AYESHA : The Queen Of Fire

Chapter 2 - Burning Forest

I went home after what happened in the market. I was walking on my way through the dusty road. I cover my nose and mouth whenever the wind blows. The combination of dust and the wind is not good at all.

I was almost close to our house when a wagon passed by me. I coughed when the dust suddenly got in my mouth and blinded my sight for a while.

I glared at the retreating wagon and ran towards our house.

I looked at the dress that I was wearing. I didn’t notice a while ago that there’s a tear on the tip. My mama would probably scold me if she saw this.

I changed into my tunic dress and just stayed in my room.

Sometimes I also think that what if we’re not poor? I can really go to school and study. Being poor in our town is so difficult. We are not allowed to go to school.

Many people my age in our town were already working. But my mama wouldn’t allow me to work. She wanted me to always stay here in the house. She said that it was for my safety and I didn’t know why she said that. Am I not safe outside?

I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair didn’t go back to its original color. It was red right now.

I bit my lower lip and looked at my hand. An evil smile formed on my lips. I couldn’t only use it if there was someone who could see me. But what if no one? I could use it. They would never know. Mama would never know.

I wanted to learn more about how to use this gift that I have. I couldn’t use it here inside my room. I might set our house on fire.

I decided to go to a nearby forest. No one will see me there.

I ran towards the forest and found a perfect spot making sure no one would notice that I was in here.

I was startled and stopped when I heard the cracking sound of the dried leaves being stepped by. I roamed my eyes in the surrounding, trying to check if there was someone in the forest aside from me.

My eyes widened and I immediately hid in one of the trees when I saw a suspicious man lurking a couple of meters away from where I was. They were two of them. They dress differently compared to the people in our town and I was pretty sure that they were not from here.

The other guy kept on looking everywhere like trying to check if there were other people aside from them in the forest.

“Ne quis es certus est hic?”

“Ita vero.”

My brows furrowed. What were they talking about? They were talking in a language that I couldn’t understand.

My eyes widened when I accidentally stepped on the dried leaves. I saw how the other men turned to my side while his brows furrowed but good thing that I immediately hid right away. I covered my mouth and held my breath.

“Quid erat illud?”

“Sicut ventus erat.”

I heard them talking again. I tried to take a peek at them but I was surprised when I could no longer see where they were. They just vanished. I roamed my eyes to find them but they were gone.

How could they just disappear in an instant?

I was not really sure if they were from our kingdom. But I was sure that they are not from Scala Town. I haven’t gone out of our town. I haven’t seen the Higher Council as well.

Were they one of the Higher Council? If they were one of them, what were they doing here in the forest?

There were a lot of questions that were running through my mind. Those two men also have a tattoo on their neck that I couldn’t understand.

I waited for a couple of minutes and just stayed where I was hiding. When I was sure that they were gone, I went out and tried to find another spot. I went farther away from where I saw those men. The last thing that I wanted to happen was for someone to see me playing with fire.

I found a spot where there were a lot of trees and bushes that would cover me. It was also out of the path so I was pretty sure no one would have gone too far from where I was.

I tried to relax and controlled my breathing. I snapped my finger and the fire came out right away but it died out in an instant.

I stopped when I heard another cracking sound of the dry leaves and it was right in front of me. The sound was coming from the bush. My eyes widened when the bush suddenly moved. I hid in one of the trees closeby. My heart almost leaped out from my chest when something jumped in front of me.

“Ahhhhhh!” I screamed but then covered my mouth right away and stifled it when I remembered where I was. I need to be as quiet as possible or someone might hear me.

I wanted to slap myself when I saw what was that thing that jumped in front of me. I sighed in relief when I saw a hare crouching beneath me. It was just a hare! Goodness!

“Hey there little thing. You just scared me there.” I tried to touch it but it jumped and ran away from me.

Okay. Expect that there’s a lot of animals in the forest Ayesha. Relax and concentrate, again.

I heard another cracking sound of the leaves nearby. It was where the hare just ran off. I shrugged it off. It’s just the hare Ayesha.

I concentrate again on my breathing. I snapped my fingers again and instantly the fire came out. I concentrated and tried to make the fire bigger and make it last for a couple of minutes. But sadly, it would die right away. I want to make it last longer. Like, trying to control when it comes out and die out.

It was not easy. And I almost gave up. But then after a couple of trial and error. I made it!

I was dancing in joy while watching the fire on my hand that didn’t die out. And because of my recklessness, I didn’t notice that some of the fire from my hand was already scattered to the ground.

The dried leaves were already burning on the ground. The smoke from the burning leaves was already clouding a small part of the forest.

