"IRIS," Fredrick shook her arms, sounding panicked. "come on, wake up!"
Iris opened her eyes. The night sky blazes with ashes falling through her face.
The fire was so bright that anyone could see from a distance. Iris was lying on solid ground, with Fredrick on her side, looking worried.
She sat up feeling fuzzy, her head was spinning. They were on a ground overlooking the burning forest. The fire was a few feet away from them as the blaze overtook the night sky.
The wind blew warm as summer wind, and the monster fled the forest, avoiding the blazing fire that swallowed the trees and grass.
The house was nowhere to be found as it disappeared through the fire.
It was bunned. Iris guessed. Behind them was a cliff that overlooked an ocean.
"Where are we?" Iris asked.
Fredrick exhaled. "Thank goodness you're awake, we're on the edge of the forest. I ran as fast as possible to escape the fire, but it's already catching up."
"How long have I been out?" Iris asked, rubbing her head.
Fredrick sat beside her as the wind blew their hair. He puts his hand on her head and pats it.
"It's not that long," he said
"How can we escape the fire," Iris asked, pointing in the direction of the fire that was approaching them.
"There's only one way out," Fredrick said, looking at the edge of the Cliff.
Iris looked behind her. She knew that Fredrick was suggesting that they were gonna jump.
"You can't be serious?" she said in disbelief.
But Fredrick just nods since that's the only way. Iris took a deep breath. She could hide the truth that she was scared and terrified.
"Don't worry, I'll save you if you drown." Fredrick smiled like, encouraging her.
Fredrick's eyes were so intense that they were so hard to read. Iris wasn't sure if he was brave or scared like her.
Iris stood up and walked toward the Cliff. It was so far down, and the water was waving like it was angry.
Iris walked backwards. She can't do it.
"Don't worry, I'll hold you," Fredrick said, patting her shoulder.
Fredrick looked down at the Cliff, too.
"Not that bad, we won't die from this," he grinned at Iris.
Iris was hesitant because of the height and the water beneath scared her.
Fredrick saw that, so he came closer to her and hugged Iris so tight.
Iris was surprised he did that, but somehow, it calmed her.
Then Fredrick walked towards her side and tightly held her right hand.
"We have no time," he said as he pointed out the fire approaching them.
With no time to argue, Fredrick ran to the Clift, dragging Iris with him. Iris didn't have time to react at all. And was forced to jump.
She wanted to say that they would face their death, and her life was so short spent on the outside world.
But actually, all she could shout was "aaaaaagggghhhhhh" as she fell.
They raced down like a speed of light. The wind blew at her like it's gonna ripped her lungs.
The Cliff was getting further and further away from her vision.
And then: splash!!
Iris thought that The fall was alright. It doesn't hurt at all.
As a whiteout bubble made from the fall, Iris couldn't seem to find Fredricks's hand that held her.
As she sank through the murk of the ocean, Iris was sure she was going to end up dead in the sea and be embedded a thousand feet below and lost forever.
Iris was falling slowly as the bubbles went out her mouth. She closed her eyes, ready to die, but something strange happened; even though she was falling into the depths of the sea, she wasn't drowning.
Iris could feel the coldness of the water. But she felt like she was in a mist instead of an ocean.
I told you to stay hidden. A woman's voice echoed through the ocean.
Iris moved around, trying to find where the voice came from. She thought she might imagine things since the ocean was silent again.
I told you to stay!! Why didn't you listen?. The woman's voice spoke again, angrier than before
Iris knew that voice, and she would never forget that voice. but she never imagined that she would find her that fast.
Iris wiggled around the water, trying to find the voice. As she turned back, she saw a woman standing behind her through the gloom.
Her form is like a ghost in the ocean.
You did not fulfill your promise. The woman spoke again and rushed towards her, trying to strangle Iris.
A hand suddenly appeared, pulling Iris to the top of the water. It was Fredrick.
"I thought I lost you," he said
"cough! Cough!" Iris coughs up some water.
Fredrick swam iris to the shore. They lay flat, trying to catch their breath.
"what were you doing down the ocean?" Fredrick asked as he looked at Iris lying beside him.
"I could find you for a minute or two," he said
Iris just remained silent. He would never believe her if she told him what happened to her down there.
"You can't swim?" Fredric asked again
"No," Iris answered.
Fredrick burst into laughter as Iris followed him and laughed.
It's been a few seconds that they continue laughing.
The sunrise is already up. Iris looked at it.
It was the first time she saw a sunrise.
Fredrick just looked at her face, trying to seize the moment.
"Hey," Fredrick said looking at her seriosly
"yes?" Iris answered, still her eyes clued at the rising sun.
"I want to----" Fredrick tried to say something, but they heard a horse's footsteps running towards them.
Neigh! Neigh!
Duke Echeron, with his men, coming towards them. Iris stands up and runs towards the Duke.
Fredrick just looked at Iris back as she ran towards the Duke.
Fredrick and the Duke looked at each other like they were communicating something nobody could understand.