Try and Catch Me

The Witch Hunt (3)
While the people were distracted by the arrival of Eldric and his men, Lia dashed to the backside of their house. They used to store barrels of water in the small shed behind the cottage. She crossed her fingers, hoping that the shed was not affected by the fire.

The noise of the crowd lessened as the crackles of the fire grew louder. By a stroke of luck, no one saw her snuck there. If the people did, they would raise hell, thinking that she was trying to getaway. But she also knew that she only had a few more minutes before someone would realize her absence.

To her relief, the people only set fire to the main house so the shed remained untouched. This place contained other gardening tools they used to maintain their homegrown plants as well as the tools they used to harvest around the area. Lia was used to the small shed that she did not need to use any light to fumble around and get what she needed.

She found the cart they used to transfer the water from the river on the other side of the woods to their house. Using a bucket, she got the water from the barrel and put out the fire.

Lia was sweating from the heat, her muscles screaming in pain, and her heart felt like it was going to burst any minute but she persisted in trying to put out the fire. She went back and forth fetching water from the shed and continued until her muscles trembled from exhaustion.

After what felt like an eternity of back and forth, she finished all of the water but only managed to put out a small part of the house. The fire still raged on, brightening the dark forest.

By this time, the fire in the front of the house started to dwindle. It seemed like Eldric’s men started putting out the fire too. Some men reached the side of the house, passing buckets of water around. They did not seem to notice Lia. Even if they did, they did not show signs like they cared.

Lia did not care either. As long as anyone put out that damning fire. As long as they could save her mother.

But what they were doing was not enough.

‘Water. More water.’

Lia dumped the empty barrel and buckets to her cart and bolted to the clearing. There was a pond there. It may be small but it would suffice at the moment.

She heard cries and shouts behind her but she did not mind them. Let them cry. Let them whine. That was all they ever did. Whining. Pining the crime to the innocent. Like what they did to Yolly, to them.

With frantic hands, she managed to get water and fill her buckets. She arranged them on her cart and prepared to depart once more. When she turned around, she saw Eldric coming out of the woods. He stood just outside of the woods and waited. Lia glared at him but did not speak.

“My men are already putting out the fire.”

She schooled her features and turned her face to cold indifference. This man had the gall to appear in front of her.

“We need to nurse your wounds.”

Lia gritted her teeth and seethed in anger. He acted as if he cared when he was the one who ordered the whole ordeal.

“Don’t act as if you care,” fat tears rolled down her cheeks, “because we both know that you don’t.” She grimaced when she heard the crack from her voice. She hated herself for crying, for showing weakness in front of this man. She stormed out of the clearing and went back to the burning house.