The world around the two humans was engulfed in a fiery blaze. The wind howled angrily as it swept at the flames, but this only fuelled them as they hungrily devoured the plains. The wind was spelling its own doom.

There was only one thing wrong with this plan. Many things, actually, but there was one thing in particular. It would doom both Sin and Noa as much as the plains themselves.

The heat tore through the air, almost suffocating them. It sent smoke and ash upon them like a blanket of carbon reckoning.

Smoldering coals now replaced the grass that had hindered them previously and stubborn flames still licked at the remains.

Right now, the best plan of action would be to stay still, let the flames rage further and further down, and allow the coals to cool before attempting to escape. This would be ideal if it weren’t for the damned apathy that threatened to swallow their wills!

How could they stand here for hours under the weight of emotionlessness? They would most likely just forget they wanted to escape.

‘No,’ Sin thought with dull fear. ‘We have to go now.’

He had already discussed this part of the plan with Noa. They knew what they had to do and what they had to endure.

Truthfully, SIn had never liked this idea, and had racked his brain for any other escape plans. He had tried cutting the grass with his sword, but it just didn’t seem sharp enough. Noa managed to get some more results with her bow and arrow, but what was she going to do? Shoot a million arrows to break a million blades of grass? Not to mention, the grass seemed rather angry when they did try to hurt it, often throwing them off their feet or wiggling with outrage.

No, this plan was the only plan. They had to get out of this place, dead or alive.

A second or two later, Sin and Noa dashed forward.

They both sported roughly made cloth shoes, to endure the coals much faster. However, there was about 500 meters worth of embers to run through. The cloth was bound to be burned through or catch alight, sooner rather than later.

And that is exactly what happened. Not even 50 meters in and Sin was already feeling the flames licking at his feet and ankles. Thankfully, he had the mind to pull up his long pants earlier, fearing they might catch alight from brushing against the coals or having the flames from his shoes catch onto them.

Tears sprung from his eyes as he endured the pain of having his feet burned. If it weren’t for the wind he would have smelled his burning flesh.

He dared not look at Noa, fearing he could misstep. He could only hope she was doing alright.

Sin’s grimace as he ran was one of agony and concentration. He was dodging the stubborn flames that were still lit, and stepping on patches where the coals were fewer. He had made it approximately 100 meters before his shoes finally caught fully alight.

From the sidelines, this sight would have been morbidly amusing. He was running on fire, after all, with a panicked expression stuck to his face.

Sin couldn’t help but groan from the pain, but the wind still swept it away.

A second later, the worst thing that could have possibly happened… happened.

A gust of wind tore through the air, catching both Sin and Noa as they were running. The gust was stronger than ever before and, having caught them off guard, swept them off their feet.

Sin looked at Noa momentarily, seeing her fall. Her body was headed straight for a large lump of coal that was still alight with hungry flames.

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He couldn’t watch further, however, as he had to save himself. He fell to his hands and knees and searing pain shot through his hands and legs that had connected to the coals.

He wanted to scream but heard another scream tear through the air first. A much more harrowing scream, one that ruptured the wind’s overwhelming gusts of silence. It was Noa.

Sin rushed to his feet, dashing in the direction of where he had seen Noa fall. The two had been distanced due to their weaving between the worst of the charred remains of the plains.

As he ran, he beat the flames that were threatening to engulf him, making them sputter out. His clothing was now riddled with large holes.

When he finally arrived at Noa’s location, he stopped breathing. Before him was the beginning of a bonfire. Its fuel: Noa.

Her entire body had fallen onto a large pile of coals, and she was instantly half-buried in them. They ate greedily at her skin, devouring her face and flesh. Her clothing had caught alight and was now vehemently burning. Agonized wails erupted from within the human furnace, her voice gurgling with blood and pain. Her hair had caught fire too and was now almost burnt away, leaving her bald head charred and blackened.

Despite the overwhelming heat that permeated the air, most of it caused by Noa herself, Sin could not help but shiver.

He was watching a person burn to death; a person he knew, a person he had called an ally. She was burning to death and he couldn’t help her. He couldn't even feel a pang of emotion for her, any emotion.

The apathy was still eating away at his mind, much like the flames were eating at her.

However, he knew without a doubt that he couldn’t save her, even if he wanted to. Even if he tried everything, and threw himself in to save her, they would both end up dying.

“I’m sorry,” Sin said, his voice appearing hoarse and emotionless.

Then he stumbled away from Noa and walked to where her pack had fallen a few meters from her when she fell. The flames were licking at it, but the tougher leather was not as easy to burn.

Picking it up and dusting the flames and ash off with his already burned hand, he turned his back on the human bonfire.

Contused screams followed him, the wind blowing them directly into his ears. He grimaced and continued running with everything he had.

His entire body hurt and burned so much that it felt cold. But he continued running.

He ran for his life… and Noa’s. Somewhere up above, in the tapestry of brilliant stars, Noa’s burnt out.

***

Sin fell breathlessly onto the cold stone floor that led up to the mountains.

Not too far away he saw pillars of smoke, as if some giant of soot had descended upon the world. There were one or two flames visible still, but it seemed the wind had mostly gotten them under control.

Noa was out there, somewhere, too… or what was left of her.

Sin took a moment to rest his aching and charred body on the chilling stone. The relief of the cold touching his burnt skin was so overwhelming that tears sprung to his eyes.

His emotions were still not making an entrance. He felt they were not subdued anymore, as he had finally left the plains, but instead locked behind the shock that still permeated his body and mind.

Embraced by the cold floor, Sin couldn’t help but close his eyes and fall asleep. He desperately needed rest.

***

He woke up with a groan of pain. Looking up, he saw the night sky dazzling with hundreds of stars. He knew that Noa’s was not up there anymore.

With that thought, the floodgate of emotions opened.

He curled himself up on the floor, his body racked with pitiful cries. His heart ached with the dull recognition of watching someone he knew die. It ached, too, with the anger and fear he felt at it. Most of all, he felt loathsome toward himself for watching her die and not trying to help.

He knew, logically, it would’ve been impossible, but he couldn't help but hate himself for his weakness.

After a while, Sin didn’t know exactly how long, he calmed himself down. His heart still held with it a dull pain, but most of all it held rage. Rage at himself, rage at the world, rage at his situation.

Standing up with a tired sway, he looked at his surroundings. It was dark, so he could not see much, but the stars lit up enough so he could make out where he was going. It would probably be safer to only traverse during the day but…

There was something out there that, perhaps with all his wailing and exhaustion, he had not heard previously.

It was the enticing rush of water.