Walking home from school wasn't bad, but it wasn't pleasant. Apparently, it had started raining while English class was going on. The sky was covered with grey clouds. They blocked the sun's rays that usually shone on the streets. Lily said goodbye to Elle where the streets parted. Elle waved to them and started walking south. Jason and Lily walked in the opposite direction. Jason decided to follow Lily home because she expressed to him that she hated being alone. He made sure it was okay with her that he followed, though. Lily started trusting Jason. He was kind and sweet to her when she was going through hell. So, she agreed that he could follow her home. Neither of them had an umbrella to block them from the rain that harshly padded on their skin. So they walked to Lily's home, the cold water bleeding into their clothes. It wasn't terrible, her aunt's house was only half a mile away.
"So, you live with your aunt?" Jason wondered. His tennis shoes splashed the water around his feet every time he took a step.
"Yes, I do." Lily responded.
"If you don't mind me asking..." Jason said hesitantly. "What happened to your parents?" He had a weight of guilt after he asked that very personal question. He just met Lily! He needed to stop asking personal questions.
"Umm... My mother disappeared when I was ten." Lily stopped at a crosswalk and looked both ways. When they were clear, they both crossed the soaked asphalt. "And my father," she pushed cold air out of her lips, "I don't know." She shrugged. "I don't really know him that well." She realized she worded that wrong. "What I mean is... I don't remember him that much..." Lily glanced in Jason's direction. "What about you? Who do you live with?"
"Oh, me?" Jason questioned. "Well... my parents died when I
was twelve. So, I currently live by myself."
"Oh, I'm sorry...." Lily said sympathetically. "That must suck... You have to be by yourself all the time. All alone...."
"I don't really mind it." Jason lied. "It's just how I live."
Lily could see his lie like it was neon yellow. "Well. I can come over when you feel lonely." Guilt sank into her soul when she felt Jason's loneliness emanate from his body.
"Only if you want to." Jason said carefully. He didn't want to push too far so she would be scared off. The truth was, he desperately wanted to be with people. He was just... different... from everyone else. When Lily was silent, he decided to change the subject. He was desperate to get rid of the awkward silence. "So, what is your aunt like?"
"My aunt?" Lily shrugged off the random question. "Well, I call her Aunt Melody." They jumped over a puddle and Lily got splashed on her already soaked leggings. The cold started digging into her skin. It was starting to get uncomfortable. "She's really sweet when she wants to be. I don't really know how she acts... She mainly keeps to herself."
"Do you know much about your family?" He asked, actually curious.
Lily stopped and turned toward Jason. "No, I don't..." She sighed. "It's really odd... I don't know my religion... where I'm from... and no one will tell me...."
Jason cupped her cheek. His hand was warm in the cold rain. It was... comforting. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."
She smiled and laid her hand on his. They stayed there for a while. His hand was so warm and comforting, she didn't want this moment to end. "We're here." She hated those words. They broke his warm hand away from her face that was bitterly cold.
Jason looked up, he hadn't even noticed that they entered a suburban neighborhood. He stared at the door, a puzzled look on his face. "Is your aunt home?"
"She shouldn't be... Why?"
"The front door's unlocked." Jason noticed.
Lily aimed her gaze toward the front door. Jason was right, the front door was open. "You're right... that's weird, she never leaves the front door open. And I don't think she's supposed to be home now." Lily started walking toward the door when Jason grabbed her arm.
"Jason, what are you doing?" Lily asked a little angrily. She wasn't angry. She was scared. Lily had a terrible feeling that something was going to go wrong. Something horrible.
"Stop." Jason held her arm firmly. "Something's wrong."
He was right... Lily also felt something was wrong. Aunt Melody never left the door open. She told Lily not to either. Lily's stomach churned. If something happened... If something happened to her aunt... She didn't know what she would do. Lily already lost everything she loved and cared for. She couldn't lose her aunt too.
