Trial by fire
1088 Words
Chapter Three: Trial by Fire
The cold didn’t let Scarlet Miller sleep.
Scarlet Miller curled up in the corner of the cell, knees tight to Scarlet Miller’s chest. Every time Scarlet Miller’s eyes closed, Scarlet Miller heard growls behind the walls. Or footsteps. Or chains dragging across stone.
This wasn’t a holding room.
It was a warning.
Scarlet Miller didn’t know how much time had passed. There was no clock. No sunlight. Just the thick weight of silence and fear pressing in from all sides.
Then the door creaked.
Heavy boots stepped into the room.
Scarlet Miller sat up fast.
The same guards from before. But this time, another figure stood between them.
The woman in black.
“Time to begin,” she said.
Scarlet Miller stood, legs aching, heart pounding.
The guards opened the cell. One grabbed Scarlet Miller’s arm—not rough, but firm enough that Scarlet Miller couldn’t pull away. The other walked ahead, leading the way through narrow halls and low torchlight.
No one spoke.
After what felt like forever, the guards stopped at a thick iron door.
The woman turned to Scarlet Miller. “This is the first trial. It's called Fire Walk.”
Scarlet Miller raised a brow. “Fire what?”
She didn’t answer. Just nodded at the guards.
They opened the door.
The heat hit like a punch.
Scarlet Miller stepped into a long stone chamber. Flames lined both walls, burning high, wild, and too close. The path between was narrow—barely wide enough to walk through without catching fire.
Scarlet Miller’s breath caught.
A voice rang out from the far end of the hall.
Elias Thorne.
“The Fire Walk is simple. Walk straight through. Do not stop. Do not run. Do not scream.”
Scarlet Miller stepped to the edge of the path.
The fire roared louder, like it knew Scarlet Miller was coming.
“What happens if Scarlet Miller fails?” Scarlet Miller asked.
Elias Thorne didn’t answer.
That silence said everything.
Scarlet Miller’s hands shook.
Scarlet Miller looked at the flames again. The heat was already burning Scarlet Miller’s skin, and Scarlet Miller hadn’t even started.
Scarlet Miller clenched Scarlet Miller’s fists. “Fine.”
One step.
Then another.
The fire hissed like it wanted to bite. The air was thick. Each breath burned.
Scarlet Miller’s clothes clung to Scarlet Miller’s skin. Sweat poured into Scarlet Miller’s eyes. The ground felt hot enough to melt boots.
Halfway through, the flames reached higher.
The heat got worse.
Scarlet Miller's vision blurred.
Pain licked at Scarlet Miller’s legs, arms, neck.
Scarlet Miller gritted Scarlet Miller’s teeth and kept walking.
One step. Then the next.
Then—
A loud c***k.
A section of the ceiling dropped behind Scarlet Miller, blocking the way back.
Scarlet Miller flinched.
“Keep going!” Elias Thorne’s voice echoed.
Scarlet Miller pushed forward, heart racing.
Scarlet Miller's legs felt like lead. Scarlet Miller’s lungs screamed. The heat was everywhere. Inside. Outside. Burning. Blinding.
Then Scarlet Miller tripped.
Fell hard. Hands scraped against hot stone. The pain made Scarlet Miller gasp.
The fire roared closer.
Scarlet Miller looked up.
Still ten steps to go.
Scarlet Miller’s arms shook. Eyes burned. Every part of Scarlet Miller wanted to give up.
But giving up meant death.
Scarlet Miller crawled. Pushed off the floor. Stumbled back to feet.
Scarlet Miller didn’t care how bad it hurt.
Scarlet Miller walked again.
One more step.
Then two.
And then—
Scarlet Miller crossed the threshold.
The heat vanished like a switch had been flipped.
The room ahead was cool. Quiet.
Scarlet Miller dropped to Scarlet Miller’s knees and gasped for air.
Someone knelt beside Scarlet Miller.
Elias Thorne.
“Scarlet Miller survived.”
Scarlet Miller looked up, eyes narrowed. “Scarlet Miller isn’t doing this to impress Elias Thorne.”
Elias Thorne didn’t smile. “Good. Because Elias Thorne’s not impressed.”
Scarlet Miller stood, even though every muscle screamed. “What’s next?”
The woman in black appeared again. “The second trial begins tonight.”
Scarlet Miller scowled. “No rest?”
She shook her head. “The blood doesn’t wait.”
Scarlet Miller followed them down another hallway. The stone walls were damp now. The air colder.
Scarlet Miller’s skin still burned. The heat had left red marks. Blisters maybe. Scarlet Miller couldn’t tell. But Scarlet Miller didn’t ask for help.
They reached another chamber.
Inside, the floor was covered in thick black mud. In the center, a raised platform. On it, a key.
The woman pointed. “The second trial is simple. Get the key.”
Scarlet Miller stepped forward.
The moment Scarlet Miller’s boots touched the mud, something moved.
Scarlet Miller froze.
The mud wasn’t just mud.
Something lived in it.
Something fast.
Something that growled.
“Careful,” Elias Thorne said from the doorway. “The shadows bite.”
Scarlet Miller stared at the key.
Scarlet Miller had to cross ten feet of thick, living mud to reach it.
Scarlet Miller didn’t blink. Didn’t hesitate.
Scarlet Miller stepped in.
The mud sucked at Scarlet Miller’s legs, cold and sticky. Scarlet Miller took another step. Then another.
Growls echoed.
Something brushed Scarlet Miller’s ankle.
Scarlet Miller kept moving.
Scarlet Miller reached halfway. The platform was close now.
Then something sharp grabbed Scarlet Miller’s leg.
Scarlet Miller screamed and kicked hard.
Whatever it was, it didn’t let go.
Scarlet Miller fell into the mud, hands sinking deep.
A face broke the surface near Scarlet Miller’s side. Not human. Eyes black. Mouth wide.
It lunged.
Scarlet Miller grabbed a broken stick nearby and slammed it into the thing’s jaw.
It hissed and disappeared beneath the surface.
Scarlet Miller pulled forward.
Another hand. Another step.
Scarlet Miller reached the platform and climbed up.
The key was warm in Scarlet Miller’s hand.
Behind, the mud bubbled again.
Scarlet Miller didn’t look back.
Scarlet Miller ran for the edge and leapt.
The guards caught Scarlet Miller before Scarlet Miller hit the wall.
The woman clapped once.
“Trial two: passed.”
Scarlet Miller didn’t smile. “That all?”
The woman nodded. “Until tomorrow.”
Scarlet Miller followed the guards again, body screaming in pain. Every step felt like fire and ice battling under Scarlet Miller’s skin.
When th
ey shoved Scarlet Miller back into the cell, Scarlet Miller dropped to the floor and curled into the corner.
Scarlet Miller didn’t sleep.
Couldn’t.
Because tomorrow was coming.
And Scarlet Miller had a feeling the worst was still ahead.
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