The Puppet's Strings

Chapter 4: The incident

"Well, she got me to retell the incident to her." Started Xianna, "Then she asked if I still feel sad and depressed about it. I told here I still have those nightmares. you know, about fire and whatever."

"Aw no, I'm sorry to hear that. so that's what happened. Did Marissa bug you too? Or, for some really abstract and unbelievable reason she left you alone?" "First one." replied Xianna, "I knew Carson and herself were becoming a "thing" but I thought he was better than that."

"I know...How did he find out about...the incident?" "She probably told him." Aria answered with an "Uh huh" and continued to eat her sandwich.

The rest of the day went by quickly, Xianna stayed quiet and Aria left her to herself to go back to classes. One of the many reasons they were best friends are because they both witnessed and were involved with worrying events and survived...sort of.

Aria watched as her mother's life slipped through her fingertips, at least she was ready for that...Again, sort of. Xianna still had burns that haven't healed from her nightmares, ones you cannot see.

If you were to ask me if she knew what she was doing with that stray matchstick then I would have to say "No." because that is what I believe, as well as Xianna but deep inside her there are feelings that she did it for a reason. Why is this? I do not know. The horror of it has left scars on her heart, mind and soul. Who would think a seven-year old would commit such a tragic event?

The sad theatric happened long ago, before Aria moved to town. A matchbox was left out after some lovely fireworks in the backyard.

A small child woke from a nightmare in the middle of the night, curiosity dragged her to the dining room table rather than her fear driving her to her parent's room.

The box was left half open. Whispers filled the child's ears. Her tiny fingers lit the stick. Her big round eyes stared, mesmerized by the spark.

Then as the flame moved down the stick, she dropped it, the fire had burnt her little finger. The flame extinguished fast but then curiosity pulled again, harder this time.

Another match lit, then extinguished. But this third one, something was different. The little girl dropped it right after lighting it.

The bigger, stronger flame surged across the dry carpet. Everything flammable lit up and was left swimming in flames. The girl's eyes rolled back, she let out a piercing screech, not of fear, but of triumph.

Then a second later the real, truly innocent and angelic child snapped back, she screamed again, terrified. Her parents and herself barely escaped the deadly, blazing hot tongues of the fire.

The parents who were panicking and calling 911 didn't even notice the child who's eyes had turned an icy-blue during the horrid event slowly turn back into their normal, caramel colour. The demons have passed.