You Are In My Body

Kiera's POV







The fire razed the forest, burning all the trees and plants. Its acrid stench clogged my nose and made my eyes water. I could see nothing but smoke and the wolf, unmoving. Soon, the whole forest will be burnt down. The fire was going to engulf everything in the next few seconds and I would be burnt to death.

There was no conscious thought or rationalization. I turned and ran for my life. I didn’t stop running until the burning smoke became a thin flash in the air. 

Gasping heavily, I watched from a mile -miles? Meters? I had no idea, I only knew I was very far away and could barely see the smoke in the air- away as sirens blared so loud, I thought my eardrum would become damaged. The siren reminded me of when I had set our house on fire with my father and his mistress in it.

The thought halted me in my tracks and I became aware of two pertinent things. I was in control of my body once again. I could move my body and say what I wanted. And second, i just set another property on fire. With a sinking stomach, I noted that my biggest problem now isn’t that I just set an entire forest on fire, but the means through which I did it. Did I really just set an entire forest on fire by blowing air? As if that was not enough, I think I just killed a wolf. It hadn’t been moving when I ran away. It could be dead. It was probably a dying breed that was being preserved in the protected forest and I just murdered it. Oh lord, oh god. What should I do now? 




‘What you shouldn’t do is stand here in the middle of the road with soot and the smell of burnt wood on your flesh because that is just dumb.’ The hated voice that wouldn’t go away muttered angrily.

Two more fire trucks whizzed by and a police car and I decided that the middle of the road was not the best place to argue with myself. I speed walked, doing my best not to break into a run and call attention to myself, before stomping up to the house, not certain how I found it and not really caring. 

She was standing right next to the door, wearing a white nightgown -so cliche- her brown hair flowing like a river behind her. I had no idea what the colour of her eyes were, only that her entire essence was luminous. She opened her mouth and cackled wildly, the lamps flashing brightly with her mirth. Her left tooth was chipped. I never thought I’d see a ghost in my life or that when I did, her imperfection when she was alive would still be there. 




“Shut it.” I ordered as I walked past her. 

I had bigger prolems than a stupid cackling ghost. I looked away from her yellowed teeth and hurried up the short stairs. 




“Kiera?” her voice was soft, barely above a whisper.




I craned my head to find my mother standing in the doorway that led to the shop. Her face was ashen and her pale hands clutched her dress tightly. A pang went through me at the sight. Mymother was terrified of me. She probably thought I was no better than her beast of a husband. Who knows, she probably wished she was with him now instead of being stuck with me. 

I took a step towards her and she retreated hastily. Tears filled my eyes and I ran for my room.

What is happening to me? 

Was I hallucinating or something? Maybe I was going crazy and these are just manifestations of my delusions? Would I know if I was mentally unstable?

I marched over to the vanity dresser and stared at my face. Nothing. There was no difference whatsoever. I was still the same plump faced brunette with freckles across my nose and black holes for eyes. Try as I might, I could discern no difference in my face, so why did the events of the last three hours feel like they happened to someone else? Someone else in my body. 

I was still staring in bemusement at my face when my eyes flashed red again and my streched in a creepy smile that lit my eyes up with evil intent. My face smiled even without meaning to but the thing that blew my mind was when my own lips separated and words I didn’t command fell through.




“Hello Kiera. I am Kyros, the god of fire and you are in my body.”