Buried Deep

Ru gasped, his hands instinctively grasping the blindingly bright figure. When his fingertips touched it, flames licked at his flesh. He attempted to scream, but the sound was muffled by the figure in front of him. It felt intense, like if a weight was pressing down on him. Ru's vision blurred, and the edges darkened as his lungs strained for air.

"I... I don't..." Ru stammered, his strength fading, his voice barely a whisper.

"No matter what, he is our father," said a little girl's voice.

And she started to materialize in a memory fragment. Ru remained motionless, his breath seizing in his throat, as the small girl flew into view.

She was a pixie. Her wings caught the light like shards of stained glass. A creature nearly the size of Ru's hand. Her rose-gold hair framed her bright copper eyes, and she landed with gentle grace in his palm, emitting a soft, alien glow.

"We have to accept him as he is," continued the little girl.