Green Fire

Heat pressed against me. Even though I didn't need to breath to survive, it felt as though my lungs were being crushed.

I sat up, searching for a clue that would tell me where I was.

Directly in front of me burned a circular, green fire. Within the scorching ring hung three people by their wrists.

Heads bent, each moaned in pain. I took a step forward.

"Hello?"

The one in the middle looked up. His face was streaked in dirt mixed with blood.

"Troy!" I rushed to the edge of the fire. "Troy, I'm coming." With only the briefest pause, I ran through the flames.

They engulfed me, scorching my hair and burning up my clothes and my skin, but I didn't pay it any attention.

My eyes fixed on Troy. "Hang on."

At my words, the person on the right of Troy looked up.

"Mom!"

I knew instinctively the person on the left of Troy would be my dad. "Dad, it's going to be all right. I'll free you all."