Abigail's POV

　　Fire! 

　　Blazing orange and red flames that felt hotter than hellfire, I could feel them eating away at the flimsy walls of a church. The piercing screams from inside the roasting inferno hit my ears all at once, sending me to my knees. Swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat, forcing myself to my feet, they took on a mind of their own and pushed forward through the doors of the burning building. I was not scared by the fire or the heat.

　　I somehow knew they would not touch me. They didn't! Instead, they parted as I approached, only to close back up again behind me, hiding the path I had taken. The church's pews filled with screaming people, their bodies aglow with flames, some burnt and charcoaled, others limp and lifeless. My heart broke for them.

　　Pulling on the arm of the screaming mother and her young child, tears formed in my eyes when I saw the large, heavy chains restraining them all to the pews. There was no saving them. We all knew what fate had in store- Death and not a swift one. Sobbing as they fell limply to the floor beside me, the child enveloped in her mother's protective arms. Someone had ordered this monstrous slaughter, and I, an angel sent from the lord above, was powerless to do anything to help. 

　　Walking to the altar and sitting, I looked back at the burning souls in the church, wondering what possessed someone to do this. To take so many innocent lives. Why slaughter so many in such a brutal way? I wanted to do something to help them, but I felt powerless- literally.

　　As if hearing my thoughts and wanting to take credit for this masterpiece, the darkness that had appeared in my nightmare days before shimmered by the door. A thick dark air radiating evil and hatred, but the purple eyes stood out, shining up at me with pride at that site before it. Clenching my jaw, I wanted answers, but I knew this creature would never give me them, and given the evil that swirled around it, I wasn't even sure I could trust anything it had to say. 

　　It was watching me and assessing my reaction to this unnecessary evil, turning my head, I looked through the flames and felt my heart sink. Thirty-three adults and eight children were all consumed by the fire. For what? This monster's amusement! Unable to control my rage at the countless lives lost, their futures snuffed out so quickly.

　　"What do you want!" I screamed through the roar of the flames, half expecting an answer but not prepared for what I got. 

　　"What belongs to me." The voice whispered into my mind! Jumping at the intrusion and the familiarity of the voice. Smooth, silken, and seductive. With wide eyes, I looked through the flames to try and get a better glimpse of the dark smoke with glaring purple eyes. We had met before, I was sure of it. But it was gone.

　　The whole church was aglow with bright flames; I watched as the oranges and reds destroyed everything in their path apart from the small area around me, a cruel joke, I am sure. As the last person took their final breath, I walked from the church, praying for their peaceful passing to a world that was not so cruel. 

　　"I am sorry I couldn't save you," I whispered as fresh tears slipped across my dirty cheeks.

　　"Forgive me, please." ***

　　Waking with a jolt, I sucked down the fresh air from my apartment, looking around the tired and worn down room I called home, suddenly feeling so grateful for where I am, what I have, and the air in my lungs. 'It was just a dream,' I mused, snapping closed the book I had fallen asleep reading. As if on cue, I heard the door to the apartment across the hall open; shaking off the remnants of a bad dream, I was at the door just as a little knock came from the other side of the flimsy wood. 

　　"Miss Abigail,"

　　Pulling the door open and swooping Lizzy up in my arms, I grinned down at her chubby cheeks and toothless smile before blowing raspberries on her cheek, doing my best to ignore the sticky substance on her cheeks the best I could. The giggles that left her mouth were like music to my ears; she was just what I needed to forget about my bad start to the day. I smiled warmly, turning my head to her mother, who stood in the doorway.

　　"She's been going on for hours about seeing those damn fish! She wants to go shopping for a fish tank" Nodding to the pair of them, I placed Lizzy on the floor and pointed to the bathroom, smiling as her little legs ran in the direction I had indicated. "I am not paying for a damn tank. Do us all a favour and flush them!" She groaned with a roll of her eyes. Holding my breath and counting to three slowly in my head, I smiled my sweetest smile at the vile excuse for a mother.

　　"I said I would keep them and get it, don't worry about it. I can take her shopping now if you like. It will give you a few hours of peace and quiet." I was curious if she would allow me to take her child, given I had only met her the night before, and she knew nothing about me other than my name, something she even said she could not remember. I know I wouldn't be keen on the idea, but then I had a shred of human decency. 

　　"Sure, whatever" She shrugged as she turned to walk off, happy now all her responsibilities to her child for the rest of the day were concluded.

　　"Wait," I fought to control my anger. "Do you want my number? Can I have yours in case of an emergency? I will probably grab us some lunch. Does she have any allergies?" I asked, absolutely baffled at her complete disregard for her child.

　　"She's not great with nuts. She blows up like a balloon." She huffed her hand on the door handle, clearly about to shut it. "You're a big girl. I'm sure you will manage in an emergency." She laughed, closing the door too quickly for my liking. 

　　"WOW. Mother of the year award goes to you!" I groaned under my breath, returning to the apartment to see Lizzy staring at me with a toothless grin. 

　　"She's the best mom ever." She nodded sincerely. Smiling at her innocence was all I could do not to cry for the poor girl who obviously knew no better. Scooping her up in my arms again, I trotted down the hallway to the bathroom to check on our little friends, all traces of the church's inferno gone.