Page 28 of A Fate in Flames

I sprang upright, chest heaving as I struggled to shake off the lingering heat.Theo was in front of me, his face etched with concern.He gripped my shoulders, anchoring me to reality.

He scanned my face, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead.“Are you okay?”

I cleared my throat, forcing my voice to steady.“Nightmare.”

The word was a weak excuse for the terror still gripping my body.I wiped my damp palms against my pants, trying to ground myself in the sensation of the rough fabric.It was different this time.Sharper, more vivid.Every sensation more real than ever before.

Theo exhaled in relief.“You scared me,” he admitted.“It looked like you couldn’t breathe.You were.”He paused, gesturing at me.“You’re dripping in sweat.”

“I’m okay.”

I kissed my pinkie finger.

When we were children, we use to do that whenever we made a promise.An unspoken vow between us.The simple act seemed to soothe him.He relaxed, accepting my silent reassurance.

The golden light of morning warmed the air as we set off again.Birds chirped overhead, their cheerful songs a complete opposite to the heaviness I felt.

Theo talked about everything and anything, while I mostly just complained.Our hunger dominated the conversation, turning us into restless children.

“Theo, I swear,” I whined, dragging my feet dramatically.“If I don’t eat something soon, I’m going to pass out.You’ll have to carry my lifeless body, and I won’t make it easy.”

He snorted.“Bold of you to assume I’d carry you.I’d probably just prop you against a tree and come back for you later.Maybe.IfI remembered.”

Just as I prepared another exaggerated complaint, movement in the underbrush caught my eye.A small creature darted between the trees, its brown fur blending with the forest floor.

I grabbed Theo’s arm, my fingers digging into his sleeve.

“Theo!Look!”I whispered urgently, pointing toward the rabbit.It had paused to nibble at something, its ears twitching with every forest sound.“Catch it.”

He turned to me with exaggerated slowness.“What in the world makes you think I could catch it?”he whisper-yelled back.“Youcatch it.”

“Must you be so useless?Just—” I shoved him, sending him hurtling forward, arms flailing wildly.His foot snagged on a tree root and he face-planted into the ground.

A small squeak pierced the forest silence, followed by nothing.

Oh no.

I covered my face with my hands, peeking through splayed fingers.

Theo sprang upright, his head bowed low and hands braced on his hips.

“Well, I hope you enjoy your rabbit…” he paused for dramatic effect, “…flattened.”He gestured toward the now very flat rabbit with a dismissive flick of his wrist.

I simultaneously wanted to laugh and cry.

Neither of us knew how to properly prepare the meat before cooking it, but I knew whatever we had done was completely wrong.

We both watched with open disgust as the mangled remains roasted over a crackling fire.The charred scent didabsolutely nothingto entice us, but our hunger outweighed our distaste.

We sat in awkward silence, staring at the blackened meat in our hands.No one wanted to take the first bite.

Theo eyed his portion with deep suspicion.

“Are we actually going toeatthis?”He turned it over, as if hoping it would magically turn into something edible.

I grimaced.“I don’t think we have a choice.”

I took a hesitant bite.The meat was tough and dry from being overcooked, making me chew far longer than I’d like.The taste was…awful.Bitter, charred, and barely tolerable.I fought the urge to gag.