Evan Burl and the Falling, Vol. 1-2

by Justin Blaney

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Evan

  Wednesday

  12:32 am

  2 days, 22 hours, 17 minutes until the falling

  We slaved sixteen hours in the Caldroen before Mazol let us go to bed. Only eleven of us now: ten Roslings, one dark beast.

  I lay awake next to Henri, tracing my fingers though her hair until she fell asleep. She hadn't been crying as much as the others. Trying to be strong. Her breathing steadied. I moved slowly, careful to not shake the bed as I sat up.

  I sniffed the air. Smoke. Someone screamed. Henri's eyes snapped open. Firelight flickered under the door. Bursting into the hall, I stopped short. Flames rose from the rug outside our door. I grabbed it by the corner, beating it on the stone until the flames extinguished. Henri stomped out the last of the smoldering embers.

  Another scream.

  "Pearl." I dashed down the hall, ignoring the pain in my leg, and yanked open her door. Smoke billowed out. Pearl's bedsheets erupted in flames. Kicking, she rolled to the floor, taking the burning blankets with her. I pulled Pearl free as Henri beat out the blaze.

  "What happened?" I said.

  "The bed. I woke—it was burning."

  "Did you see anyone?"

  She shook her head, but her eyes kept finding their way back to me. Something in them made my stomach churn. Some secret accusation.

  A thump against the wall. Pearl clutched the bottom of my shirt.

  I pried her fingers free. "Stay here."

  Henri followed me.

  "Stay with Pearl," I said.

  "I'm going with you."

  Another thump.

  I traced along the wall, trying not to make a noise. Reaching the door to the room next to Pearl's, I pushed it open, revealing a wall of clouded night. The room was filled with furniture, a maze of sheet-covered chairs and hutches and shelves and tables. In the dark, something crashed.

  I stepped in, using my hands as a guide through the gloom. Henri held my shoulder as she followed.

  Pearl appeared at the door.

  "Go back to your room," I said.

  "I don't want to be alone." She caught Henri's hand. I breathed in and moved further into the room. We made our way deeper into the maze. The glow from the hall grew dim.

  Another crash. Wood screeched across brick.

  "We're not going to hurt you," I said.

  From the darkness, a whisper. "Take it back."

  "Who's there?"

  "Take it back!"

  A tower of chairs fell on us. The room lit with red, flickering light. I scrambled to escape the tangle of furniture, pulling Henri free beside me. Smoke filled my lungs.

  Coughing, I picked up Pearl.

  "Get help," I said to Henri as I dropped Pearl into her arms. We turned to the door. Flames rose, licking the ceiling.

  I saw a body. Lucy. Writhing on the floor in the midst of the flames. I lunged for her, but Henri held me back.

  "I have to save her."

  "The flames will kill you."

  Henri ran to her instead, pulling Lucy from the sparks. Screaming in pain, she wrapped herself around Lucy, rolling until the flames extinguished.

  "She's dying," Pearl said.

  As Lucy shook on the floor, I leaned over, wiping her forehead, holding her hand. Then she went still. All around the room, flames went out in a puff of smoke. Her skin, covered in scratches and bruises and rash. Words, cut into her arm.

  Take it back.

  I turned Pearl away, hugging her tight.

  Smoking embers littered the floor. Henri's face was sooty, her clothes charred. Pearl sobbed as I rocked her in my arms.

  "We're all going to die," Pearl said.

  "Shhhh. It will be alright."

  "I don't want to die."

  "I'm going to make sure you don't."

  Henri flinched, like I'd just made a promise I couldn't keep.