Damnation's Door

I had just hobbled to the entryway when a huge whoosh fell behind me. Light flared at my back, like the fire had gasped in awe. I spun around too quickly, lost my balance and landed on my ass.

The column of white fire that circled my sister was in front of me.

For a moment, I didn’t so much as breathe. Not that I could, given the lack of oxygen in the air, but what little I had was locked in my lungs next to a heart ready to break from my chest.

I knew Dro was in there, but I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t do anything.

Come on, little sister. I know you’re in there. Wake up.

Just as I finished the thought, the blaze began to dull. It receded inward, getting smaller and drawing back to its source.

Dro pitched forward, slapping her hands on the ashy floor and dipping her head. She was shaking. I started crawling toward her, trying to get her to snap out of it.

Dro lifted her head, and I stopped.

Her eyes glowed brighter than I could have ever imagined. Even in the drowning red, orange, and black world around us, there was no avoiding that electrified blue gaze.

Just like there was no missing the anger in it.

“Dro.” My lips mouthed her name, though my voice couldn’t speak it. Whether that was because it was too cracked, or I was too scared, I couldn’t tell.

I had never seen Dro look like this before. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t see her as human.