Playing with Fire

26

Blisters rub against the soles of my shoes as I lead the group to the town of Stythe, burns from the forest fire start to sing with pain once more and my stomach begins to make weird gurgling noises as I keep walking along the grassy land.

The buildings are crafted out of brick with glass as the windows, grey rectangles lay on a slope on the houses, there was structures like a place full of food but you have to- Shops. That's what they are. There was another one of a woman standing on something made out of stone, her hands in the same position as what I did to James before I left him, her eyes looking extremely brave and her lips looks pursed but her shoulders look quite straight and bold. Her legs were spread out at shoulders-width, her feet pointing at the road which leads to the central of the city.

"That's the 'Lunar Phoenix'," Toboni whispers in awe as we walk through the town, onto the path which leads our way out, trailing to Brocklesby. 

I remember James calling me the "Lunar Phoenix" when I did the same hand signal as that statue towards him. I didn't know what happened or what it meant but I believe I know now.

We leave Stythe which I thought was a bit boring as there's no sign of drama or anything among those lines. No talks about Jeanine or about me, no children running about or adults farming. Nothing whatsoever.

*

More forests come into our way as we delve deeper into them, trying to find our way towards where my mum should be. Adam stands beside me, hands in his pockets, staring out in front of him; his collar of his jacket blowing against the breeze.

Lee is being guided by Daniel as Toboni is just about sick of doing that specific job continuously. She stands alongside Adam, wanting to support him but every few minutes, Adam keeps telling her to leave him.

Why isn't he asking me to go?

I look at him and I see him quickly glance at me then carries on looking ahead. I sigh deeply and I stuff my hands in my grey trousers and I continue to follow the path through the forest (hopefully the last as I have been in too much now). 

Silence filled the area as the sun sets behind us, giving off a vibrant orange colour-

Like fire flickering behind us-

Only it wasn't flickering.

Shadows of trees were spread on the ground where we walk, the smell of nature filled my nose, the air is more purer than ever. I stop and breath in the air and I smile by it; the air is just amazing. I have never breathed in anything like it in my life but-

"Guys..." I stop once more and ahead of me is a fork in the road, splitting into two. "What way?"

Toboni pulls out my map from her pocket and unfolds it, examines it and raises an eyebrow. "It doesn't continue past Stythe."

"Oh well that's helpful!" Lee then curses a lot, flailing his arms about, showing anger in his voice and emotion.

I glance up at Adam and he suggests, "Hands up for left,"

Two hands shoot up (Toboni and Daniel).

"Outnumbered. Right it is." Adam then walks on the right-hand path and we follow him to catch up as he is pacing a bit faster and faster and we keep following him faster and faster (technically, we cannot keep up with him) through the forest.