Inferno

Part three... I would prefer not to comment more on this one, so just read it...

~

Neeyla was standing on the small terrace of the old cathedral. The wind was blowing through her red hair and caressing her face. She was looking at the city under her and was trying to comprehend how something so beautiful could hurt her that much.
- Psst…
Neeyla turned around and looked into the small hallway leading to the other terrace. Again she turned her look towards the city.
- Pssst! Neeyla… why are we so sad?... Are we feeling hurt by their evil lies and all those empty words? We are thirsty for payback? What would we like to do with the town? Would we like… to make it dance… with the Animal?
- Who’s there? – she looked up to the top of the tower. She saw the Stranger smiling – Who are you?
He jumped, went through the grating as if it did not exist and stood before Neeyla. She looked at him smiling.
- You are not really alive. You’re just in my imagination, right?
- Hahaha, no, honey. I’m real – flesh and blood.
She held her hand out and touched him. When her fingers touched his skin, she felt them as if burning and took her hand back.
- Oh my god, you’re burning!
- Yes, honey, I’m burning. Do you wanna burn too?
- Cool! I’ve no idea who you are, but I like you.
- Look what else I can do…
He grabbed her and started running for the terrace. He jumped. Neeyla closed her eyes. Moment later she opened them and was on the ground.
- How…
- Don’t ask, honey! So do you wanna BURN too?
- Cool! I like fire.
The Stranger smiled and ran his fingers through the girl’s hair.
- Super! I like girls like you. What are you doing tonight?

***

Neeyla opened her eyes. She fell asleep again in the boring English Literature class. She looked at her watch – one hour till her meeting with her friends she didn’t have time for in weeks. She waited for the class to end and went out of the building as if something was chasing her.
An hour later her party was in their favourite place. Neeyla knew most of the people who went there, but tonight a big party of strangers was there. She searched her purse for cigarettes. She took out the lighter, put the cigarette in her mouth and lit it. Closing the lighter’s cap, she put it on the table. She looked over the people in the bar and saw the man from her dream. He noticed her staring at him and winked her. Neeyla stared at him for a little while and then continued looking around.
The whole night she didn’t dare to look for him, but she could feel his burning skin on her fingers… she felt his burning stare.

***


She was walking home slowly. She couldn’t stop thinking about the man from her dream. She was walking without noticing what’s happening around her, without thinking where she’s going. She didn’t notice the people she bumped into from time to time until she felt burning pain in her shoulder. She looked up and her bright green eyes met those of the Stranger. He smiled at her and offered to walk her home. Neeyla said yes. The whole way she didn’t stop looking at his face. He was a beautiful man. She wanted to have him… at least
Soon they reached Neeyla’s flat.
- So, I stop here. I hope to see you again tomorrow… Neeyla.
She looked shocked.
- How do you know my name?
- Come on, don’t you recognize me, honey?
- But how…
- I wanted to be there. I wanted to show you how beautiful the fire is – he leaned and kissed her. – To show what things it can do.
Neeyla smiled.
- Why do you think I don’t know it’s beauty?
- You wouldn’t let everyone to treat you like dirt. I can give you much more. I can give you power… power to control life. To determine its beginning and its end. You just need to wish it.

Neeyla really felt sick of everyone treating her like she was nothing. The man was speaking truth and she was beginning to like him more and more. She looked him in the eye. Took him by the hand and together they went into her apartment.

The next morning Neeyla woke up with blurred memories of last night. She remembered she left the bar and nothing more. She didn’t know how she came home, nor with who. She got up, got dressed and made coffee. Her phone was ringing. It was her friend. They spoke for ten minutes and Neeyla couldn’t stop hearing a quiet voice whispering in her head. The last few sentences of her friend got Neeyla mad and she started hearing it more and more clearly: “Burn it…”. The voice got stronger and stronger and soon Neeyla couldn’t concentrate on her own thoughts.
She threw the phone on the floor and flames started dancing in her eyes.
- Burn it, honey.

***

The same night her party was again in the bar. Neeyla was sitting looking in her glass.
- What’s up, baby?
Neeyla didn’t pay attention and answered absent minded.
- Nothing.
She continued looking in her glass. She could clearly see how flames started dancing in the middle of her spirit drink. It suddenly caught fire and the Stranger was standing before her.
- Hi, honey.
- Hi. – she smiled and moved with him to the next box without saying a word to her friends.
Later that night Neeyla went to buy cigarettes. When she came back one of her girl friends was waiting for her outside.
- You left us for a guy?
- I’m not in the mood, leave me alone.
Neyyla tried to go in, but the other girl pushed her back.
- We didn’t finish yet, so you’ll be staying here.
- You’re wrong.
Neeyla smiled and got the lighter out of her pocket. The flame was playing before her eyes.
- It’s beautiful, isn’t it?
- Neeyla, leave the lighter and pay attention to what I’m saying!
- Something as small as a match, in our case a lighter, can cause the destruction of a whole world. In our case – your world.
Flames were dancing in Neeyla’s eyes as she jumped on her friend. Minutes later she entered the bar, took her coat and her purse, leaned down and whispered into the Stranger’s ear:
- We have to go.
- Whatever you say… Wildfire.
She smiled and got out quickly.

***

Days later Neeyla was standing on the small terrace of the old cathedral. The night wind was blowing through her red hair and caressing her face. She was looking at the roaring flames under her and appreciated the beauty of fire. The Stranger emerged from the darkness behind her, embraced her and whispered in her year:
- The fire never dies.
He kissed her and they went down the cathedral stairs.

20.09.2006 - 17.12.2006
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