Not Quite Emerald (Prologue)

                                    

                                          
Present Day
2021
~

                          
Please don't leave me.
                          
The same sentence replicated itself a dozen times in her head. The scene she had left only moments ago replayed in the flames in front of her. There was nothing more she could think about. Nothing more she could do. Tears fell without warning, drowning the flickering fire in her eyes. The young girl was so warm, yet with time, increasingly getting colder. Her small frame shivered as she clung closer to the wall for warmth. A few tears had fallen on the back of her hand. She wiped her tear stained face with it then the wooden floor.
                          
"Here."
                          
To her left, a man stood, handing the child some folded clothes.
                          
"It's old, but this is the only thing I could find."
                          
The girl grabbed the pair of clothes weakly, refraining from looking at his face.
                          
She didn't understand why he wasn't out there looking. Who in their right mind thought it was a good idea to have him here helping her? It wasn't like she needed help. They were just scared she would follow them, or much worse, hurt herself.
                          
"Go take a bath." He said softly.
                          
She continued to sit, staring into space. At that point, it appeared to be no reason for her to move any longer. Moving meant more air and air meant cold once it came into contact with her clothing. Seeing that she wasn't going to move without assistance, he grabbed her hand and leaned into her ear.
                          
"Come on sweetie. You have to get up for me. If you stay out here you'll get sick. I ran the bath for you already. All you have to do is get in and you'll feel a lot better. I promise."
                          
He rubbed his thumb against her palm. She turned her head in his direction, eyes on his chest. She rested her head against it and began to cry heavier than she had before.
                          
"Shh. It's going to be ok."
                          
He picked her up from her cradled position on the floor until she was able to stand. Side by side and hand in hand he led her to the bathroom.
                          
"If you need anything I'll be right here."
                          
She watched him point in the direction in which they came from and close the door behind him.
                          
There she stood, taking in her own appearance in the mirror.
                          
I look horrible.
                          
For a second she thought about crying again-crawling into the corner and sinking to the floor- gripping her skinned knees until bruises appeared.
                          
But that would hurt a lot later. 
                          
Her head was already pounding anyway; crying seemed to do that. Consciously, she pulled off her clothing, dropping it into a sad soggy pile on the floor. Some parts were stained red and she knew she would never be able to wear them again. Her pores were every bit of open, so she held her arms together and shuddered. The water lightly swirled around the bathtub. A soft collection of suds collected above it. A hand hovered over its surface. The heat stroked her palm and brushed against her fingers. Hesitantly, she stuck her hand in. It was warm alright, but hands never told the real temperature; they were so used to everything. She picked up her leg and went heel first, slowly submerging her foot until the water reached her calf. 
                          
Perfect.
                          
She exhaled softly. It felt very nice for the time being, but that wouldn't last for much longer. The rest of her body wouldn't be as easy. Her other leg wasn't much trouble though, only a few stings around her thigh. She gripped the sides of the bathtub, holding her torso above the water. She lingered in that position for a bit, prepping, waiting for the right time. Her arms had only been holding her up for about forty seconds before she began to get very tired, so she started to muster up her courage. Convincing herself that holding her breath would make the pain more tolerable, a bubble of oxygen filled her mouth. She closed her eyes and started to countdown...