Let Me Burn Novels & Stories

“Zane… what have we done?” I didn’t look back. The relic burned against my skin, whispering, waiting. I clenched my fist. “Not today,” I murmured. And then I vanished into the fire

Please make your choice. The prompt came again. I closed my eyes and made up my mind. "I'm going home." There was nothing left here worth staying for, no one left worth saving. [Exchange complete. Passage home will now open.] As the words settled, the sky shifted. A crimson glow spread overhead as the earth began to tremble, a deep rumble rolling beneath our feet. "It's a sign from the heavens!" The crowd erupted in celebration. People cheered, pointed at the sky, and praised what they believed was a blessing.

My body rocks back and forth as if I've got a limb, when the only thing that has snapped is my sanity. Walking bereft of shoes, laughing to lyself, rocking to my own tune, stopping and glancing over my shoulders before continuing on, singing to myself. Burn Burn Oh such lovely flames Orange and red, screams and wails. Maybe I'm a little out of touch with reality, maybe I'm crazy. But who says their not crazy?

I exhale slowly, the weight settling fully now. Not uncertain. Not afraid. Just… committed. And under my breath quiet enough that no one else hears it I say the only thing that fits what I’ve just done. “If this burns… it burns on my terms.”

she called again. I didn’t answer. I just walked faster. Her laugh followed me, sharp and cruel. “Ignoring me again? How rude.” She walked faster to catch up to me and then her hand clamped around mine, the moment our skin met my vision tunneled, filled with light and smoke. A voice unfurled in my head, low, steady, ancient, soft yet commanding it slipped through the cracks of my mind: She burns. She is fire-born. Her gift is flame.

Lola’s bedroom. “Calm down left legs. Alright...I will go straight to the point. So here’s the deal.. I know you’ve made it obvious that you are not interested in auditioning, probably cause you are scared of losing face and not getting picked at all. So I’m willing to be nice just this once, I can speak to my uncle, Director Miller on your behalf to let you into GetLit’s group even if you fail in the auditions.”

The only spark which started to appear now faded away in the well of darkness suddenly leaving her all alone to drown herself. "Why are you doing this to me? Because I bumped into you that day? Because you paid for my mother's bills and in return make up for it? Because you might have a harsh past with my parents? Tell me for what you're avenging me for?" She couldn't help but blunt out loud everything all of sudden in front of him, because her patience was beyond limits now.

"He wants you back. To punish you for leaving." "I know!" I snapped. "But I need protection! I can’t let anything happen to me!" "And has anything happened to you yet?" he shot back, his voice breaking. I couldn’t answer. My throat tightened as tears spilled over. "Tell my mom I loved her," I said softly. Then I turned and marched to my room to pack.

My hatred towards this entire goddess-forsaken pack has grown exponentially. Ares has been roaring in my mind the entire time about how we are going to burn this pack down to the ground. And you know what? I’m already contemplating where to get the gasoline when I get out of here.

From then on, whenever I unknowingly wore a color she favored, used her favorite perfume, or styled my hair like hers, he would scowl or lash out with cold, cutting words. The most humiliating thing I'd ever done was to fall in love with a man who never truly belonged to me. I traced the burns on my legs and called my mentor abroad. If I were just a forgotten shadow beneath Tucker's true love, then walking away was the only thing left to do. … That evening, Tucker handed me a necklace. "You're coming with me to the cocktail party tonight. Don't make a scene."