Of course, logically, I knew running into a burning building was quite stupid. But as I watched the ivy shrivel and burn and smoke curl out of the window that I knew led into the fairy’s room, I couldn’t stand idly by.

“Oliver! I’ve already called the fire department!” One of my neighbors, Mrs. Wight, had shouted at me from her yard across the street from the Clark house, “hey! Oliver! What do you think you’re doing?!”

I ignored her, running into the Clark house. I ran up the stairs, having long since mapped out the most stable way up them. “Kira!” I started calling for him once I was at the top of the stairs. I ran to his room, still shouting, “Kira!” I threw open the door to his room, the next cry of his name dying on my lips when I found the room empty.

Running into a burning building was foolish. Running into a burning building to save someone that wasn’t even there was downright moronic.

“Kira?” I called again, less sure. The other end of the hall was engulfed in flames. I ran back to the stairs and found the wood burning away the safe path down. I crouched, trying to get under the smoke but there was nowhere to go.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

I was going to die.

I hugged my knees to my chest and curled in on myself, hiding my face.

“I told you to stay away, ya damn idiot.”

I looked up as vines wrapped around me, barely able to see Kira’s face through the greenery and smoke. The vines were strong, lifting me easily. The vines carried me down to the ground floor and out of the back door, surprisingly strong and steady.

The vines released me and I found myself sitting at the edge of the woods behind the Clark house, staring at Kira. He crossed his arms over his chest, “now, what the hell would possess you to run into a burning building?”

“I thought maybe you were still inside.”

Kira pinched the bridge of his nose, “I’m not human, there is no need to worry about me.”

“You have weird plant powers that doesn’t automatically mean you’re flame resistant!”

I stood up only for Kira to immediately push me back down and loom over me. A bush was bursting from the ground under his feet, enveloping his calves and nearly reaching his knees. “I don’t need your help, leave me alone!” His hands were held in shaking fists. He looked down and away, “never come back.”

Roses bloomed in the bush by his feet.

“No.”