and now it begins

Oscar had heard tell of the vital festival tournaments but his aunt had never let him stay up late enough to watch them. Lucky for him, years of wandering the barn with his uncle about had made him quite good at being quite and stealthy. The year after his uncle had gone, now that there wasn't much danger of being punished if he was caught, became determined to watch at least part of the tournament. But unluckily for him, it was exactly the wrong part.

He peered into the room and got sight of the screen just as the black queen chess piece appeared on a black background. He listened to the speech in confusion. Having hardly ever left the confines of the farm land, he didn't know a lot of what was going on in the outside world. He hadn't realised he'd been backing up until he bumped into his aunts bookcase. The noise made her turn and see him there. "Oscar!" She quickly turned off the screen. "What are you still doing up?"

Oscar shrugged apologetically. "I wanted to see the tournament."

"Tournaments over. Go back to bed." She didn't sound angry but there was a sense of urgent finality that let him know there would be no arguing about it.

It wasn't until they actually got to the ladder that he asked "what was all that about?"

She shook her head. "Don't worry about it sweet pea. Now go on, back up you got."

Usually when his aunt told him not to worry, then he didn't. But now, he just couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. Even after climbing back up and laying on his side in bed, he was too distracted to even try to go to sleep.

A light appeared outside his window, bright and fierce. Oscar turned, got up, and went towards the window.

Outside was not his farm. He was several stories higher. There was a tower in the distance. There were things running around And everything was on fire.

Oscar watched with a mix of curiosity and fear. There was a part of him that knew this had to be a dream but he couldn't help the feeling of horror as he saw both people and animals alike trying to flee the flames that surrounded there body's. Running, screaming, flailing.

Oscars eyes widened.

"Noooooooo!"

Emily looked up in freight at the scream then went straight to the ladder. "Oscar!" She called before climbing up to his room. When she entered, she found him curled up on the floor at the foot of his bed. When she put a hand on his shoulder, he turned and put both his arms around her. He didn't say anything. He wouldn't tell her what was wrong. He just cried over her shoulder.

"It's alright." She told him. It was all she could think of to do. "It's gonna be alright." She held him closer. "I'd never let anything happen to you."