My coat dragged across the floor as I carried my feet across the vacant park. The walls were coated with soot, and the fresh smell of coal caused me to wrinkle my nose. Subconsciously, I started whistling softly as I continued my trek, walking past a food truck, a large crack on the framed window left slightly ajar. I reached my skeletal hand out and grabbed my favourite human treat from the display.
The doughnut was stale, but I enjoyed it anyway; I don’t get to eat it often.
After licking the sugary residue on my lips, I resumed my expedition. A large Ferris wheel was visible behind a probably neglected bathroom building, and I hoped my duty was not calling for me inside there. As I walked around the building, I noticed that the roof was caved in. and I stroked my fingers against the rubble, tutting my tongue.
What have these people done to cause this tragedy? I wondered.
There were clouds of grey wafting from behind another food stall. As I wandered closer, I stared down at my boots, careful not to step on the puddles that formed last night. The sky was clear. Shimmering stars watched like the eyes of a monster, yet the night glow seemed to avoid me.
Many would consider me a monster, but I digress.
“Hello there.” I crouched to brush my fingertips against a crow’s beak on an ash-ridden rock. The crow tilted its head curiously, a blue glow seeping from within its dark beak. The bird struggled before it let go of the light, cawing. The blue light drops onto the rock’s surface softly, afraid. My bones creaked as I stood up, and I shooed the bird away. It took off, hollering angrily.
The blue, surging wisps bound in confusion, moving in patterns that made them seem lost and afraid. They’re always like this, aside from being attacked by crows. Holding my coat up, I whispered towards them, inviting them to my embrace. They gathered themselves together and the blue flames rushed towards me. “Rest well, children,” I whispered as I put them into my coat pocket, adopting them into my safety.
Continuing through the park, I found a young teenager, his leg trapped under rubble. His face was covered in soot. He was lucky not to have been burnt. However, I saw the same blue flames gathering around him, and I knew then that he wasn’t going to make it. He called for someone, his voice weak as he begged for help, like he’d been screaming. His throat contracted as he croaked, “Where’s my sister?”
“I’ve already seen her, my child,” I whispered softly. The boy glanced me up and down, fear and regret written all over his face. Trying my best not to startle him, I sat on the floor, crossing my legs. Pebbles pierced my cloak’s already torn end.
It took a moment before acceptance cloaked the young boy’s figure. His hand reached for me, and he attached to mine, sobbing dryly as the ends of the blue flame seeped out, and I embraced it into my cloak’s pocket with the others. His hand squeezed tightly before it went limp. “You shall join her. I suppose that is the only option.”
The boy’s hand was colder now. It fell lifeless when I let go of it. Contemplating, I lingered on the ground, staring at the lifeless body crushed beneath the rubble. That poor child had an entire life ahead of him… what a shame. I decided that for now, I needed a break from this devastation.
A second doughnut sounded quite appealing all of a sudden.
