The Boy with the Fire in his Heart

Three Months EarlierIt was late in the night as Arder Santiago trudged up the hill to the entrance of the town graveyard. The grass was covered in a film of frost and the trees were all devoid of greenery. The only sounds were that of the frozen grass beneath her feet, her own breathing, and the growing winds causing the branches of the old oak tree in the graveyard to creak back and forth.At the top of the hill was a wrought iron fence surrounding the graves. Arder pushed open the gate and walked towards the back of the yard, just under the tree.Arder pulled off her coat and laid it beside her grandmother's grave and sat down. There was no grass on the ground in front of the grave, just upturned dirt. The tree's branches rustled above her as the wind picked up and Arder pulled the hood of her sweater over her head to block some of the cold. Instead of looking to the stone that bared her grandmother's name, Arder looked to the moon. She looked up at the bright light in the night as

Forced to go to high school for the first time, Grey had to wake up exceptionally early. He leaned against the brick wall in front of the school, waiting for the girl. The other students laughed and talked as they pushed their ways inside. Wishing he could just go home and give up, he pulled his jacket closer around himself. It was almost winter, and the freshly-cut grass was covered in a sheet of frost. As more time passed, the more the number of people outside began to dwindle. When they had all entered the building, Grey wondered if she was even going to show up. She didn't seem like the type to skip school, he thought, though he knew judging people on their appearances often backfired. The bell signalling the start of classes rang throughout the courtyard, and Grey got up to leave. Taking a final look down the street before he left, he was surprised when he saw someone. A girl was jogging down the street towards him, her red curls bouncing as she ran. Realizing it was her, Grey s

She walked up the damp, dark path to the house more cautiously than usual. Arder had a suspicion of what would happen once she entered the mansion. Her mother definitely wasn't known for being understanding, and Arder was more than late. At the top of the stairs, the white double doors that stood at least twice her size loomed over her. She saw the golden handle turn before she had the chance to open it herself."There you are," her mother said, opening the doors. Arder did love her mother. What she didn't love was what she had become. "You missed dinner." The disappointment in her eyes was clear."I know. I'm really sorry," Arder said, stepping inside with her mom. "Sophie asked me to help clean up," she explained. Her mother shook her head."This was important," she argued. Arder slid open the first closet in the hall and hung her dark green jacket on a hanger. She was too tired to deal with this. "Arder, are you listening?""Yeah, Mom. But I had to help Sophie clean up," she repeate

Arder was terrified. She felt like she was going insane every time she thought about the dream. She was the only one who knew how real it all felt though; her throat was still burning from screaming. But she knew no one would believe her if she told them about it, which is why she didn't. She got up from her desk and asked to go to the washroom. She had to know for sure that it wasn't real. Arder had to know if Sophie was okay.~~~~~The school building was silent. The only noise was the sound of her footsteps and the occasional faint voices coming from the classrooms. The hallways were covered in awards and posters for clubs. Arder didn't pay much attention to them, as she had never been the type to join such organizations.She quickly ran out the back entrance next to the gym and headed for Cara's. It was a lot less busy on the streets in the morning, with everyone either at work or school. Turning onto the busy road she had met Grey on, she quickened her pace once she saw the café'

Later on in the night, Lexie had fallen asleep. The same could not be said for Arder, despite it being long past four in the morning. She tried to relax, but it was as if her mind wouldn't stop spinning. She just laid wide awake, listening to the sounds of the night. She heard cars drive past the house, a sound she usually couldn't hear from Adam's house. Then there was the strange noise that sounded like it was right outside. It sounded like someone drowning or choking.Arder quietly got up from the bed, checking if the creak of the floorboards woke Lexie. When Arder decided the girl was still snoring soundly, she walked over to the window. The strong wind made the branches of the tall oak tree dance back and forth, blocking the view of what was past it.Arder heard the noise getting louder, like it was just past the tree. With both arms out in front of her, she walked through the darkness of the bedroom until she found the door. Arder wrapped her hand around the cold metal knob and