The Hearth's Colors

Chapter 2

Flashback:

A lash of crimson circled her purple cheek. Saffron settled down in the corner staring into the hearth. It changed from orange to green to blue to red. The swiveling colors caused a dizzy feeling to harvest in the pit of Saffron's stomach. Her rangy clothing did not shield her from the frigid air that glued itself to her freckled skin. A teeny boy crawled through the tiny door behind the curtain revealing himself as Tommy. He had tears dribbling down his bloodied face.

Saffron scanned her brother's face searching for that one thing that had always reminded her of her mother. Unfortunately, that one aspect she was looking for had vanished, manufacturing a deeper depression that she couldn't understand. Maybe it was because her mom had just died? Or that her abusive father became more brutal? She sank down in on herself letting out a plethora of salt-filled landmines sputter out of her eyes. Tommy jerked her hand and pulled her toward the hearth. His expression was as blank as a stagnant pond.

"It's saying something Saffy, but, I don't know what it's saying," Tommy murmured. Saffron knelt down in front of the hearth, staring at the flames concealed behind a cast iron fence. She held her ear forward toward the fire listening to the crackling of the wood and smelling the scraps of smoke that entered the room. She leaned in further, closing her eyes, and heard her mother's voice call for her. "Saffron, darling," the fire spoke with a "spaz-like" pronunciation.

Saffron felt a pain that buzzed through her leg. Her skirt had caught on fire and was raged with madness. "I'm going to kill you," screeched the fire. Saffron could swear it was her father yelling. Without realizing, Tommy poured a bucket of water on her lap reducing the fire to ashes. She spun around and squeezed Tommy with a great force.

"I think father doesn't want us to live, Tommy," Saffron exclaimed. She darted her eyes toward the hearth and saw that the fire dimmed and sputtered out.

Tommy peered up at the ceiling and shushed Saffron to lead her attention upward. Stomping motions were reported from the ceiling and were guided to the staircase. Saffron dragged Tommy toward the curtain and shoved him through the door, permitting herself more time to stare at the hearth. Yet it did not turn back on, it stayed lifeless.

Saffron traveled through the door and the two crawled up an inclined hill. Tommy thrusted his hand onto a latch above his head revealing an entryway into the foyer. It was decorated in pastel pink and dusty yellow flowers. Portraits of Victorian women and men drenched in vivid clothing covered the sky blue walls. Cherry wood furniture sets doused the polished floors with charisma. The external appearance was utterly flawless and perfectly aligned. The internal use wasn't as appealing to viewers, except that's for another time.

"Maybe we can hide here for a while, you know, until Rafael isn't drunk anymore," Tommy provided. Saffron hurtled herself onto the futon and cuddled Tommy in a blanket. They slowly and gently began to drift off and trip into a dazzling slumber.

A thud sounded from the foyer entrance immediately rousing the children. A raspy voice yelled," Get up you fucking idiots! Do you think this is a resting home? Well it's not you damn fools!"

Saffron grasped Tommy and scurried toward the trapdoor, however, Rafael's foot was perched on the door blocking their escape. Saffron hobbled backwards, tripping over table legs and knocking over one of the vases. Yellow Poiseys were scattered across the oak floor with scraps of glass and water embedded in between.

Saffron balanced herself up and held Tommy adjacent to her as close as she could, leaving no air in between their bodies. She backed all the way into a corner as Rafael followed closley behind. Her feet were sliding down and her back was crushed against the wall. It was covered in a thin layer of dust, allowing more grime to shed onto her clothes. Tommy was holding onto Saffron's exceedingly small waistline.

"Saffy, I'm scared," Tommy whimpered with hot tears streaming down his face. Rafael began to laugh with such a great force it felt as if an earthquake had erupted in the foyer. Rafael yanked Saffron up with both his hands and began to squeeze the air out of her lungs. Her heart was rapidly beating, sweat dripped from her face, and tears were plummeting to the floor without her noticing.

"Let's go to a separate room don't you think," Rafael pronounced. Fear was surgically imbedded into Saffron's tiny freckled face. Rafael let a small, yet sharp, smirk pry into his face. The sharpness cut into Saffron's eyes. She tried to resist him, but, was unable to properly maneuver away from his clenching fists. She peered down to Tommy who had a terrified expression permently plastered to his youthful face. Saffron could hear her mother's voice screeching for her from the trapdoor they entered from.

The hearth was engulfed with flames as "business" was going on upstairs. A rageful woman produced from the flames was hurrying up the stairs, leaving behind burning footsteps as evidence of her visit. She entered the room where Tommy was and went toward him.

"Where is Saffy, darling?" the woman exclaimed. Tommy pointed to the door across from that room. The woman was covered in flames and raged from Rafael's abusive manner. She hurtled herself against the door, attempting to burn it down. Before she finished burning the door she had lost her power and imploded on herself.

Rafael opened the now charred door and slung Saffron to the floor with his might. Saffron scurried to Tommy and they hid in the trapdoor and made their way to a new room.

"Saffy, I saw a woman made of fire and she looked like mom," Tommy cheered. Saffron was silent she was terrified at what her father had done to her, leaving her clothes bloody and sticky with unknown substances.

"I think I was right about dad. He isn't good for us Tommy, he wants to hurt us," Saffron said as she laid her head on Tommy' shoulder.