She felt soft grass tickling her feet as she ran. A genuine and innocent smile lit up her childish features. Over the rolling hills to the east was Rhoacia, the southernmost country where the matriarchal royal family ruled the prestigious kingdom of Leonil. She didn't know where she was. There were grassy hills and houses, people, and crops, festivals, animals, rivers, distant mountains, and a beautiful blue sky, gifting long bright days. Still, this was all she knew. Alas, it didn't matter to her. Being happy was enough and what made her happy was where she was right now. As the air pounded against her clothes, pushing them into her skin, she found it increasingly difficult to continue at her pace. Pausing to breathe, her golden locks of hair fell over her face and head like a waterfall. Smile persisting. She heard the heavy breathing of another not too far behind her. Turning, a young girl with light brown hair tied in a bun upper of her neck's back hunched over herself to rest her weight on her bent knees. She panted feverishly, and a clumsy grin stuck to her face. After a few instances, she stood upright and looked the other in the eye. Pointing at her accusingly, she declared. "Why'd you stop? I'm still going to catch you!" With barely suppressed laughter, Aislene continued to run from the little girl behind. All day they played together, when the light above the world began to fade, as usual, their mother called out from their large home in the center of the village. Aislene and the little girl gazed in the direction of the issued order and then to each other. The next moment, they were racing home, with Aislene taking the early lead. Getting closer and closer, Aislene looked back to gloat her triumph. But upon seeing her teary face and frustrated expression, she slowed down just enough to be beside her. Happily cheering soon after, the little girl jumped up and down in unrepressed excitement at her victory while Aislene silently pouted. Opening the door into the house shot a beam of blinding light onto the darkened porch. An angelic figure stood in the entryway with a halo radiating off of her, kindness filled the air, and a calming feeling of security blanketed them. "Ruth, please hurry inside. Dinner is ready." The little girl obeyed and bolted in the past the woman. Her eyes followed each movement just before she, too, reentered, shutting the door. Aislene left outside, stood facing the closed entrance. The light, along with her feeling of safety, ripped away. She grabbed the knob and twisted the door open. Inside, where the light shone once again, she could see the woman and a man gorging themselves on a delicious-looking meal of soup, salad, and a roasted hen. Creeping inside, she walked through the kitchen, fixing herself a plate, along with a chair to sit on. Bringing it over to the dining room where Ruth had made an extra seating space, she sat down and enjoyed her meal without the man or woman casting a single glance in her direction. When they had all finished, both young girls went to work in the kitchen. Washing the dishes and cleaning, each task was quickly accomplished thanks to their teamwork. When everything was clean and in its place, the two adults appeared with a small bowl of ice cream. Handing it to Ruth before patting her head, they proceeded to their room. Once they were out of sight, Ruth grabbed another bowl and scooped half of her portion into it before offering it to the gratefully accepting Aislene. The two sat at the table and enjoyed themselves before preparing for bed. After cleaning again, they brushed their teeth, where they spent several moments distracting each other. When finally ready, Aislene crowded into a small twin-sized bed beside Ruth. Looking at the ceiling for distraction, she counted sheep until her eyes became heavy and her mind wandered. The teary skies rained, burning acid. All around her were walls of fire reaching as high as trees, the image of apocalypse reflected in her eyes. Panic and fear were at the forefront of her mind while confusion lay in wait. The need to find something missing, to seek out what was gone, drove her to run through the unbearable heat. A word, a name, escaped her mouth despite the searing pain she felt sliding down her throat. She screamed that word over and over until a whisper was all she could utter. Frantically running around, each time, a new burn would caress her skin, leaving a smoking scar behind. When she couldn't move any longer, she collapsed on the ground. Staring up at the sky, tinged with orange from the fires, a figure appeared above. She couldn't tell what it was, but it floated there among the smoky clouds. Sitting up to better see, she noticed a second figure beside the first. It too seemed to float in midair, or rather they seemed to be hanging in midair. What was holding them up was a mystery, yet she watched until the flames grew too big and too far. And soon as she was engulfed in an endless sea of pain and fire. Eyes shooting open, she tried to gasp for air to find it only comes in small amounts too short to get enough oxygen to her head. Momentarily blacking out, she awoke once more in a calmer state; she tried to move, but her body was paralyzed. She could only breathe and blink in the darkroom. Her heart was beating quickly. She futilely attempted to move, over and over and over again. She eventually gave up and settled down enough to be bored. That was when the acrid, nauseating smell of smoke entered her nostrils. She looked over at the door across the room. Underneath was a thin sheet of cloudy carbon monoxide. Her eye narrowed in fear as she desperately tried to move. Ruth was sleeping soundlessly beside her despite the overwhelming pressure of death filling their enclosed room. Aislene attempted to scream, but no sound came. She struggled and fought her body's response to fear. The world spun as she looked from Ruth to the door. Pure terror was holding her hand now. Her efforts continued until. Eventually, her finger twitched, she noticed, and repeatedly tried again. Several times, she moved and twitched her whole body fighting against her slowly winning mind. Finally, she slid off the bed and landed hard on her face. She winced but quickly brushed off the pain, she tried to stand, but her legs wouldn't move so easily. Crawling back onto the bed, she shook Ruth until a tiny groan of displeasure emitted from her sleeping form. She kept shaking her until she sat up, rubbing her eyes. The confusion was her first expression, followed by shock, then realization. Aislene shook her twice more before focus landed on her. She tried speaking, but still, no words came. She motioned towards their window, and then the smoke rising from the underside of the door. Ruth got the message and unlatched the lock sealing the burning heat inside. Their home now an oven, Ruth climbed out before turning back, Aislene tried getting out, but her arm strength wasn't enough to lift herself over the edge of the sill. Ruth looked at Aislene and then upwards to the roof of the home. Aislene would never know what she saw, but Ruth's eyes widened in horror, and she completely froze. Ruth wouldn't move. She just kept staring dazedly at whatever was up there. Aislene kept trying to get out, but her strength was starting to fade. She could feel her mind attempting to shut down while her legs stubbornly refused to budge. She called out to Ruth, but her voice came out husky and horrid. Nothing discernable could be heard. Adrenaline was beginning to kick in when suddenly, she could start to gain some height using her arms to pull over the edge. She clumsily fell out of the window after pausing in the frame to catch her breath. Landing on soft grass that still hurt, she looked up towards the roof. She was too close to the house to spot anything, but it was easy to tell that it was completely on fire. Ash and smoke billowing up to escape the house. It was a glimpse into hell. There, lying on the ground. Aislene grimaced at the scene before turning to Ruth. She was still staring at the flames with an expression that was the incarnation of fear itself. She had accidentally soiled herself upon first sight, but nothing tore away her sorrowful gaze. Dragging her useless legs behind her, Aislene grabbed Ruth's leg to wake her up from the fire's trance. Reaching out, just before her fingers could graze her ankle, she started walking. Not away from her, but toward her. Then passed her and closer to the burning building. Aislene hadn't the slightest clue what she was doing, but she continued. Fire in her eyes, Ruth climbed back in through the window into the house. Aislene desperately called out, but Ruth's ears had grown deaf to any noise. Inside, Aislene could see her walk to the smoking door. Opening it would mean certain death, she cried and cried to Ruth. Her voice broke, her throat tore. Still, she screamed, even as strong unfamiliar hands picked her up off the ground and ran. Over the kind stranger's shoulder, she could see the door open. Light momentarily poured out from the crack. Then, an explosion rattling the ground, and her life forever.

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