Green Witch: A Timberhall Trial

Part 5: A Night of Fire - 2

 Magic built in a rising crescendo that seemed to shake the ground. Jaime felt her skin heat up. Felt the skin rise, split. Though when she dared to glance down she was unharmed. The damage had yet to be done but the intent was there. They didn't want to burn the family's main home. They wanted each of them to die in as much pain as possible. Jaime was no longer aware if she was running towards the Summerfield home. Her mind only screamed at her to keep running. So she did. Ignoring the growing ache in her legs, the way her breath rasped; she felt her panic rise the harder it became to draw in a full breath. 

When the first lick of real fire hit her, Jaime let out a scream that sounded feral to her own ears. She saw the Riverside Gardens park gate ahead of her. It wasn't a huge park, a picnic area with a medium sized gazebo for parties were the only things it had to draw the average passerby. But it was full of trees. Jaime was far from a fighter. She'd rather anyone else be taking care of this. She also didn't want things to end like this. Alone without hearing even one friendly voice. Just as she reached the safety of the trees the next lick of fire scored the side of her leg. Jaime took a unceremonious dive. She barely managed to turn her head and avoid a mouth full of dirt. 

Jaime scrambled to her hands and knees. Tears sprung to her eyes. Despite her better judgement she looked to see how close her attacker was. The person wasn't a terrible hulking monster like her panicked mind had come to think of them. They had an average height and lean frame. Their masked face and all black attire was a grave image backed by a streetlight.  Jaime's attention was immediately drawn to the way an ominous orange-red glow emanated from their center. It lit up suddenly as her attacker threw in more energy. A desperate chant of "No!" started in her head as Jaime pressed her palms against the dirt. Creaking like an old house the nearest trees began to whip at her attacker. She may not have the energy to stay awake for more than a few minutes, but that was low on her list of priorities. Especially when her attacker soon proved her defense had merely surprised them. They raised their hand and, giving the barest brush of their fingers, returned all the trees to stillness.

The hollowness that blossomed within Jaime quickly turned into a bottomless pit. The witch families of Bell Point weren't just divided by fighting. Only the strongest witches could weave two types of magic so effortlessly. And if she faced an elder witch, she was willing to curl up. 

"Is that it? All that running and you're just going to give up?"

Her attacker, a male from the sounds of it. A young pompous male from the sounds of it. Humiliated tears streamed down Jaime's face. This time when she pressed her palms against her ground she called the trees to swing with all their might. She called the grass to grow in a tangled grasp against his legs. Jaime's limbs felt heavy and she began to half shamble, half crawl to anywhere that might be safe. It was a slim hope that her attacker wouldn't just set the entire park on fire. With all the strength she had left, Jaime managed to get to the gazebo. She wiggled and squeezed her way under the platform and hoped the night would hide her. Realizing she'd dropped her phone somewhere along the way, Jaime took the only option she had left. She poured her energy into the soil. She called for her family.