Crack.
The lightning struck the ground with such force that it broke in half, revealing the depths of the inside of the planet. Some unlucky soul, a teenager already trying to get out of the way of the raging fire, ran right into the crevice. He cried out and flailed his arms as if that would save him from the sure death that he faced. But his voice faded quickly and he became just another victim of the terror that ensued.
A wave of fire roared, crackling because of the houses it claimed as if it were laughing at the people of Estyria. In response, those people ran, jumping over those already dead or dying in their desperation to be saved. They were racing through the streets of the city, dodging fallen trees and chunks of buildings like it was a game of Frogger.
There was a cave just outside the boundaries of the city, one with enough power to keep everyone inside it safe from anything. It was perfect for waiting out the storm. That was the ultimate destination. It was only big enough to hold a few hundred people. Once it was full, there would be no safe haven.
A bolt of purple lightning, energy pulsating around it, struck down a tree. It fell and landed on a nicely dressed man. He tried to fight his way out from underneath, reaching out a hand for someone to help. But no one stopped, much less noticed him lying there on the ground. The fire surged up behind him and took him up greedily, his skin smouldering and peeling until all that was left was a pile of bones and some deep red muscle that the fire had forgotten.
Just ahead were two school girls, hand in hand, still in their uniforms. They weren't very fast, but they did enough to keep ahead of the fire. The edge of town was just a half of a mile away. The cave could be seen up ahead. A few people rushed into the safety of its walls, relieved that they were safe.
"Come on," the girl with orange hair cried, pulling her dark haired friend along behind her. "We can make it!" But just as she said it, lightning coursed down from the sky and struck her friend to the ground. The hand slipped from hers and she doubled back.
"Karla!" The girl knelt down next to her friend. Karl's skin had turned a light purple color and she was shaking ever so slightly. Her friend grabbed her arm, wincing as the skin burned her. But she wasn't going to let her friend die.
But Karla reached up and pushed away her friend's hand. "Go without me," she said, her voice no more than a hoarse whisper. "I don't want you to suffer the same fate."
"But--but how can I--you're here--"
"Just go!" Karla was determined to get her friend to safety. Her friend was about to argue when the fire began rushing forward. The girl with the red hair cried out in terror and ran in the direction of the cave without saying goodbye to Karla. Karla watched her go until she could see her no more.
And then the fire swallowed her whole.
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Emma had seen the whole thing. Finally, when it had seemed that the terror was over, she crept out of her hiding spot behind the dumpster. Walking along the streets of the city, she caught glimpses of the stiff corpses lying on the ground. Her small, thirteen year old body heaved with silent tears as she walked. These were her people, the ones she had grown up with, started a colony with, pledged to serve for years to come. And here they were; dead. Her father, the mayor, was among those dead.
Leaning against the side of a building, she sunk to the ground and put her head in her hands. She couldn't help but cry now. There was nothing left for her, no one to look after her. What was she going to do? How would the colony survive this? They wouldn't. That was the answer. Nothing would be the same.
A sudden smell of burning hair filled the air. Confused, Emma looked around to see where it was coming from. All too late, she realized what was causing the smell. She looked up just as the lightning came down on her. And the world went dark.
Although hey, Karla may be a bloke as well as a girl, I know nothing
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