The tendrils of smoke crept under the door, curling seductively. Evanescent wisps whispering of hungry flames; a warning and a threat.

She held him tighter, fingers twisting in his sweat-stained shirt. Her breaths came in gasping sobs. It was hot. The heat suffocated her, the smoke now choked her. She was scared, scared to die like this. She could hear it know, cackling vicious laughter. Evil. Evil.

He looked down at her. He watched her shake and cry. He had vowed that she wouldn’t ever have to cry again. His mouth twisted. Nice job he did of that. He wouldn’t accept this. He couldn’t. She didn’t deserve it. She deserved more than this. Icy calm spread through him, freezing fingers clawing through his body.

STOP ! Stop.

The fire’s stopped. Frozen into nothingness by a sudden chill wind.

Her eyes looked blankly at the silent closed door. Was this really better? The dark bruises that marked her skin like angry flowers grew even darker as she grew pale. Was it better to live alone? Too late now.