Marked By The Flame

<p>It started with a shadow.</p><p>Not the kind that moves with you in the sunlight. No this</p><p>shadow twisted. Shifted. Lurked just out of the corner of my</p><p>vision. And it wasn't alone.</p><p>By mid-morning the cafeteria felt wrong. The fluorescent lights</p><p>flickered. The chatter around me seemed hollow like echoes of</p><p>voices I couldn't quite hear. I squinted trying to focus.</p><p>Then I saw it.</p><p>A girl from my math class sitting two tables over. Her hair fell</p><p>in waves over her shoulders but something was... off. A black</p><p>mist clung to her like smoke from a fire. I froze. My stomach</p><p>dropped.</p><p>I blinked. Nothing.</p><p>I blinked again.</p><p>The mist was still there. And I could see it now: whispers curling</p><p>from her ears like smoke moving toward her mind. Lies. Doubts.</p><p>Fear.</p><p>I gasped my hand flying to my mouth. Nia sitting across from</p><p>me leaned over.</p><p><br> </p>