145 Flames

I glanced over at Adrian when I started smelling some very good beef being cooked. It seemed like he knew how to cook quite well. I wondered if he used to cook often. Maybe he did when his wife was still alive. It was just a thought that fleeted through my mind, and I never asked him about it.

“Wow. It’s coming along quite well,” I commented to make some conversation.

“Your carbonara smells great too,” Adrian complimented.

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“Thank you. Do you need some help? I think I’m pretty much done with my dish,” I announced proudly.

“You can help me a little over here with the red wine sauce,” Adrian said.

I watched him cook the steak from a distance. The sound of the beef sizzling on the grill sounded appetizing but the fire that was emitted from the grill wasn’t something that I wanted to get close to.

“Sure, I can do that. What should I do?” I asked.

“I’ve got everything prepared so you can just help me put in the various ingredients while I stir...” Adrian instructed.

“Wouldn’t it be easier if I stirred, and you put in the ingredients? You’ll probably know when to putin what instead of telling me. How’s that?” I suggested instead.

.....

“That works too. Let’s do it your way,” Adrian replied before he smiled sweetly at me.

With that, we started working on the red wine sauce for the steak together. My role was quite simple, I just stirred while Adrian popped in the ingredients when he saw that it was the right time. Soon, the sauce started to smell good, and he hadn’t even put the wine in yet. The atmosphere around us finally relaxed and I truly started to enjoy myself now that the stress of getting my dish right was behind me.

“Now for the last part...” Adrian said._{𝐟𝓇ℯ𝒆we𝒃𝘯𝒐νe𝑙.co𝚖}

I watched as he poured red wine from a freshly opened bottle into the pan. Just when the wine came into contact with the heat of the pan, flames burst all over the pan. My body froze as my eyes focused on the flames that started burning higher and higher. There was no way that a simple fire from Adrian adding alcohol could burn this brightly or this high. Even though, I knew that I couldn’t stop myself from seeing what I was seeing.

The flames continued to burn even higher and higher. Red and orange flames flickered all around the pan before it started creeping towards the pan’s handle and soon the flame had engulfed my fingers and then my hand. Then it started spreading up from my hand to my wrist and then my arm...and then...

“Elena!”

I heard someone calling my name. It must have been Adrian. I stared at the flame engulfing my arm in pure confusion rather than fear. The fire is burning my entire left arm up, but I didn’t feel any pain. It’s not real and this isn’t really happening. I knew that but at the same time, I also knew that it was happening...again...

...

It had been a very long while since I last dreamt of that disastrous day at the orphanage. Just like in all the dreams that I had of that event before this, nothing was clear. Everything was shrouded in thick black clouds and all I could see was silhouettes. There was fire and flames everywhere and it continued to burn like it would never stop. That was all I saw in my dream and that was because that was pretty much all that I remembered.

I hated this dream so much. It always made me feel uncomfortable. It made my chest feel tight and I always struggled to breathe. Soon enough when my mind and body have suffered enough, I would wake up with a start.

I’m about to wake up, anytime now...

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My eyes snapped open, and I immediately sat right up and began coughing like a fish that had landed on land. I struggled to breathe as my chest heaved up and down. My breathing was harsh, and my eyes felt sore.

“Elena...”

Where am I?

“Adrian...” I whispered his name softly when Adrian’s very concerned face came into view.

Am I...at his house?

I looked around the bedroom that I was in after I had figured out that I had woken up in an unknown bed. Adrian’s brows drew together in a frown as he stared into my face with a clear look of worry.

I passed out, didn’t I?

How embarrassing...

“Are you feeling better now?” Adrian asked with a warm smile.

I felt the warmth of his hand on my head as he began stroking my hair comfortingly.

“I’m fine. I’m very sorry...” I mumbled softly.

I tried to smile bravely at him, but I didn’t think that my effort was that successful.

“There’s no need to push yourself,” Adrian told me kindly.

His hand reached out and cupped my cheek before he leaned in and place a soft kiss on my cheek. It was such a tender and sweet kiss that left me feeling very confused inside.

“Oh...we should have dinner. I’m sorry to keep you waiting like this...” I said quickly when I recalled that we haven’t had dinner yet.

Adrian smiled adoringly at me as he shook his head at me. My smile died on my lips at the slightly sad look on his face.

“It’s almost past midnight now...but if you’re hungry, I can get the maids to get you some food. You didn’t have dinner before,” Adrian replied in a voice so gentle that I felt uncomfortable.

I was out for that long?

“I’m very sorry about this. We were supposed to have dinner together...” I apologized while I also felt surprised at how disappointed I was for missing dinner with him.

“There’s nothing for you to apologize for. We can have another dinner together anytime. Are you feeling better? If you still feel unwell, I can take you to the hospital...” Adrian offered.

I could hear the concern in his voice as his brows drew together in a worried frown.

–To be continued...

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