The Fire Tamer

**Nerissa POV**

The shouting followed by the screams that ran into the night shook me out of my comfortable sleep. I sat up in bed, looking into the darkness, and feeling my heart racing as I tried to understand what was happening. The door to my room burst open as the light in the hallway blinded me for a moment, not being able to see who entered.

“Nerissa, get up, darling! Now!” my mother’s voice called upon me as she ran around my room, taking a backpack and filling it with clothing and other items.

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I said, “Mom? What is happening?”

She turned around and rushed towards me, sitting down on my bed and grabbing my face in between her hands. “There is an attack happening. They are breaking through, so you need to get up and dress quickly because I need you to get far from here. Do you hear me?” Her eyes were filled with terror as she looked into mine, begging me to understand what she was telling me. She let go of my face and removed my cover, pulling me up by my arms. “Hurry!” she ushered as she ran towards my window to look outside before continuing to gather my things, and put them in my backpack.

I grabbed my jeans and T-shirt, putting them on, and then taking my black hoodie and pulling that on as well. I slipped on my sneakers and finished dressing just as my mom approached me. She turned me around and hurriedly put the backpack onto my back.

As soon as it was secure, she turned me around to face her, grabbing my face once more so that my sole attention was on her. “Nerissa, now listen to me carefully.” She held my face, not saying a word. It was as if she was waiting to see if I was paying attention before continuing. I nodded my head, swallowing hard, and feeling my heart racing inside my chest, not knowing yet what was going to happen. "You have to leave these lands. Go far away from here, Nerissa, do not turn back, no matter what! Go far to the North, to your Aunt Patricia’s, she will be waiting for you. You still remember where she lives, don’t you, baby girl?” my mother asked.

I nodded my head as I spoke barely above a whisper. "Y-yes I do, but, Mom, why are you saying that? Won't you be going with me?" I heard the slight panic in my voice as I asked her the questions.

She closed her eyes before leaning her forehead against mine, making me close my eyes in turn. I felt her kissing my forehead before she pulled back to look at me once more. "I am sorry, my baby girl, but I can’t go with you. You have to leave this place without me. So promise me you will get as far away from here as possible and be safe. Do not trust anyone. Go directly to your Aunt Patricia’s. Promise me, Nerissa." She shakes my shoulders, making me realize the seriousness of the situation.

"I promise," I said, my voice cracking slightly at the end.

“Good, now we have to hurry while we still have some time.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me after her, leaving the safety of my room. We went straight toward the kitchen and its back door before stopping and standing there for a second, surveying the area for any dangers coming our way. Once we determined we were in the clear, we took off running straight towards my best friend, Emily’s house.