The Nightmare/The Fire

TIP...

TIP TAP...

TIP...

TIP...

TIP...

Water trickled down from a stalactite somewhere, dripping into one of the many little puddles towards the exit of the cave. They'd moved their things deeper into the cave out of fear of intruders, but it was colder here. Sophia had fallen asleep with her body pressed against her sister for warmth, and now Sonata couldn't even move or she'd wake her.

Her eyes began to droop.

TIP...

TAP....

The crackling fire felt uncomfortably warm against her cheeks. She would have liked to turn away from it and take her arms out from under the blanket. But it would pass, and it would be morning eventually.

TIP... TIP...

She stared at the darkness where the ceiling was. She couldn't see anything, around her, and yet she felt so trapped.

TIP...TAP...

She felt the dizziness of her consciousness slipping away, and yet everything in that moment felt more vibrant.

CRACKLE

It was hot. There were flames everywhere, the smoke was suffocating her, and yet she went further in. Into the maze of roses where the fire was tall, panting as her feet carried her as far as they could go.

CRACK CRACKLE

"Sophia!" She screamed. She almost tripped over her long dress. At some point her tiara had fallen off, she wasn't sure if that was why her head felt lighter, or if it was all the smoke. The road ahead of her was blocked.

"Sophia!" She called in that direction. There was no response, she convinced herself she hadn't gone that way. What had begun as her searching for her sister had quickly warped into her just trying not to be engulfed by the flames. Sure, she wouldn't burn to death if she leaped through a flame or two, but she wasn't fireproof. She just tired to keep moving, feeling back for her hair and clothes every so often to make sure they weren't on fire. When she could barely see in front of herself anymore, she began to go away from the fire again. But she was lost somewhere in here, and Sonata was the only one who knew. They'd sneaked away to play hide and seek here. She'd only left her hand for five minutes, five small minutes.

"Sophia..." it became harder and harder to catch her breath. "Sophia!"

CRACKLE

The wind had changed directions. In an enclosure of briars not too far from the raging flames, the outline of a figure in a peach colored dress caught the corner of her eye. Her running slowed to a stop, the muscles on the backs of her calves were sore from the strain.

"Sophia!"

She didn't respond. Her legs brought her forwards, against the ashy, still-moist cropped grass. As she got closer, the smoke cleared and she could make out the texture of buttermilk-colored hair, the familiar form of a much smaller figure that didn't move. Her stomach churned, something was very wrong.

"Sophia, baby?" Her steps slowed, but the urgency of the situation kept them going. It was her, she could recognize her, but she barely moved, her eyes still upon a distant point, her hands barely outstretched, as though barely reaching for someone. It was then that she saw it, blood smeared over her fragile hands, and a little against her cheek, bleeding into her clothes and staining it red. Sonata dropped to her knees, grabbing Sophia's arms and turning them over, turning and looking her over for the source of the bleeding. She found nothing, not a cut across her arms or a rip upon her clothes, she was fine, she should have been fine. But where was all this blood coming from?

TIP...TAP...

"Sophia! Sophia, are you okay?"

She asked. The small being barely moved. Her head ever so slightly turned, her wide green eyes turning from the place they had been to her sister, but it was like they were staring through her. No words replied her pleas, no facial expressions changed in response to her actions. Her small face remained pale, eyes frozen in shock, or maybe fear, her small body cold even though the fire was almost here. Something terrible must have happened here, and yet Sonata couldn't start to figure out what. She took Sophia's face in her hands, trying to at least warm her cheeks.

"Sophia? Baby, look at me, what's wrong?"

No reaction. With every second this went on, she felt as though she was losing her more. The fire was getting closer, but she couldn't tear her eyes away enough to turn and look back. She could feel tears well up in her eyes and drip down her cheeks. "Sophia, what happened?" She tried to gently shake her out if it. She watched as Sophia's lips barely parted, as though trying to make a sound, as though trying to move, but nothing happened. She was so frozen in shock, she was so small. "Sophia? Please, look at me. Wake up."

"Please wake up."

"Wake up."

"Sis, wake up!"

When she came to, she was sitting up, bent over herself, grasping her head as heavy gasps rocked her body, sticky tears running down to her chin. A much smaller being was looking up at her, concerned, the firelight illuminating the one hand she had placed on her older sister's shoulder. For how long had she been like this? Sonata tried to steady her breathing, but it was hard, like she'd been running in real life.

"Sis? Are you okay? Are you boo-boo?" The little girl asked, her head tilted.

Sonata tried to swallow her voice back into her throat. She let her curled-up knees fall back to the ground, rubbing her face as her little sister looked on in worry. It was still dark in the cave. It had probably only been a few hours since they'd fallen asleep. It had been weeks since that day happened, but she still had nightmares like this, now and then. Sometimes they happened when she was awake, sometimes they happened when she was still walking or doing something, there were numerous times where she'd almost gotten hurt, but they had been getting better, or so she thought.

She forced a bittersweet smile. Was she worried about her? She ruffled her sister's curly hair. "I could literally eat you up, why are you so cute?"

Sophia's concerned face receded to an annoyed glare, offended. "You woke me up from my beauty sleep," she announced, "and I hope you find worms in your water."

Sonata's grin soured.

"Aaa!" Sophia screeched, right in her ear. It wasn't even that she hasn't tackled her to the ground gently, but Sophia screeched in retaliation, wriggling to try and get free. Sophia gave her her best mom glare. "That was very rude, Sophia. Take that back, take that back right now!"

A tiny foot hit Sonata in the face, knocking her back and leaving a small red mark. She stared blankly.

"That's it, you've frisked your way out of my sympathy." She grabbed a hold of Sophia's arms, pinning her to the ground. Sophia kicked and tossed her feet to no avail, nibbling at Sonata's hands like a savage. Whatever happened to her being a self proclaimed proper princess? Sonata couldn't say. "There are many a dark corner I could send you to, you frisky thing." She threatened, trying to get the wild animal of a sister she had before her come to her senses.

It didn't work. In the next moment, Sophia has resorted to banging her head against Sonata's in desperation, causing the world to go dark for a moment. Sonata clutched her head as the pitter patter sounded of tiny feet running away. "Ai!"

"...I...deserved that, didn't I?" She sighed.

The little girl gave an angry nod.

Sonata turned back. "...You rogue lizard."

Sophia's eyes widened. Her hands balled up, then reached out like claws, and she was running towards her sister like she was possessed all over again.