This nightmare hadn’t reoccurred since that night under the willow tree. On the outside, I was whimpering, silent tears running down my face. In my subconscious, I was running down the hall calling for Papa. I should have found him by now, he should be trying to rescue me. The thick smoke filled my lungs, and my legs felt like lead, dragging me down. I couldn’t run faster than a few steps at a time.
“Papa! Help me!” I screamed, collapsing to the floor.
Servants ran passed me, ignoring my pleas, desperate to save themselves.
“Get out of the way!”
“Move! The house is on fire!”
Darnella and Hannah sprinted toward me, their faces distorted into hideous gargoyles. They pushed me down, hovering over me with razor-like teeth inches from my face and eyes that glowed a sinister red.
“Ashes, a
