I sat with my dad as we watched the clouds, the summer heat of Ireland having no effect whatsoever. I loved to sit with my pa on the warmest day of Ireland. It was like our little tradition. Every day when the sun is at its highest point, we would sing a song.

Hush lil' darling, don't say a word
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird

Then, a flash of white blinded me and the scenery changed. I was sitting on the floor of my bedroom, squished between the wall and the wardrobe closet. Yells of a heated argument between my ma and pa arose from the living room. Tears streamed down as the yells turned into shouts of anger and hatred. More yells equal more tears.

And if that mockingbird don't sing
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring

Suddenly I heard loud screams of anguish and pain from my parents. Silence filled the musky air of my wooden cabin as I tried to control my breathing. Faint sounds started to grow from the stairs, coming closer to the bedroom door. I pressed my body further into the conjoining corner of the walls. A soft click came from the door and the sounds of probably footsteps faded away. I stayed silent as I desperately listened for more.

The horrifying color of red surrounded me. Acrid, black smoke filled my lungs and burned my eyes as I tried to comprehend my surroundings. Burning heat encased my tiny body. Red, tongue-like barbs of heat licked at my pale skin, turning even it to the color of horror. My asthma kicked in and my breathing quickened into uneven intakes.

I stumbled into an upright stance and started to run, forgetting that this would worsen my condition. Flames flickered and caught onto the ragged fabric of my clothes. I pushed open my door, ignoring the unbearable heat, and rolled down the stairs after tripping on my own feet. Groans vibrated from my vocal cords as I looked up to see where my parents were. Then, I saw a gnarled, literally bony hand. My vision trailed up to its arm and to its burning face. My pa and ma were there, dead. Their blood that seeped into the burning carpet started to slither towards me, consuming my arm, then my chest. The flames grew bigger and started eating away at my skin and showing the crude flesh underneath. My breath started to cut off, whether from my asthma or the smoke, I wasn't sure. But my vision started to waver.

Red continued to consume my vision. Red and black. Blood, fire, and smoke. My screams of pain echoed into the cabin, yet were unheard by no one.

·•{★★★}•·

I jolted up from my bed, my forehead covered in cold, dripping sweat. My eyes darted all around the bedroom of my apartment. There were no flames, no blood, no bodies, nothing. I clutched onto my artificial green hair and rocked back and forth on my bed. Trying to calm down, I started to sing softly to myself.

"And if that diamond ring turns brass
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke..."

My voice wavered as I looked up to stare into nothingness. A thought consumed my brain; What would happen then?