I looked around the forested area around me, admiring the wildness of it and the beauty, before focusing once more on the trailer in front of me. The trailer that was once my center point of my future dreams and once believed future home. I let out a shaky breath, before I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turn my head slightly, looking at my friend Onyx before nodding. 

"You ready?" She asks, her eyes comforting despite what we planned to do.

"... Not yet. One last time inside." I murmur, before stepping towards the house, the sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet. Carefully I made my way to the porch, before stepping up the rickety stairs. I walked to the door, trying the knob to find it was still locked. I smile softly, remembering the last time I was there. The cop told us to get out. Certainly, was an interesting Saturday. I back up a bit, before violently kicking the door open. The doorframe was broken to hell, but it wouldn't matter soon enough.

"Jeez Andi..."

"My rage is great fuel for these things." I let out a small laugh at the comment I made, before walking in. Living room, with the protected chair of Auric's and the honored TV stand that he often talked about. An idea shot through me, but it would be done later. I look to my right, down the hall, before walking down it, feeling the wall. The air reeked of gasoline, the carpet soaked with it. My handy work, of course. I passed the room to the left, which was to be Devan's room. Was. Was. Was.

I came to the end of the hall, with one room to my left being the room I was once to claim, and the bathroom directly in front of me. I go to my once sought after room and look around. A small closet, a painted window, a electrical panel... It was my dream. I felt the window, sighing slightly. Such a pretty picture... a shame it was soon to be gone. I look down and smile at the pattern I made with the gasoline into the carpet. A pentacle. A symbol significant to them, that had become significant to me. 

"Ashes to ashes..." I mumbled, before leaving the room. I slightly paused at Devan's room, old feelings of regrets and what-if's entering my mind before going cold again. I didn't care about him anymore. He didn't care about me, after all.

"Dust to dust..." I said a bit louder, going to the living room and picking up the TV stand. I look around once more. I didn't need to see the kitchen, the washing room, the room that was once for Auric and Solstice, who weren't even together anymore. My eyes darkened at that thought, before I walked out, the stand in tow.

"What's that?" Onyx asked, curious. I smiled slightly, my eyes still dark.

"... My petty want." I answered, carrying it to the van. I place it down against the back tire, before walking back over to Onyx. "I'm ready."

"Do you want to do the honors?" She asks, handing me the lighter. I nod, taking it, before walking up close to the trailer, the air thick with warning and worry. I cared not for the repercussions. I cared little of the aftermath. I cared nothing for the hell I would unleash. 

All I cared about... was payment for my suffering.

"I'm sorry for what I am to do... but I do not regret this." I say, lighting the lighter. I could almost hear the voices of the spirits around the trailer, the creatures of the woods begging me to stop, the monsters cowering back from my flame. I smiled, not a smile of pain or of forgiveness, but one of no feeling other than sadistic joy from the agony I was to inflict. I pull out the last piece that bound me to Auric and Devan. My journal. The notebook that I put my pain into. The book where I put my hopes and dreams into. The book they were so painfully ingrained in.

I lit it on fire. 

For a moment, I felt like my very chest was aflame, my very core just burning up with the book. I hissed, the pain greater than what I expected. It hurt so much, before the pain turned to something else. It turned to emotion. Anger, sorrow, fury, passion, desire... everything I have felt after the betrayal died down. It fueled me, commanded me, and told me what i was doing was right. 

The fire in my chest ceased. A coldness came over me, despite the flaming book in hand. I was free.

"Good bye." I drop the book onto the gasoline-soaked grass, and the flames exploded high up into the sky. It wasn't even possible, the conditions wouldn't have allowed it, and yet the fire consumed like there was a driving force making sure it was completely engulfed in it's might. The flames danced and flared, but none touched me. After a few moments, I realized a voice calling to me, exclaiming my name with furious and concerned tones. I turned around, looking to my panicked friend, my body cold despite the raging fire behind me.

"Yes?" 

"Get away from there! You will get burned!" She cried out, her eyes wide and scared. I merely put out my arms, and the flames grew higher, as if being fueled by my inner emotions.

"I would like to see them hurt me more than I already have!" I exclaimed, grinning before turning back to the trailer. I thought I heard crying, and a few screams, before just deciding it doesn't matter. None of it mattered now. "Burn my dearest flame... Destroy this land... Destroy it all." 

The fire burned hotter, as if to agree to my command. I stepped back and pulled out a blunt. I had bummed it off a friend, and wanted to use it for such an occasion, seeing as I didn't smoke nicotine cigs or cigars. I put out the handmade blunt and watched as the fire lit it for me, before taking it and taking a deep breath of it. It was perfect, really. I turned away from the fire and made my way back to Onyx, who was not amused at my actions. I didn't care.

"That was stupid, Andi." She scolded, her arms crossed. I looked at her, swallowing the smoke from the stick in my hand, before smiling.

"Onyx... Get in the van." I said, handing her the lit cig and put the stand in the back of the van, slamming the back shut. I heard her sigh and get in the driver's seat. I got around and climbed in to the passenger side, closing the door. We sat for a moment, watching as the fire broke the cursed trailer and spread to the shed. Some of the trees were now giant torches, the bark being scorched black. The air was thick with smoke, huge stacks of it heading upwards. I could see the fire slowly make its way to the second trailer on the land, the home of the damned brother of the damned man who helped crush my dream. Good riddance.

"Are you happy?"

