'fire burns brighter in the dark.' 

TICK.

TOCK.

TICK.

TOCK.

     THE PERSISTENT and piercing sound of the hands on the clock moving clouded the blonde's mind. She could hear nothing else, only the repetitive sound. Her mind swirled like a whirl pool, her thoughts trying to escape the chaos. The sound would not leave her head.

     Faye swallowed the lump in her throat, her palms becoming clammy and her vision becoming foggy. She urgently reached for her desk, trying to pull herself from the state she had entered. Her body became limp and her muscles relaxed as she toppled towards the ground. The cold cement collided with her head and her body ricocheted from the impact.

   Voices swarmed in her head, and soon Faye's wearied person was lifted up like she weighed nothing. Her body drooped as the teacher carried her to the nurse's office. Her eyelids fluttered closed, images of  flames occupying her mind. The flames licked her body, taunting her. But she couldn't feel the heat radiating off the fire. Instead, a serene feeling washed over her just like a tidal wave crashing into rocks.

    A cold cloth was draped onto her face, droplets of water dripping down the side of her cheek. The flames disappeared into the darkness, not a trace to be found. Her long fingers twitched and she jolted upwards on the nurses's bed, a cold chill traveling down her spine.

"Miss Rosenberg? Are you alright?" The nurse questioned, reaching a hand out to place on Faye's bony shoulder.

  Faye ran her rough hands over her face, her stomach churning. "I'm fine. I just need some air."

  The nurse hesitated, but opened the door. The cold breeze hit her warm skin as she walked out into the fall air. Her heart thumped repeatedly against her chest as she sat herself on the bench that was outside. The last thing she wanted was to be babied. 

  Pushing her blonde locks back, the blonde looked up at the clear sky, swallowing air like it was the last time she was going to ever breathe again. Her shoulders relaxed as she exhaled. Faye's blue irises locked on her hands.

  Something was on them.

  Curiously, she lifted her hands up to the light, staring at the black substance that coated her hands. It was ash. It crumbled in Faye's as she clenched her fists. The substance deteriorated in the palm of her hands. 

  That's when she heard the screams. Faye whipped around and her eyes widened at the sight. Monstrous flames surrounded the school, smoke floating up into the air as the fire swallowed the building. Students rushed out of the building- some dragging others- and they gulped up the air and cried as they watched the school burn into ashes.