Shining Through Shadows

The Fire

Lydia

The day had passed in a blur and Louisa had told me to help the girls today, since the Alpha wouldn’t be home for any of his meals.

For some reason, it bothered me to know I wasn’t going to see him, but on the other hand, I felt relieved as I was slightly nervous about facing him again after what happened last night…

We’d just finished our own dinner, a stew with chicken, carrots, peas and potatoes. Suni was wearing her home-made socks, showing them off even though they could hardly fit inside of her shoes. But she was warm and comfortable, and that was all that mattered.

Jena was telling us about another book delivery scheduled for next month. This was exciting news and I hoped I could find something of interest in the new delivery. I was still practicing, but I had become increasingly better with letters. Both reading and writing.

The moon was already plastered upon the dark sky and stars were twinkling like small diamonds. Sounds of wood rumbling together echoed through the quiet of the night as if the furnace and several fireplaces needed restocking.

When the sounds continued for several minutes, I rose from my seat at the long table and trudged toward the windows. A handful of large, strong men put fire-wood into a large pile on the ground.

They were keeping a good distance from the houses, but it was still visible. What were they doing? Were they planning a bonfire in this cold weather?

It was somehow calming to watch them work together so efficiently. Then, four other men came into view, carrying a cot on their shoulders. What was — oh my god.

The body of a small person, a girl not even twenty years old yet, was resting on the cot, frozen in an uncomfortable position. My god, poor girl.

I could feel another person beside me, and from the reflection in the windows, I saw Jena standing next to me with a solemn look on her face.

“They are guiding her spirit to the afterlife.” She said softly, her eyes never wavering from the men who carried the girl.

“Where— How did she end up like that?” I asked her. My throat was dry as I thought about the dead girl’s family. Did they mourn her?

“She was chosen. Like the rest of us.” Jena explained, her eyes meeting mine briefly. “But I have a feeling you already know that.”

Together, we stood in silence and watched how they placed her frozen body on top of the fire. They surrounded her in a circle and paid their respects to her.

The Alpha came into view, a distressed look on his face as he, too, entered the circle and murmured something under his breath. My heart clenched as I watched them and I placed my hands on top of it, as I tried to pray for her soul and its final journey.

With their heads bowed in respect, I watched as the Alpha, Zachary, and two others each lit a torch and stuck them into the dry wood. They must’ve used the wood gathered for the household for the winter for it to be dry.

The fire began as small embers, slowly licking at the wood until it was finally engulfed completely. The flames burned bright in the dark, the colors of yellow, orange and red in stark contrast to the black canvas on the sky.

I could no longer see the girl, her body entirely engulfed in the flames and I glanced up in the sky and wondered if her soul had already ascended along with the smoke and ashes floating in the air.

I continued to watch the fire until the flames were almost gone and as I stood there, with my eyes glued on the bright orange embers, a throb appeared between my shoulder blades.

It began as a small throb, but soon the pain was excruciating, burning even, and I couldn’t help but wince as it gnawed on my skin. Jena noticed I was uncomfortable and asked me if I was all right just as my eyes rolled back into my head and everything went dark…