Lila's New Flame by Pascal Francine

Author:Pascal, Francine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Lila is sitting in front of a fire, mesmerized by the dancing red lights. One by one she throws her love letters into the hearth, watching in fascination as the flickering flames catch the edges of the pages and devour them.

Then the letters are gone, and Lila is all alone.

The flames crackle hungrily. "Poor little rich girl, poor little rich girl," their words echo in the room.

Suddenly the fire is all around her. The room is full of thick, black smoke. The flames lick at her feet. But Lila can't move. She is rooted to the spot.

"Poor little rich girl, poor little rich girl," sing the mocking flames.

The words get louder and louder as the flames dance around her. The fire is getting higher and higher, and the red heat is getting closer and closer to her body. Lila opens her mouth to scream, but no sound comes out.

Lila moaned and backed up against the wall, trying to get away from the flames. "No, no!" she whimpered out loud. "Please, no!"

Lila woke up with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. She found herself pressed up against the wall with the covers tangled around her. She was in a cold sweat, and her whole body was trembling.

She glanced around the room, trying to get her bearings. She was in a small, dark shed, and strange shadows were crawling on the walls. Why was it so cold? Where was the fire? And where was she?

Lila blinked, trying to clear her mind. Then the events of the past few days came back to her—the fire, the hospital, her demolished home. It was Tuesday morning, and she was out in the pool house.

Lila shuddered in relief as she realized she had just been dreaming. She untangled the covers and sat up in bed, wrapping her arms around her knees. The disturbing images of her dream resonated in her mind. She saw the flickering red flames and the thick black smoke. She heard the mocking voice of the fire.

Suddenly Lila recalled the darting snakes' tongues weaving their way toward her on Friday night. She remembered staring at them, mesmerized, before she passed out.

A deep tremor surged through her body. What if the firefighters had come one moment later? What if the fire had reached her?

Lila pulled the covers around her shoulders. But it didn't, she reassured herself. You're fine. And you're going to be fine.

Lila shook her head hard, as if she could physically shake the upsetting images from her mind. Leaning over, she picked up her alarm clock and squinted at it. It was only six A.M.

It was cool and dark and strangely quiet out in the pool house. Lila could hear the sounds of the wind rustling in the trees and the water sloshing softly against the sides of the pool. It was as if she were enclosed in some desolate, isolated universe. She felt completely and utterly alone.

Lila got back in bed and pulled her covers over her, wrapping them tightly around her body.

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