. Arriving at what seemed to be the fifth house, he stared at what remained ¨C a haphazard jumble of charred wood and fragments of scaffold. A desolate landscape met his eyes, with neighboring houses sharing the same fiery fate. ¡°Where to even begin? They all look the same,¡± he muttered to himself, his gaze scanning the indistinguishable ruins around him. Flicking the last remnants of his shortened cigar into the flames, he grumbled, ¡°Annoying.¡± His words drowning in the crackling inferno. The temperature surged as he drew closer to the scorched ruin, the air growing dry and suffocating. Surveying his surroundings, Morend spotted a set of stairs leading downwards. Instantly, he recognized that he had found what he sought ¨C a passage not to a mere basement, but something more akin to hell itself. Fiery appendages, serpentine flames, and countless sparks emerged from the cellar, painting a surreal and otherworldly picture. He sighed, realizing there was no turning back now. With resolute determination, Morend descended the staircase, and as if fearing him, the flames began to retreat. Walking through the heart of the fiery maelstrom, he seemed to be the fire''s nemesis. Fiery tendrils lunged at him, sparks ignited around him, and smoke sought to choke him, yet every attempt of nature to extinguish this intruder was in vain. It was as if an invisible dome encased him, shielding Morend from harm. The blaze couldn''t even singe the clothes he wore, and the smoke swirled around him but failed to infiltrate his lungs. Reaching into his pockets, Morend produced another cigar. Nonchalantly, he extended his hand and used the surrounding fire to ignite it. The very flames that had snuffed out numerous lives, razed buildings in mere minutes, and would haunt the villagers'' dreams forever, now served as nothing more than a lighter for Morend''s cigar. His journey led him to the focal point of this mission ¨C a young girl, sleeping serenely amidst the protective embrace of the flames. They adorned her like a living gown, flowing with every rise and fall of her chest. This image was so paradoxical, but it was not enough to elicit a twitch in Morend''s face, because what he had seen so far was even more unfathomable. Bending his body, he reached for Jessica. The flames surrounding her intensified as if making a final stand before succumbing to Morend''s touch. Gently, he slid his arms beneath her legs and back, lifting her with the ease of someone handling a slumbering princess. A Princess of Fire. End of Volume 1 ¨C Princess of Fire