Page 243 of Nobody's Girl

Just what my grandfather said flew around his truck down in Texas, making him crash into an electric pole the day before Ally had her accident. And most likely what Ally and I saw when we went on that hike the day I asked her to go to Texas and live with me. What do these things have to do with this cult?

The chanting has changed. I can finally understand the words, as they’re now in English. They’re saying, ‘Spirit to flames,’ whatever that means.

God, please do not let these crazy people send my Ally into that fire!

The giant birds come close, circling over all of us three times, then they both fly straight up into the sky. Horrible shrieks fill the air as they move away from us. Ally looks up at them. Her eyes are bright and she’s smiling.

She doesn’t seem to be afraid at all. How is that? Is she even the same girl? Did that damn jackass give her something to make her so different? I swear I’ll kill him if we all make it through this!

The crowd is chanting faster and it’s driving me crazy. Suddenly, they all kneel. I look up and see one of the birds doing a free fall. Its back is coming down first, the long wings spread upwards. It looks dead as it passes in between Ally and the jackass.

Her eyes frantic, she screams, “No! Rodney, wake up!”

Rodney? How the hell does she know the bird’s name?

A flash of orange, red, and yellow flames momentarily take my sight. The bird has fallen into the large pit of fire.

That bird’s history!

Once I can see again, I look back up at Ally. She’s crying.

I bang on the glass wall of my box again. I have to find a way out of this thing. She needs me to help her.

A loud screech draws my attention. Just as I look up, I see the other bird doing a nose dive into the pit of fire. Another explosion of flames erupts.

My Ally is sobbing. She shouts, “Why, Grace? Why?”

Grace, huh?

Sorry to say, she’s history too. What is it with those birds? I’ve never known of suicidal birds, but those were really big. Maybe only the giants kill themselves.

The chanting stops. “It is done!” the old man’s thundering voice says.

What does that mean? Did this cult somehow bring the birds into the fire? Were they on a rope that pulled them into it that I didn’t see? Were the birds evil and needed to be killed?

“It is time for the new couple to take the place at the top of our society. They have been joined in marriage and now they will be joined in the unity of the legendary Phoenixes. We must thank Our Creator for this gift to this world,” the old guy shouts, followed by the crowd’s shouts of thanks.

More chanting begins as the robed people continue to stay on their knees. “Flames to spirit,” they all say.

What does that mean?

The pole Ally’s jackass prince is on begins to move forward. “No!” Ally screams as she looks at him with tears streaming down her face.

“It’s going to be okay, Alyssa, my princess. It’s time. Have faith. I love you,” he shouts to her.

Dear God! They’re taking him towards the pit of fire!

Oh my God, please save him. I know I said I was going to kill him, but I didn’t mean it. God, please don’t let these crazy people kill him!

The pole moves closer to the pit and I find I can’t watch anymore. I turn my back, leaning up against the glass wall.

This isn’t real. It can’t be.

I close my eyes and will myself to wake up from this nightmare. This cannot really be happening.

I can still hear the insane chanting going on, but my mind moves far away. I think of Ally and me walking in the forest, back in Cloudcroft. The way her hair smells in the summer, like lemons and honey. How her hand feels in mine. Small and fragile, like she needs someone to protect her.

Her scream pierces my brain, “Eden! No! Stop!”