Rainey Weather

Fear was a tangible thing. It twisted and turned through the darkness of the night, making everything a potency for destruction. That destruction would be easily seen in the lives of the chosen few.

Jake Winter looked through the smoke that billowed, sparkled, and hissed in the dark of the relentless fire. He had never seen something so brutal and terrifying in all his years on earth. And all he thought at that moment, was that what was happening was completely wrong.

It was true that the witch had gone a bit too far this time, but did she deserve to suffer in this manner? He wasn't so sure about it. A hand pushed him forward, and he struggled to remain on his feet.

"She shall die today! The evil will be completely wiped out!" A man in white screamed to the high heavens.

"She is just different. She needs a second chance," Jake found himself saying.

His words were drowned, and all that he could hear were angry shouts and pains. No one was paying any form of attention to him. He tried hard not to show how hurt that made him feel. He had always felt inconsequential, and what he was about to do, will only make the hatred towards him solidify. But, he couldn't leave the witch alone, not at this time.

His sandal-worn feet slid through the soot-covered ground as he made his way to the heart of the chaos. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see most of his neighbours, pouring fuel into the already heated furnace and shouting. He made his way through the throng. At that moment, he imagined that he was half-crazed, for none in their right mind would do this. None!

"Jake, you can't do this! We could lose everything!" His wife's panic-stricken voice had risen in a bid to stop the malady that threatened to consume him.

Jake remembered smiling at her in a dreamy state. "Think about the child she is carrying. Do you wish for the innocent child to be left alone without a family to call hers? I can't let that happen," He had said with intense conviction.

At that moment, he glimpsed the strange look that passed through her features. Disapproval seemed to reek off her, like a stench. He wondered if she would forgive him, but there was no time to dapple. He had to go.

And now, he was pushing his way through the bodies, soot finding succor in his toenails, as he made his way to the heart of the chaos. He almost gave up when he saw the witch in her element.

Jake imagined that he may piss on his pants. He wondered if his moment of bravery had been such a good idea. It wasn't looking like that anymore, and what the hell would he do in such a situation?

There was no time to think, in front of him, the witch stood with her red hair wild, with streaks of blue in them, as it swayed in her boneless face. She was beautiful, but the lines moving in her cheeks begged to differ. Debris, with a mixture of hail, fought for dominance as it danced around her, creating a barricade. Her belly was bigger than life, and Jake could practically see the unborn.

In an eclipse, their eyes met, as thunder hit the skies. Jake swallowed hard, but wouldn't fall back. There was only one thought in his mind, the child in that womb. She needed help.

"Go back to your people," The witch said softly.

He smiled with tears gleaming in his eyes. "I can't. I'm here to help you," He said simply.

A cold laugh skittered off her, sending some of the debris askew. He knew she didn't believe him, but he had to make her believe that this was indeed the truth. He stood rooted but outstretched his hands to them.

"You? You haven't helped yourself yet, Jake Winter. Then, how do you imagine that you would be of any help to me?" She asked in disdain.