Copyright @ 2014 Maria Wellman

All rights reserved 

ISBN: 9781697405897

Graceful, haunting clouds, danced into her room. 

The expelled ghosts of the flames slithered in deviously through the space below the door. Kari just finished eating lunch when she noticed the smell. 

The scent of burning wood engulfed the room very quickly. 

She stood up and ran to her window She pushed open the shudders and climbed out onto the balcony.  She immediately noticed the dozens of residents and workers fleeing from the back gate. 

Her observational state was interrupted by the motion of someone swiftly opening the door inside. The movement allowed the build-up of smoke to flood through, like water being released from a dam.

Within the vortex of smoke, there were brief moments of clarity,  and that’s when she saw the dark silhouette standing on the threshold. She tried to make out his identity but her sight was obstructed. “Follow me!” The voice yelled. She immediately recognized it as her brother Robert. She began to run to him, but the smoke got to her before she could reach the door and she collapsed. - Chapter one, Page one.