Ember

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Ember strolled along the roads, absently fingering her red preymark. She had been sent home from cleaning Master Jenkins’ house, since officials were meeting there and Jenkins didn’t want servants to be seen working, for whatever reason. Ember smirked slightly at the thought, then her mind went back to the road, her eyes alert. She wanted to avoid Glenn.

Her heart began pounding just at the thought of him. Something about him seemed dangerous - even in the innocent way he looked at her. Maybe it was the very fact that he didn’t realize he was dangerous that made him such. Ember sighed. I wish I had answers, but I don’t want to ask.

As Ember neared the road her house was on, she began to relax her attention on her surroundings. She smirked wryly as her thoughts shifted to her mother. At least this time I don’t have to lie about why I’m home at an unusual time, even though I’ll have to lie again tonight. A year ago, when she had first joined the resistance, lying about where she had been at night had been a struggle. She’d always had a deep urge to tell the truth, to be open and frank. But that had all changed. Lying was wrong, but sometimes it was necessary in order to hold fast to and preserve a greater good.

“Daydreaming, Ember?”

Ember snapped her head up, startled, but yet at the same time, unsurprised. Glenn was leaning against the door of her house, grinning.

Ember couldn’t help smiling back at his own grin, his raised eyebrows… for a moment she felt confused, like she was stuck in a spider web, hanging between his obvious opinion and her own initial opinion. He seemed genuinely excited to see her, and she felt guilty for ever having thought him dangerous.

“I thought I’d tell you that tomorrow I’m returning to my official duties - no more guard stuff, sorry. I’m not going to see you as often.”

Ember felt her smile droop, echoing the sink of her heart. Why? Why do I feel this way? she seethed inwardly.

But then Glenn went on, moving away from the wall and closer to her. “Look,” he said, a boyish eagerness in his eyes. “I’m going to be blunt with you: You’ve… captivated me, and I want to get to know you.”

A shock rolled through Ember’s heart like a wave of the ocean, which soon sank back, being replaced with a slow wave of acceptance. Of finally feeling noticed and appreciated. A feeling she didn’t deserve. “Why me? What do you see in me?” she whispered.

Glenn frowned. He was silent a moment, then said, “Someone worth getting to know. That’s what I see in you.”

“Reid’s always been the pretty one of the family, I don’t know why you would like me…” Ember trailed off at the startled look in Glenn’s eyes. “Did I say something wrong?” she asked quickly.

“No. Um, you said Reid?”

“Yes - she’s my sister.”

Glenn looked in her eyes, his frown slowly disappearing. “She- Reid’s your sister?”

Ember didn’t reply. She suddenly felt the urge to stay as she always had - careful, quiet, and untrusting.

Glenn leaned back slightly, his eyes wandering off to the door of her house. “Hmm. I didn’t know that you had a sister,” he said as his eyes returned to her, his smile reappearing on his face.

Ember shrugged. “Why should you?” she muttered under her breath.

“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that!” Glenn said, laughing. “I just mean that I’ve seen Reid before.”

“Oh,” Ember said.

“Well, anyway, I return to my official duties tomorrow, so goodbye for now, Ember.” Glenn bowed and was gone the next moment, leaving Ember with a pounding headache, born of confusion and uncertainty.

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Ember slipped lightly through the door, arriving home from a shorter than usual meeting. She had briefly considered raising her hand during the meeting and asking for advice on Glenn, then laughed it off. She was in a risky position but there were much more urgent problems for the members of the resistance to mull over and find solutions to. The last thing they needed was another problem.

Ember untied her preymark and followed the sound of her father’s voice, coming from the small living room. She peeked in the room at her parents, sitting by the crackling fireplace. “Hello, Father and Mother,” she said, smiling wearily.

They smiled back, returning the greeting, and Ember plopped down in a nearby chair, rubbing her face.

Father went on with his conversation. “Anyway, I don’t know why she’s so insistent. They’re not even at the required age.”

“Darling,” she said, “they’ll be fine. She has a point. The younger they are, the more easily they will adjust.”

Father eyed her for a minute, then said, “Alright then. Sign them up whenever you get the chance. I just… can’t help thinking of my own childhood, it was so different -”

“Oliver,” Mother quietly interrupted, sending him a warning glance. She paused, then said, “We don’t need to think about those times, or remind our children of those times. All we need to do is live in the present.”

Ember swallowed, feeling very much out of place. The door creaked open, a welcome distraction, and Reid entered. Her blue eyes raised and met Ember’s briefly.

“Just got home?” Ember asked, surprised.

“Yes. I was working late.”

Ember nodded, then looked at her parents, wondering why they weren’t continuing the conversation. “Well, I’m going to bed. Good night!” she said, rising from the chair.

But sleep stayed far from her that night. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Glenn, and she didn’t want to. She wanted to forget about all her problems… escape from reality. She wanted to talk to someone.

“Reid?” she whispered, turning over to face her sister, sleeping beside her. There was no answer, and Ember sank back onto her pillow, feeling the beginnings of tears in her throat. But then Reid answered.

“Yes?”

Ember sat up, relieved. “Reid! I’m so glad you’re awake!” She leaned her chin on her hands and gazed into the midnight darkness, weighing how much to share, what questions to ask. “Do you always trust first impressions?”

“Every. Single. Time.”

Ember blinked, thrown off by the answer. “You’ve never been wrong?”

“Of course I’ve been wrong. But I trust them all the same.”

Ember’s eyes narrowed, in thought, then she looked down at the dark form of her sister beside her. “Reid, I miss these talks. I miss being young and… carefree.”

The silence in the room hung thick for a few minutes, and Ember laid back down, sensing that the short conversation was over. She was about to finally doze off when her ear caught whispered words.

“I miss that too.”

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Hope you enjoyed it! I would really love feedback as always! I hope it wasn't too long; I thought about dividing this into two chapters but, especially with all the plans I have for the next chapters, I decided against it. Hopefully yall don't mind! Bear the Flame!