The first thing I noticed when I came to, was the sound of crackling flames. Hungry, starving flames that consume whatever they touched. They ate away at the large white and gold pillars supporting the roof. Tore away at the scarlet carpet that ran across the floor. Burned away at the bodies of the guards who were once ever so cheerful.
The second thing I noticed was a handmaiden and a boy nestled in her arms. Shuddering in a corner, trembling in fear, prepared to flee the moment I look away. It doesn't matter anyway.
It's not like they can escape this burning building alive that is.
The third thing I noticed was a corpse lying below me, no that isn't right. I was the one sitting on the corpse. Running from its torso, straight to the neck was a knife wound. No, that's also wrong, the knife wound is too messy. They were nail marks. Marks from someone tearing at their skin until eventually, they went through. Out of the wound, came a gushing stream of blood, which came to pool on the floor below the corpse. It was an unnatural amount of blood, more than the average person can spill before dying.
The fourth thing I noticed was that the corpse had a peaceful face. Painted on its face was a smile, one that displayed fulfillment. Despite its brutal, messy death, it seemed as if it got what it wanted. A feeling of disgust overcame me. How could anyone even find peace in a place like this, with a death like this? It pisses me off.
The fifth thing I noticed was that I was slowly remembering what happened. Memories of my past self invaded my head and gave my brain an itchy feeling. Slithering through the cracks and wrinkles. I scratched at my head and scratched again. It was as if a different person was taking hold of me, and at the same time, it was itchy. Repressed memories were resurfacing. Past trauma was returning. It hurts. No, I have a goal. I have something to do. I reached into the gash in the corpse's torso. The once warm body was now a cold, dead husk. I reached deeper until I felt something warm and firmly grasped it. The disgusting slush of viscera and organs made me retch, but I kept going. Quickly, I ripped the object out. It was a mysterious organ, beating and squirming as if it was alive. I knew what I had to do. I raised my hand to bring the thing closer to my mouth. The closer it was, the stronger the vicious smell of the thing got. In a flash, I put the thing inside my mouth and swallowed it hard. It tasted like rotten fish guts, but at least it's over. I felt enveloped in a mysterious power, and in the back of my mind, It was like a door to something new had just opened up.
The final thing I noticed, was that the corpse wasn't the only thing that had severe wounds. My left arm was torn at the shoulder and rested inside one of the nearby fires. A scream escaped my mouth, as I fell backward. Moving on its own, my hand snatched the lost limb from the flames and quickly put it out. I just got my revenge, I can't die yet. I can't die. I refuse to die. I grabbed the burning arm and pressed it against my wound. The searing flames threatened to eat my remaining arm, but I persevered. The pain was indescribable and the suffering was unending, yet I continued. Eventually, the bleeding stopped. I dropped my severed arm to the floor and stood up. The maiden and child had long been gone, and I think it's my turn to leave. My goal has been accomplished. Those who have died have been avenged. Laughing hysterically, I walked away from the corpse and prepared for whatever was to happen next.
A burning castle wasn't enough to kill me anymore.