"Jason, I have to know what's happening." Lily said sternly. She didn't want to. She was afraid to walk into that house. The reaction she would have was unknown. Jason knew she was scared. Mainly because her voice shook when those words came out of her mouth. Her breath shook when she tried to convince him to let go of her arm. "Please...."
"Fine." Jason's tone was harsh. "But stay behind me." Lily didn't know if he was angry or scared. It was one of those emotions that filled his voice. If he was angry... Why? Was he angry with her? She never heard his tone sound so... grating before. Maybe he was scared... Lily didn't know anymore. Her mind was racing. She didn't know what was going to happen. Not knowing scared her... because the many things that could happen would give her different reactions. And the worst thing that could happen... Lily didn't want to think of it.
Jason started inching toward the front door. Lily followed behind him. She was concerned and confused. Butterflies rose in her stomach. They crept silently up the concrete stairs. Jason pushed the wood and slowly let the front door swing open. They peered through the entrance. Jason tried to see if it was safe to go in. There was a huge mess. The trash was knocked over and the rotten food spilled all over the floor, causing the house to smell like rotting meat. Books fell off the bookshelf and torn-off pages were scattered across the carpet. Bile rose in Lily's throat. Please don't be home, Aunt Melody. "There is a sign of a struggle," Jason said. She didn't like the sound of that. Maybe a stranger walked into the house and he was drunk? No. That was a stupid assumption.
They went into the kitchen and the stove was covered in red stains. They were wet. Not dry. Blood. Lily swallowed cold dry air even though it was humid. Please, don't be here... She thought. They continued forward into the bedroom. "The red stains lead here," Jason said. Something pale laid on the floor, a leg. Closer, she saw something blue, and more red stains spread across the floor. It's Aunt Melody's dress. Tears stung the back of Lily's eyes, it felt like someone was tearing her apart, little by little as they got closer, an arm, her stomach was torn apart. A right leg, her heart was torn to shreds, and finally... There lay Aunt Melody's body, her shining blue eyes were now colorless and gray staring at the ceiling. Blood trickled down her eyes, mouth, nose, and ears. Everything was torn apart.
Lily gasped and collapsed on the floor, tears streaming down her face. A cold hand grasped her stomach and squeezed it so she would suffocate. Her aunt was dead... dead... dead! "No!" Lily cried. This couldn't be happening. Another adult, lost. Dead. Blood drained the color out of their skin. "Why?" Lily sobbed. "WHY?" First, her father left... Then her mother disappeared... Her teacher was murdered... Now her aunt too? What the hell? Was she cursed? She was cursed to lose everything she loved. But, why? Why did she deserve this? What the hell did she do? "No. No! NO!" Lily cried. What was Lily in this situation? Was she the child that lived on the streets? Was she doomed to die of starvation? Was she unwanted? Why was this happening? Why? Lily didn't understand. "Why?" Lily repeated. "Why? Why? Why?"
Lily started to get dizzy. She couldn't breathe. The pain was wrapping its cold grip around her throat. She fell to the side. Her face almost hit the bloody carpet, but someone caught her. His muscled arms let her lean her body against his chest. Jason held her softly, trying to comfort her at least a little. Still, they were drenched. But his warmth was the only thing keeping her alive. "Lily, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He said sympathetically.
"I can't do this anymore...." Lily sobbed. "I can't handle any more loss...." Tears burned her cheeks. "I don't want to be alone...."
"You're not alone." Jason stated softly. "You have many more people who care about you." Jason meant him. He cared about her even though he just met her.
Suddenly Jason's chest started burning. He winced but didn't let go of Lily. The burn, the flames... They were all coming from her.
Fire stung Lily's throat. She coughed and gagged as the heat burned her throat and spread throughout her entire body.
Lily fell to the floor. Unable to breathe. Bright orange and yellow flames filled her eyes, they blew sparks as the fire turned her skin black. She didn't know what was going on. She could barely hear Jason calling her name. Pain pulsed through her arms as the fire scorched her skin. Her legs ached as the fire consumed her entire body. She closed her eyes, unable to handle any more pain.
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