One on the Dark Path Finds Light

Chapter 6, The Elf is Broken by the World

Glenn's eyes widened as the people rushed past them. He scanned the crowd and saw many familiar faces, but three were missing. Rachel, his mother, Onyx and Akia. They were absent from the sea of people. Glenn immediately panicked and began to run, his legs moving on their own, carrying him toward the fire.

Ephraim was left behind with Neamei as Glenn ran into the raging flames engulfing the whole town. Glenn heard screams and groans of agony, which hurt his ears. He'd never heard this type of pain, but he continued on, saving everyone he could on the way. There was blood everywhere. . .His town was under attack, and he had to stop it. He finally got to his home.

The windows were all broken, fire spilling out of them and creeping up the house. The ground was scorched at the front door, and Glenn could hear extremely faint coughing coming from one of the windows. He knew his family was in there somewhere and rushed to the door, jerking it open. Heat hit his face in waves, but he didn't care, he ran straight into them, catching his pant leg on fire. He smacked it and ran up the stairs. He opened Onyx's bedroom door and found him collapsed on the ground. He hurried to his side and checked for any signs of life. . .Onyx's pulse was weak, but there, so Glenn helped him stand and got Onyx on his back. He went down the stairs and to the basement, where he found his mother and sister, passed out on the floor. He picked Akia up and tied her to him with his cape. He grabbed his mother around the waist and dragged her out of the basement. He coughed, and coughed, his lungs burning from the overwhelming smoke flooding his house. He limped on, flames burning around him. He heard a crack and split and looked up. The whole frame was coming down, but he was right next to the door! He could make it—but the frame cracked and fell. Glenn felt a nudge on his side and then he was pushed out the door with Akia and Onyx. When he looked back, he saw Rachel. . .And then the frame fell, and blood spurted out.

Glenn's eyes widened and tears immediately sprung from his eyes, and he screamed, "Mother?! Mother!!"

He continued screaming, his throat raw. Neamei came up next to him and untied Akia, laying her gently on the ground, then he grabbed Glenn's arms, but Glenn pushed him away hard and stumbled to his feet, running to the door. But flames soared and he was locked out, only able to see blood splattered on the floor like paint. . .He screamed into the flames, falling to his knees, tears running down his face faster than he could breathe. He couldn't even breathe. It hurt too much. She was in there somewhere, just waiting for him to come in and save her, but here he was, sitting on his knees and crying. Glenn's shoulders shook uncontrollably, and his chest heaved with sobs so big, it hurt. He stood, still trembling, and ran into the flames. It burned and when he came out on the other side, he saw Rachel's head, shoulders, and arms. She raised her hand weakly, and Glenn grabbed it, despite the blazing hot fire around him.

"G. . .Glenn," she whispered. "Love, is it my. . .time already? Glenn, listen. . .Tell your brother and sister. . .I love them, a lot. Tell them. . .that even if they. . .miss me, I am here, with them. . ."

Glenn nodded fiercely. "Yes, Mother I will I promise!!"

"And. . .Glenn. . .thank you," she whispered, reaching her hand up and cradling Glenn's face. "You. . .saved them. I thank you. . .for that. . .And I. . .l-love. . ."

Her hand went slack and fell from his face. Glenn seized it, his cries melting into screams of pain as he bent over. "No! You can't leave! You just can't! You never told Akia the story of fairies! You never got to see Onyx off to his own life! You still have so much to do!"

Rachel remained still, breath and pulse completely gone.

Glenn yelled loudly, his throat aching. Every second felt like an eternity, and he couldn't bear it. He screamed and screamed until the flames nearly engulfed him as well. Even then he didn't move. He couldn't. . .His mother was gone. What was there without her? Suddenly, a pair of thin arms slid under Glenn's shoulders and pulled him out, leaving him sitting and staring at the red stained to the floor. He sobbed hard, his breath hitching and stopping altogether. He couldn't hear, couldn't see, couldn't feel. . .everything was numb. His mind was clouded, only capable of crying. He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard a feminine yelp.