I died out of the fire in my hand and tried to stop the burning leaves from scattering. I was coughing heavily, the smoke was starting to get heavy.

Ayesha! What have you done?!

I panic when the fire becomes bigger. My eyes widened as I saw how the fire engulfs the forest.

Ayesha! You need to leave before someone sees you!

I ran fast going out of the forest. I tried to run to another route which was closer to our house and I was sure that no one would see me.

My heart was beating so fast. I didn’t dare to look back. I kept on running until I got into the back of our house.

I was panting really hard and beads of sweat were running on my forehead.

I turned around and looked at the forest. I gasped when I saw how the fire engulfs it and as the black smoke clouded the blue sky.

***

I was crying and trembling in the corner of my room.

What have you done, Ayesha?

This was all my fault, for being stubborn. I didn’t listened to my mama. She already warned me to never used it at any cost, but what did I do? I disobeyed her.

I was so reckless!

What if someone saw me there?

Or might be that someone saw me running out from the forest? And then they would report me to the Higher Council?

What would happen to me?

The thought of me being captured and my parents being punished by the Higher Council because of what I did make me tremble and weep more.

I was startled when the door of my room suddenly opened with a banged. I saw my mama bursting inside while panting heavily. She looked at me like she was trying to confirm something.

“I-I’m sorry, Mama,” I cried. She looked at me with a disappointed and sad expression.

“Ayesha, what have you done?” she said and I burst out crying.

***

The fire that burst in the forest was successfully stopped by the Higher Council’s people. Almost half of the forest was burned and turn into ashes as what my mama said.

She hurriedly went home when she heard that the forest was burning. She already assumed that it might be me who did it. And she confirmed it the moment she saw me crying in my room.

My papa went home after an hour and he also looked so disappointed of me.

“You’re not allowed to go out from now on,” she ordered while looking at me with a serious expression.

I was about to disagree with her but I decided to shut my mouth because I didn’t want to argue with her. While my father was just quietly looking at us. I knew that he agreed with what mama wanted.

“What were you doing in that forest, Ayesha?” she asked with accusing tone. She pursed her lips while waiting for me to answer.

“I—I…” I looked away. I couldn’t look at my mama. This wasthe first time that I made her angry.

“You defy me. Did you went to the forest to play with your fire?! Now look at what happened to your recklessness!” she snarled that almost makes me jump from my seat.

“I’m really sorry, Mama.” I sniffed.

“What if someone saw you there and then report you to the council? You just risked your lives and our lives! How could you not even think about it?!” she closed her eyes and massaged her temple. I was just quiet the whole time.

“Go to your room and repent of what you’ve just done!” I hurriedly ran towards my room and slammed it closed.

I didn’t mean to do that. I didn’t mean to set the forest on fire. She didn’t even let me explain my side. And now she will not let me go out from now on.

I know it was my fault, but this was too much.

I lay on my bed and cover myself with the blanket when I heard the creaking sound of my door. Someone was getting inside.

My wooden bed created another creaking sound. Someone just sat on the edge of my bed.

“Ayesha dear?” I heard my papa’s voice but I still didn’t move the blanket that was covering me. “Sorry about your mama. She’s just protecting you. You know that your safety is important to us. Just don’t be stubborn this time and listened to her. Okay?” he explained with a gentle voice.

I slowly move down the blanket out of my face and looked at my papa with a sad expression.

“I didn’t mean to burn the first, Papa. Please believe me,” I begged.

“I know dear,” he said caressing my hair. “I believed you. Just don’t use your gift, again. Hmm?”

“Okay, Papa.” My voice was weak. It was against my will but I need to obey them. Even if it was so hard.

***

My papa went out of my room after talking to me. I was currently brushing my hair in front of my mirror when suddenly my door opened.

I saw my mama getting in and walked towards my direction.

“Can I?” she asked, getting the hairbrush from my hand. She brushed my hair and I couldn’t help my eyes from closing. “I’m sorry, dear. I know I was being hard to you a while ago.” Her voice was so gentle.

“I’m sorry, Mama. I didn’t mean to set the forest on fire.”

“I know dear. I know,” she said cupping my face and then kissed my forehead. I cried and hugged her tight.

“I hope you will not defy me again,” she added kissing my head before going out of my room.

I sighed and looked at my hand. It was such a waste. This gift that I have was just useless.

I hope someday that someone will replace the Higher Council and alter the law or the rules that they made. Especially to us, in the slum. And gave everyone the freedom to use whatever gift or power that they receive, without minding the status, if they’re rich or poor.

I guess I really need to stop using you my dear fire. You need to hold on to me until the time will come that I can use you freely.