Too Close to the Sun
Before she could even process what happened, Miorine's legs moved. She scanned the burning rubble, trying to find where the front desk of the store once stood. The doorframe was intact but charred. Instead of the door swinging open as she pushed, it crumbled into ash. Stepping through the threshold, Miorine felt as if she was being cooked alive. Beads of sweat ran down her face as she searched for the lantern. Without the roof, the smoke dissipated as it floated to the sky above, giving her the advantage of sight. It still wasn't enough though, as hot ashes being blown in her eyes were another hurdle. She barely noticed her cloak catch fire from the embers. Tossing it aside, she continue to trudge through the shop's remains.
Every part of Miorine was telling her to run. Her lungs were filling with ash. Flames licked everything that lied in front of her. Even so, all Miorine could think was finding that lantern. She had no way of knowing it wasn't crushed by debris or consumed by the inferno. Her adrenaline was fading. The burns on her body and cuts from rubble began to cause her to limp and feel the blood trickle down her legs. Suletta is still here. Suletta is waiting. Thoughts of the red-haired girl trapped her in the blaze. She couldn't leave without her. Lightheadedness got to her, causing her to fall to her knees into the needles of wood. Miorine didn't have to look at her hands to know they were bleeding. Something did feel off about them. A smooth, metallic feeling lied beneath her right hand. It burnt to the touch but felt familiar. Lifting her hand, she saw it. The lantern. But, it wasn't the same as before.
The glass of the oil lantern was shattered. The world froze in front of Miorine. She couldn't hear the wind nor feel the burning in her hands and feet. It was as if her mind had departed from this world, leaving a shell behind. Clenching her fists, the bits of wood dug deeper into her skin. "Suletta..." The whisper brought her back to Earth. Gripping the metal handle of the lantern, Miorine took off.
Wood splinters cut through her pants and created deep gashes in her flesh. Shards of glass punctured deep into her shoes. The heat from the fire vested in the lamp caused boils to form on her hands. But Miorine understood if she gave up now, it meant both their lives. No amount of wishing would bring either of them back. Miorine could no longer run. Her lungs screamed in agony, begging for release. Collapsing, she felt the world begin to fade. The coolness of the snow soothed the burn, but not enough. As her consciousness slipped, she saw fire.
A voice was screaming. Unsure what was causing all the nose, Miorine tried to raise her head. No luck. What did it matter? She's out of the fire. She can rest now. The lack of oxygen in her system rendered her confused and teetering on delirious.
"MioMio!" Her pupils shrunk. Suletta? She turned her head to the side. The red-haired girl was on her hands and knees, bawling her eyes out. Miorine looks down and realizes the position she's in. Her hands are burned and bloodied along with the rest of her body. The clothing, previously pristine and the symbol of the elegance of a noble girl, was torn and and scorched. She let her head fall back down. "Stay awake! Miorine!" Suletta tried grabbing her shoulders to shake them but only clipped through Miorine. Maybe out of pure delirium, but maybe out of something else, Miorine reached up and tried wiping away Suletta's tears. When her hand never made the connection, a tear formed on the girl who seemed to never have shed one. One led to a downpour.
"Why did you...? Just... just hang on!" Suletta cried out, scanning her mind for something she could do to save the only one she had left.
Angered by her question, Miorine croaked out a response. "Why do you think I came back! Why do you think I kept coming back to that damn shop when all I have ever wanted to do was escape my poor excuse for a father and fiancé!"
Suletta was stunned, tear drops halting their path.
Miorine finally let a smile shine through her cold exterior. "Suletta... I'm happy with you. The wishes don't matter. I can't run away if it means to leave you."
She suddenly coughed, bringing her forearm to her mouth. Pulling away, the light of the fire illuminated the glistening of blood. Suletta didn't notice.
Miorine drew a close to her confession. "Ah... I finally got it out. These last few months... I'm glad I spent them with you." Her smile grew weaker, more strained. Even Suletta could see through it.
"Don't... Don't say that like you're going to die! You'll be f-fine! You still have one more wish!" Suletta's sobbing continued, barely choking out her words. Punching the ground, she begged Miorine. "Wish that you're safe, that this never happened, that you never met me!" Her tears fell through Miorine as she leaned over her.
Miorine wished more than ever she could hold the genie close, comfort her as she hadn't been in years. Maybe it was better if they never met, or maybe this was simply fate. Miorine couldn't accept this, though. Not after all that both of them had faced. Miorine let her head fall back and stared at the night sky, snow softly falling on her like petals. Her eyes, now glassy, reflected this beautiful weather now more than ever.
"Suletta." Miorine spoke softly.
Her throat was so swollen she couldn't respond, but Miorine understood anyways.
"Stay by my side forever." As Suletta raised her fingers to snap, Miorine closed her eyes and let out a breath.
Another never came.