I Will Rise

What is happening to me?

I woke up on the cold hard floor. My body hurt everywhere and I was so cold. I slowly got up, using the wall to brace myself. It's dark and I can barely see. It must be nighttime. I felt for the hand rails and began to climb up the stairs. At the top, I tried to open the door but it was locked. I began to bang on it, calling for Kage.

"Kage!!"

"Open the door, Kage!"

"It is cold in here, let me out!"

"Kage!!"

Realizing he was not coming, I felt for the light switch. I flipped it a few times but the light would not turn on. I sat on the stairs waiting for my eyes to fully adjust. I shivered at the cold damp air. Looking around, I can see the outline of boxes and other things. I got up and began to descend slowly, trying not to fall. Upon reaching the bottom, I went to the first stack of boxes. Inside are books, old paperwork, and pictures. Nothing to help keep warm or sleep on. I quickly glanced around and saw nothing useful. Maybe when the sun comes up I will have better luck. Hopefully, by then he will let me out, but I doubt that. I lay on the hard floor and curled into a ball, hoping to keep as much of my body heat to warm me up. From the pain and stress the day had caused, I began to drift into an uncomfortable sleep.

I woke up and darkness still consumed the room around me. I wondered how long I had slept. The cold was beginning to penetrate to my bones. I was shaking. I sat up and hugged my legs, looking around again in a vain effort to locate something, anything, that might help me warm up even a little. I was becoming desperate. Right as I was losing all hope, I felt a warmth in my hands. Elated, I let out a little squeal. I look at my hands and see they have a slight glow. I begin flipping them back and forth looking for the source and I am slightly concerned. How are my hands glowing and why are they warm? The warmth begins to spread up my arms and I begin to panick. Maybe I am about to spontaneously combust? I scream and begin to flap my hands, I am jumping and running, trying to get the warmth to stop. The warmth continues to spread through my body and I panic even more. I am yelling at the top of my lungs and I start rolling on the ground. Just as I was about to bang on the door again, it stopped. The glow subsides and the intense warmth fades, leaving only a slight warm tingle along my body. I begin examining myself, looking for any burns, only to realize all my bruising has vanished. How? I am so confused. I am thankful though. I feel no more pain. It was as though the glow and warmth healed me. How is that possible?

I sat back down and leaned against the boxes. I close my eyes and try to rationalize what just happened. I did not combust, there was no fire, and there is no heater down here. How could this happen? At some point, my thoughts turned to the lack of pain. How was I healed, and how long have I been down here? The bruises and pain were there before the glow and warmth came. Could the warmth have healed me? That just doesn't make sense. I am so confused. I just dont understand how any of this is possible. My confusion is starting to turn to anger. I wouldn't even be in this situation if it weren't for Kage.How can he say he loves me and do this to me? How can he keep hurting me this way? My anger kept building and building until I screamed. At the release of my scream, fire flew from my hands. Terrified, I yelped and shook my hands hoping to put out the flame. But the flame spread, consuming my whole body.

From the sheer terror I felt I passed out. I do not know how long I was out but I awoke to being shaken.

"Zoe? Zoe, can you hear me? Zoe?" Kage asked as he tried to rouse me.

I released a few incoherent mumbles as sleep began to leave me. As I sat up I let out a gasp and began examining myself for burns. Seeing my skin completely unharmed, I began to look around. There were no signs of a fire anywhere. Maybe it was a dream? Then my eyes landed on Kage. He was looking at me in concerned confusion.

"What's going on, Zoe?"

"I am not sure. Must have been a dream, I guess."

"Why are there no signs of your punishment? How are you to learn if you can not see what happens if you don't listen?"

"I dont know what you mean Kage. I am exactly as you left me. How long have I been down here?"

"Just the night, although I think you need to stay longer."

"No please, Kage, I have learned my lesson. Dont leave me here."

"Fine, go upstairs and make me breakfast. I have work to do and don't have all day to wait."

"Yes, Kage, I will do that right away."

I practically ran up the stairs to do as he asked. I needed a shower but that would have to wait. As I cooked Kage his breakfast of eggs and bacon, I tried to recall all that happened in the basement and began to wonder. Can I call the fire again? I will have to try after he leaves. Maybe, just maybe, I can free myself from him once and for all.