Burnwood - The Dragon Arum

by Sarah La Rose

CHAPTER FIVE

  I had been wandering the beach alone when Jane found me.

  “Annabelle, I want you to meet someone.” She turned to the man beside her with jet black hair and white, porcelain-like skin. “This is Yury.”

  Yury looked older than any high school student I had ever seen. Not unreasonably older, but at least in his early twenties.

  I smiled, trying to ignore the knot forming in my stomach. “Hi.”

  He took my hand and bowed. His hands felt cold, not like ice, but something eerily familiar.

  “A pleasure to meet you,” he said. His accent was unique, definitely southern European, but I couldn’t place where I had heard it before.

  I glanced at Jane, assuming she could only feel as uncomfortable as I. Instead, she gleamed with pride. Nevertheless, it made me uncomfortable.

  I yanked my hand free from his hold and covered my mouth as I attempted a cough. The sound that came from my mouth sounded more like a wheezing noise than a cough, so I improvised.

  “Sorry, my allergies are working up.”

  “What are you allergic to?” said Jane.

  “The….”

  This always happens to me. Why do I never think my lies through and get the details straight?

  “The trees,” I finished.

  Oh God! Did I really just say trees? I’m an idiot.

  “Or maybe the grass,” I quickly added.

  I need to stop. Just stop talking altogether!

  I folded my hands behind my back and looked out over the lake. Maybe if I keep myself distracted I won’t say anything else stupid.

  Jane laughed and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. She either hadn’t picked up on my lie or she was a good enough friend not to call me out on it.

  Next, Yury took Jane’s hand as he did mine and kissed it. “I see I am leaving you in good company, my dear.”

  Jane pouted. “Are you sure you have to go?”

  “I’m afraid so.” He kissed her forehead, ignoring her puckered lips, and walked off toward the parking area.

  Jane and I watched Yury cross the lot and disappear behind a large white van where a bunch of kids had set up lawn chairs around a card table.

  “So…” Jane started.

  I knew what she was going to ask me and I dreaded it.

  “What do you think?”

  “About Yury,” I said brilliantly.

  She nodded. “Of course.”

  “Is he your…”

  “Boyfriend?” She smirked. “Not yet.”

  I knew what I was expected to say, and truthfully I had no evidence to oppose it, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. “Yeah, he seems sweet.”

  Even the strongest of friendships require a couple of lies here and there. After all, it’s not like I could say sorry Jane, but your boyfriend creeps me out, and I don’t know if you noticed this, but I sense a dark energy to him.

  Jane raised her hand and fanned herself. “Sweet? Try smoking hot.”

  I giggled, which turned into a piercing scream when a loud bang echoed into the night. My first instinct was to hit the ground and I almost did, ducking my head between my arms, but then I saw Jane. She wasn’t at all frightened. In fact, she seemed entirely amused watching me take cover.

  Jane laughed. “It’s just a car backfiring.”

  I took a deep breath and straightened myself.

  She raised her brow. “What did you think it was?”

  “A gunshot. What else?”

  Jane’s eyes widened. “You mean to tell me those things actually happen in the real world?”

  I stared at her. “Are you serious because sometimes I can’t tell?”

  “I’m sorry. It’s just that nothing like that ever happens here. It’s just so…” she paused.

  “Boring,” I said.

  Jane’s expression flattened. “I was going to say consistent.”

  I paled. Had I insulted her?

  I was about to apologize when a fight erupted a few yards down the beach from us. A drunken football player and mouthy freshman staggered across the beach as a crowd formed around them. They kicked and punched, but neither of them had the balance or vision to connect.

  “Damn it!” Jane gave me a quick look before pushing her way through the crowd. I watched her reach the middle quickly and surprisingly without injury. She grabbed the football player by the jacket and pulled him away just as another boy took hold of the profanity- slurring freshman.

  With Jane’s presences needed there, I wandered over to the quieter part of the beach and found a lone log laying on its side. I sat down and looked across the lake. The water glistened under the moonlight, looking dark and majestic. I took a pebble in my hand and twisted to my side to get a better swing, but then something caught my eye.

  There was a glimmer of blue light coming from within the forest. I turned to survey the crowd, but no one seemed to notice the strange little light. It was probably nothing- perhaps some kind of special flashlight or something of the sort.

  I walked down the beach, taking the first path cutting into the thick brush. The trail was narrow and the moonlight barely broke through the canopy of leafs hanging above, but I continued anyway. The branches scratched against my jeans as I maneuvered around fallen trees, and ducked beneath low- hanging branches.

  Finally, I could see the light shining from behind a very large tree blocking my path. I made my way around the giant obstacle; and there it was, but it wasn’t a flashlight at all.

  It was a tiny blue flame burning in the center of a small circular clearing.

  I moved closer and bent down to examine it. It was magnificent. Its electric blue hues danced from side to side as the wind gently breezed by. The flames had taken on a life of their own.

  Suddenly, I registered the phenomenon before me.

  The flame seemed to be hovering ever so slightly above the ground.

  But, what could be fueling the fire?

  Bewildered, I searched harder for the source. I circled the fire, I bent down lower with my face inches away from the ground, but still I could see nothing.

  I sat back on my knees and stared at the wondrous flame. It really was beautiful, but the mystery of its existence was even more captivating.

  Am I losing my mind?

  Suddenly, the little blue flame began to grow.

  I staggered to my feet and backed away, but before I knew it the growing blue flame burst into violent red, orange, and yellow flames. I turned to run, but a wall of fire burst up from the ground, encircling me. The heat pulsed over the surface of my skin and I dropped to my knees, shielding my face in my hands.

  The thickening smoke forced me to the ground. I tried to scream, but choked. I struggled to take a deep breath, but the air was tainted with smoke and every breath felt like hot sheers slicing down my throat.

  I coughed. I could feel my body weakening as I pulled myself to my feet. I held my sleeve over my mouth and blinked away the mixture of smoke and water in my eyes. I searched for an opening, but everywhere I turned I was surrounded my tall angry flames.

  Finally, the heat and the smoke were too much for me to bear and I felt my knees give out under my weight. My eyelids felt heavy, impossible to keep open, and after a few seconds everything went black.

  Had I hit the ground?

  It was still warm, but I no longer felt a burning sensation against my face. Instead, I felt like I was in my own little bubble of protection that smelled oddly like leather.

  Am I’m dead?

  I realized then that my arms were wrapped around something, or rather someone.