Chapter 4: Visions

Shine could feel the burns against her skin. The intense, heavy smoke, the feeling of flesh and muscle oozing from her bones. Her head was pounding, throat dry and stomach twisted in so many fearful knots she couldn't barely keep her dinner down. Her small and frail voice cried out in pain. Painful, dry tears. She called for her mother. Her father or brothers.

Yet she didn't know their names.

She cried for help, but found none.

The dark clouds were too thick to see any light from the moon or stars.

Each house was vaporized, ash and burning soil all around her.

Where would she go? How would she survive with no idea of what's going on?

What had happened to her last?

Shine picked herself up, walking barefoot through the burning earth. She cried and cried, coughed and vomited. Her hair was singed at the ends, and her body began to steam up. The pain soothed, faded, just as her feet touched the still hot concrete further away. She could hear the sirens of the police coming. Fire trucks and ambulances.

Help. Help was coming.

Fear rooted in her chest. Her heart rammed against her ribs and she felt a panic coming. What to do? How to face them? With the truth? With no memories of anything at all?

Her head was still too foggy. Thoughts jumbled up, strung together with nothing but deceit and falseness. She couldn't speak truth because she knew of no truth.

She simply knew of pain, physical and mental.

So she ran.

She ran, and ran and ran.

Through the trees, through the bushes. Past the animals, into another part of the city. Her feet carried her forward without any sense of wear. They grew, grew and grew. The pain faded away, replaced with the spreading fear throughout her body. Her violet eyes gleamed at the sight of her school, and she burst through the front doors, yet met only darkness.

The doors shut behind her, Shine whipping her head around and grabbing the handles, pushing and pulling.

Out.

She wanted out.

"There is no out in here."

The voice made her freeze. Cold overtook her, followed by a strong warmth at both sides. She turned, back pressed against the wall as she looked at him. His violet-green eyes. The faded burns on his face. She drank in his height, his build, his scent and face.

And the evil. The evil tone of his voice, the evil light in his eyes. The complete cold as he touched her chin. "My daughter. How I've missed you."

"Get away!" She yelled, voice echoing. Her throat closed up, and it became difficult to breathe.

The smoke. The fire. It erupted around her. Shine dropped to her knees, clutching her head, pulling at her hair as she repeated for him to get out, to go away and leave her alone. She knew this man, hated this man, but couldn't remember why.

He reached for her, placing a palm on her head and rubbing it softly. "My daughter. Please, come back to daddy."

The man jumped back suddenly. White fire and black ice erupted to her right and left. Faint voices. Muffled, words unable to be understood.

She looked up hesitantly at the two boys that stood beside her, clutching her shoulders, screaming at the man. The man laughed at the boys, arms outstretched. The three faded, but the flames grew more intense. Her skin was hot. Burning.

Her throat was unimaginably tight. No air leaving or coming. She wanted to be free from this nightmare.

Frannie was nowhere.

Orion was nowhere.

Claire was nowhere.

Shine was alone. Truly, and utterly alone, abandoned.

"... Ine..! Sh… Shine!" The voice was clearing. One of which. Energetic. Happy. Warm. So very warm. The fire no longer hurt. No longer was she suffocated by the flames.

"Shine! We're coming for you! Just hold on, little Sis! Please!"

"Who… Who are you? Who ARE all of you!" She wanted to yell. No words would come. Once again, she was consumed by fear, and yet, she felt the warmth of his words. The warmth of his presence. Their presence.

They were coming.

But who were they?

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Shine opened her eyes. A pair of violet eyes and white hair stood over her. Coco colored skin, and a handsome face. She blushed faintly, reaching out.

"Shine?"

Once she heard the voice, the vision shattered like glass. Orion was peering down at her with worried eyes.

Shine sat up quickly, rubbing her arms. She was hot. Her body was drenched in a thick sweat, and eyes red as if she had been crying.

"What is it," She asked with a hoarse voice. Orion pulled the chair from her dresser and sat down by the side of her bed. He bounced his leg impatiently, taking short breaths.

"I heard you freaking out in your sleep, so I came running in here. Mom's running a shower for you. What happened that had you so spooked?"

"Did she just start it?" Shine asked, obviously trying to avoid speaking of the dream. Images of it were still clear as untouched water. The man and the two boys, even now. Those violet eyes were like hers, yet different. The white hair seemed familiar as well as the face.

Who was it?

"Uh, yeah," Orion answered hesitantly.

Shine stood from her bed, pushing Orion back in his seat so she could head towards the bathroom. She stood, feeling his eyes on her and she snapped her head back. "Don't look at me."

"Sorry," He apologized, raising his hands defensively.

She huffed and slammed her door shut, practically stomping towards the bathroom. Shine stopped, knocking on the wood door before opening it. Her eyes fell on her mother's back.

Claire raised her head and faced her daughter, face pale and eyes devoid of light. Her hands were shaking as if she had witnessed something horrifying. "Shine. Honey, are you okay," She asked, standing and touching Shine's face.

She felt warm in her hands.

"I'm fine, Mom. Just had a bad dream, that's all." Shine held a firm face.

Claire breathed in deeply, then took her hands back and cupped them in front of her. "Well, I ran a bath for you. It should be nice and warm. Take your time and relax." Claire's voice was light. There was care, but a strong fear as well. "Come see me if you need, okay?"

Shine watched as Claire stepped out and shut the door.

Locking it behind her mother, she quickly removed her top and pants, glancing in the mirror at the sweat on her body and began to frown. As her eyes trailed over her side, she noticed a faint bruise, just above her hip. Once she touched it, she noticed it felt wetter than the rest of herself.

No pain, just a strange spot. Shrugging, she dipped her toes into the tub, submerging her whole body and letting her mind race back. Back to the dream.

Back to the night that was locked away in the back of her mind.

Back to the man who called her his daughter.

And back to the boy's words and face.