I paused, thinking about the answer. Was I happy? Was I happy that I destroyed the childhood home of a once dear friend? Was I happy that I ruined the land that I once dreamed of living on? Was I happy I destroyed the trailer of a man who was trying to live his life? Was I happy I burned away the homes of precious animals and creatures of the woods? Was I happy that I enflamed the place where spirits, monsters, and other spiritual things that resonated here and protected the land?

"... Yes." I said, the flame flaring at the answer. 

"Good. Let's go home." Onyx replied, handing the cig back to me and starting the van with a quiet roar. She pulls out of the driveway, rather quickly I noticed, before driving off up the gravel road. I put down the window, smelling the smoke in the air before taking another hit of the blunt. Everything would either escalate or cease after this. They would not be able to pin it on me and Onyx, seeing as I took precautions such accusations. We had alibis, we had no motive, and we had no means.

"... We are free."

*4 YEARS LATER*

I sat on the deck of my home, rocking softly in my beloved rocking chair. The sun shone slightly through the clouds, the wind slightly blowing, bringing the scent of honeysuckle and pine. Looking around at the greenery and the sky, I felt at peace. Hearing a car, I turn my head to see a van pull up to my home, parking moments after. A man stepped out, his long black hair in a ponytail and his iconic trench coat blowing slightly in the wind. I stand and go to the railing, leaning on it.

"Hi Auric."

The man looked up to me and smiled, his dark eyes focused on mine.

"Evening Andi." He responded, walking up the steps onto my deck. I walk forward and give him a hug, squeezing him tight before releasing and going to the front door. 

"Care to come in?" I ask, holding it open for him. He nods, and goes inside, looking around in curiosity. The first time ever in my home, which I had finally finished getting a few months before today. I closed the door behind me, to hear him speak up.

"You have a nice place, Andi."

"Thanks. Finally got it moved here after saving enough. Onyx has been really good to me."

I walk to the kitchen and pull out a thing of tea from the fridge, pouring a glass before handing it to him. He politely thanks me, before taking a sip as I put the tea away and grab me a soda.

"Must have taken hard work."

"Yeah, It was hell, but I pushed through."

He seemed impressed, continuing to look around, until he paused at the TV. 

"Your stand... looks a lot like the old one my grandpa used to have." He commented, making me smile ever so slightly.

"Oh?" I questioned with the innocent tone in my voice. 

Today was the 4-year anniversary of the fire.

"Yeah... the one that they couldn't find from the remains of the trailer." He said, his tone taking a darker turn.

Today was the day the truth came out.

"That is because I took it before the fire." I said, taking a sip of my drink. His entire form tensed, and he turned to me.

"You took it...?"

"Yes."

"How long before the fire?" He questioned, the look in his eyes telling me he was trying to deny the painful truth that looked him in the face. I was tempted to tell him I stole it long before the fire, that I was innocent in the entire matter, seeing as my heart, somehow, still yearned to comfort him.

No more.

"Moments beforehand." I confessed, watching as his look turned to betrayal and the tea in his hand fell to the floor.

How delicious.

"Andi..."

"Auric." I responded, giving him a tilted head look. "You look hurt."

"You... You burned down my home."

"You betrayed me. You lied to me. You hurt me. It was only right that I... did something to return the favor."

"You burned down the woods. You burned down everything."

"I knew I would." I said, and his look turned to rage.

"The police will arrest you."

"They can't do anything about it now. The statute of limitations on felonies is 3 years, and misdemeanors are only a year. I didn't commit a murder, seeing as the brother of Mick's wasn't home and there wasn't enough damage to be a Class-A felony. So... I'm free from any legal action."

His look turned to disgust and shock. I smiled at that, gleefully amused at his surprised expression.

"What is it Auric? You think I wouldn't be able to do such a thing? You think I wouldn't do my homework?" I asked, my voice going childlike and innocent. "The police did question me, yes. But I had an alibi, and they couldn't find a motive or means for me to do it!"

"You... you..."

"After all, I spent the evening with Santa and Onyx, I would never go to that area seeing as I could never remember where it is, and I don't have a ride, and no motive? Well... I only had a grudge against Emma and Devan. I would never hurt you~" I giggled, beaming a grin of child-like glee.

"I will-!"

"You wouldn't hurt me." I say blankly. He froze. "You don't hurt girls. Also, I doubt anything 'magical' you do would hurt me. I have several people on my side who was happy to protect me from anything spiritual. Also, you and Devan have the same rule. Don't ever attack their livelihoods. So I don't fear that I will lose my paycheck or money." 

He was speechless.

"I have been well prepared for this day. Made friends in all the right places, made the right deals, did the right things... and Karma got her due. I paid it in full, from the pain and suffering you caused me matching the pain and suffering you felt from the fire, so no revenge there."

"..."

"Auric... I just wanted for all of you to suffer." I said, my voice going rather void of emotion. "And I did, but I promised myself that I would tell you once I was free of all punishment, so that you would understand that... despite all who I am... despite all that we have rebuilt... despite how much I care... At the same time, I don't care. I don't want you to forget the pain you inflected on me. I want you to know that when you hurt people, even the nicest and kindest of people, that they will find ways to hurt you in turn."

He stood there, looking at me, as if it was for the first time. He was seeing me, and the monster I was underneath my skin. He saw how much he broke me, and how much pain he caused. He saw all his mistakes.

He saw the monster he had created.

"..."

"If you want to leave, I understand. Go tell Devan. Maybe he can make the pain hurt less." I say airily, a rather cruel smile on my lips. He turned and walked out the door, slamming it on the way out. I could hear the van roar to life, before taking off, leaving me alone once more. I sipped my drink, and after a moment, smiled.

My one last regret has finally burned away.