Reds don't burn

It was a dream made to look like it really happened to Almora. Emily used it as a medium to tell Almora that no one should know about her.

As Almora woke up, she sat up wondering where she was until she took a closer look and realized that she was at the infirmary. She turned her head both sides only to find Brian, Lucian and Oliver asleep on one side while Amy and Stacy were asleep on the other side.

"Why would Emily not want anyone to know about her and my training?" she muttered silently to herself. "Ahhhhhhhhh" Almora held her head as a sharp jolt of pain hit her head. Her scream woke those around her. "Almora what's wrong?" Amy asked as she touched her but she quickly withdrew her hand as Almora's body was too hot.

Almora still kept writhing in pain. Lucian tried to touch her but Almora screamed "Don't!!". "What are we going to do? We can't just stand here watching her in pain." Amy asked, concerned. "I will go and call Ms Carmen or the nearest teacher I see" Stacy said and ran out.

"Don't touch me Lucian!!" Almora screamed again as Lucian tried to touch her again. "Do you expect me to just do nothing?" Lucian clutched his hair frustrated.

Almora's bed suddenly caught fire with Almora on it. "Oh my god!! she is on fire" Amy placed her hand on her head. Stacy finally came back with Mr Powell and Ms Carmen. "Step away from there" Ms Carmen ordered. They did as she said although Lucian was reluctant but later moved. "Ms Carmen she's burning" Stacy said, panicking.

"It's okay, Reds don't burn. Fire doesn't hurt them. They can touch, walk and even eat fire without getting hurt" Mr Powell explained. "What??" Amy said, surprised. "Her pain is caused by something else which I don't know" he said in a not so sure manner.

Almora's body and eyes began to glow red as she was in the fire still in pain. Ms Carmen and Mr Powell stepped back. The iron on the bed also began to melt. "Is the fire that intense that the metals are now melting?" Brian said. The expression on Lucian's face were that of hurt, anger and helplessness. He wished he could take all of Almora's pain but he was just standing doing nothing which was very annoying for him.

The fire finally started to die down and the pain in Almora's body had also started to reduce.

The screaming had finally stopped, the fire had died down and the pain was gone. Almora collapsed on the bed. Lucian touched her and her body was back to its normal temperature. He carried her and put her on another bed.

"She's fine now. She's not going to be up till tomorrow morning" Ms Carmen said and left. "Have a good night rest" Mr Powell greeted and left. "Don't you guys find it weird that they didn't do anything and just stood watching her?" Oliver said. "That's true" Amy seconded.

"All that matters is she's fine now" Lucian said staring at Almora. "You all get some rest. I will watch over her for a while and then go to sleep" Lucian said.

Ms Carmen had already put a sound cover on the room so as not to let Almora's screaming reach outside. The burnt bed was taken away by some men who were sent by the headmistress.

Lucian fell asleep right beside Almora holding her hand.

It was morning. The day Almora's mother was going to be back from her pilgrimage. Almora and her friends were still asleep.

Almora finally woke up and tried to move her right hand only to find it stuck. She turned to look and found Lucian sleeping with his head laid on the bed while holding her hand. She looked at the other beds and found the others also still asleep.

'What was that pain I had yesterday?' Almora thought to herself. 'Could it be?'. "You're awake" Almora was cut off by Stacy. The others had also woke up.

Stacy and Amy ran to give her a hug. "Guys that's tight" Almora said smiling. "How are you feeling now?" asked Amy, touching her forehead. "I'm perfectly fine. My body is not in any sought of pain".

"You know you scared us a lot" Stacy said, putting more emphasis on 'a lot'. "I'm sorry guys. I'm sure I've put you guys through a lot of trouble" Almora said, facing down. "No, you didn't. What are friends for?" Amy said, cupping her cheeks.

"How did you come out of the dark forest?" Oliver asked. "Dark forest, Was I in the dark forest?" she asked, surprised. "Yes, Melanie dropped you there" Amy said.

"Melanie?? The only thing I remember is getting a call to the headmistress's office but I didn't get there because something was used to cover my nose and I blacked out. Then after I woke up, I found myself here" Almora said which caused all of them to stare at her in bewilderment.