Just thought I’d give it a personal folder now :D

There was smoke everywhere. It clogged the air and made my eyes tear and my throat sting. Was I the only one screaming? Bystanders were just that: bystanders. They didn’t move, they didn’t speak, they just stared. Their eyes were bloodshot, but it didn’t stop them from watching.

Wood was piled high, and a single long stake shot up to the dark sky. My eyes never left it before, now I just wanted to look away. They had taken her; three of them had pried her away from me. I reached and stretched to get to her, but I couldn’t move. Her arms lashed out to me, and we couldn’t touch. They took her and bound her to the single stake while I struggled. I could feel myself thrashing and pulling, but I couldn’t get to her. The wood crackled as fire spread fast, and my screaming went on. While she burned, I could do nothing.

They watched me with no pity. Their yellow eyes read hostility, with a hint of I-told-you-so. This is your punishment, they whispered. This is what is right.

I yelled, cursing at them for their stupid antics. I screamed that it was wrong; she wasn’t at fault. But they ignored my words and continued to watch as Riley burned on the pyre.