FIRE
It burned. It burned and burned and burned to his soul and through his soul and it hurt
MOM
and he knew it had only just started but it would never end he had to make it end
ZOE
could he make it end he didn't know but he had to try he put his hands on the bed and tried to rise
MIKEY
He pushed himself up. Everywhere was fire. Everywhere was burning. His own skin was blackening, his eyes tearing was somehow the only thing saving them, his hair was burning, his room, his posters
STEP
He made himself step to the center of the holocaust, where the heat became impossibly hotter. Before him, he saw a line of badly-burnt husks shambling toward his goal, one by one vanishing as they approached the white light
STEP
He sensed more than saw figures rising from his bed, forcibly stepping behind him
STEP
Another figure vanished. Another step. Another. Another.
STEP
There was nothing between him and the light, the heat, the death, the salvation
Victoria stirred. She felt Kevin's arms around her, felt his breath on her hair, felt his flesh touching her naked breasts, and cuddled in a bit closer. This was the best feeling in the whole world, and so she sat there savoring it, half-asleep, for as long as she could.
Some time later, she dozed, and woke to him smiling and watching her. Her raven eyes and raven hair seemed to glimmer slightly in the dark, her breasts were firm and large and soft against him, and he felt himself stirring. Life was good.
Idly, he ran his hand over her bare back, and she arched slightly into it. Her thumb idly traced the engagement ring on her ring finger, and she smiled a bit more. Soon, the day would start, but for now, they were young and in love and there was time to prove both of these things true.
They drove into town, and she kissed Kevin deeply when she got out of the car. There were worse ways to spend time than as an account manager for a real estate holding company, but there were many better. She smiled to herself as she thought about some she'd planned for the evening.
Her phone chimed. She pulled it from her purse and noted a text from Katarina Smith -- her old college roommate, one of her bridesmaids this June. Idly she wondered what the text was about; tapped the icon and it came up
NOW
WHEN
NOW
YOU
NOW
COME
NOW
Victoria Ellen Peters stopped in her tracks, causing the couple behind her to pull up short, give her an irritated look, and continue around her. Her face went blank as her mind entered a different state.
She had to come. Now. And she would.
