Ophelia

Ophelia

Heat. Extreme burning pain. My skin, almost melting away from my bones, was what I felt. I looked around my surroundings, and all I could see was fire. The forest trees were burning at an unspeakable speed, destroying everything in its parts. I struggled hard to remember how I got here. The last time I remembered, I sat on my bed in the cottage. 'How did I get here? What is happening?' I asked myself internally.

Soon, I felt I wasn't running with my feet. Instead, I was cradled tightly to a chest. It was my younger self. I pushed my head out of the thick blanket and tried to glimpse the face but was met with a blurry image. I turned my head and caught sight of a burning tree falling directly in our direction. My eyes widened in fear, and I let out an ear-shattering scream, making the fire go out.

My eyes opened immediately, and my heart beat fast, threatening to jump out of my chest. I looked around the room and realized it was all a dream or a distant memory. The door to my room suddenly opened, and I saw Richard frantically look around, searching for all signs of an intruder or danger.

"What in the world, Lia! Why did you scream that way?" He asked, walking in. Even though the room was dark, with the curtains draped down, I could still see him clearly, my werewolf eyes helping me to see clearly in the dark.

"I screamed out?" I asked, surprised at his words. I thought screaming was just a dream come true.

"Of course. I almost thought something had happened." He replied, staring at me worriedly. He sat beside me, his gaze full of concern, making me feel really bad even though my actions were unintentional.

"I'm sorry, uncle Richard." I apologized, giving him a cheeky smile. He gently flickered my forehead.

"Is it that same dream again?" He asked, breaking the peaceful silence that settled in the room. I felt and saw his body tensed up at his words. I knew he was hiding something huge from me, especially about my background and lack of memories. I have never been curious about it and just lived a contented life with him here in the woods, but for the past week, I have been having a recurring dream of me being held by someone as we tried to escape the forest of fires.

"Yes." An uncomfortable silence settled in the air, and my heart started beating fast, as if warning of something tragic that would happen soon, but I ignored it.

"Uncle Richard, what is my background? Who am I and where do I come from?" I asked, my voice quiet but loud enough for him to hear.

"I…." A loud bang echoed, interrupting Richard's words. His expression changed instantly as he stood up abruptly. I followed suit, staring at him worriedly, wondering what could happen.

"We have finally been found. They are here!" I heard Uncle Richard's thoughts as I unconsciously pried into his head. I could read people's minds, something I discovered when I turned twenty-three two months ago.

"I want you to stay here. No matter what you hear, you are not to come outside." He said sternly before I could question his thoughts. Without waiting for my reply, he dashed out, placing a spell on the door and locking it behind him. I ran to the door, immediately trying to unbreak the spell, but it didn't budge. My heart throbbed with fear as I worried about the safety of my uncle.

"What is happening?" I thought. "Who are they? Was this why Uncle Richard has been overly cautious all this while? Why did it seem to me like he had been expecting them? What was going on?!" My mind raced with different thoughts, but each question I kept asking myself didn't seem to have an answer, which got on my nerves so badly.

I placed my ear on the door, trying to catch what was happening, but all I could hear were whispered heated words exchanged between the two parties and something sounding like a strange ancient language. The only thing I could understand was that my name was being mentioned.

"Were they here for me?" I wondered. I heard footsteps walking toward my room, and I immediately went still with fear. Soon, it disappeared, and seconds later, the sounds of flesh hitting each other and groans of pain rang out the whole house. I became agitated, not knowing who the winning party was, but I prayed to the Moon Goddess that it should be my uncle. He was a very good fighter, and I even found it hard to beat him.

When I turned eighteen, Uncle Richard had told me about a prophecy surrounding my birth when I ventured out on my own, wanting to explore the world. I didn't exactly listen as I kept fuming with anger at him, not wanting to find my family, but all I could remember was him telling me how hated I was by all mystical beings.

Lost in my world, I didn't realize when the fighting and ancient words spilt out of anger stopped. The house became hauntingly silent, and I could hear the unsteady beat of my heart pounding so loud.

I felt the spellbinding door break itself, and the door opened, leading me to stare at the dark hallway. Not wanting to switch on the light, I walked out of my room, trying to get a glimpse of Richard or unknown people, but everything was empty and silent, almost making me believe a fight didn't break out here.

They had disappeared.

"Uncle Richard?" I called out worriedly but received no response.

"Uncle Richard!" I shouted, running out of the house through the open door but seeing no one. It was as if there was no intruder, and it was one of my dreams, which felt like reality, but I knew I wasn't dreaming this time. It was real. I entered the house, and my eyes immediately widened, my veins pulsating.