Charlene kept looking over her shoulder, expecting him to show up again. She wanted to run, but the pain in her legs prevented that. Besides, it was too dark to see well, and the terrain was unfamiliar to her. No, she realized, walking was the best she could hope for, but maybe she’d get away this time.
How many times was it now? Three? Six? She’d lost track. Time and days blended together, as did her escape attempts. She never got far, before he was there, grabbing at her, forcing her back into a chair or strapping her to a bed. All she wanted was to go home, but he would not let her. Home to her parents. Home to her brothers and sisters. Why wouldn’t the man let her go?
The blasted pain in her legs; where did it come from? She cursed her legs as she stopped for a break. Oh, they ached! Why did they hurt so much? She looked down, and in the pale moonlight she could just make out the tattered dressings that clung to her shins and calves. She searched her memory for any clue as to what had happened, but there was nothing there, just smoke. Smoke?
She shook off her thoughts and got moving again. The man was nowhere to be seen, and she was sure she’d gotten away scot-free this time. As Charlene made her way toward the side gate, her mind drifted back to the smoke in her memory, and to her family. Why haven’t they been to see me? And why do I keep seeing smoke in my memories? How long have I been imprisoned by this man? Her thoughts jumbled as she missed the irony that she was in a place her family could’ve visited and that she knew where the side gate was.
In the distance, Charlene saw a faint light flickering. Tired of stumbling through darkness, she focused her efforts on the light and made her way to it. As she drew nearer, she realized it was a bonfire, and that it was not a faint flame at all. The brilliance of it terrified her, and she began to scream for help. Within moments, the man arrived with the wheelchair, and was taking Charlene back to the sanitarium.
As they entered the building, he turned to the duty nurse and said, “I had a feeling I’d find her there. The light always draws her. Poor dear, she still thinks her family’s alive. I wonder if she’ll ever put the pieces together and understand that the fire that burned her legs took her home and their lives. Then again, maybe it’s best if she doesn’t remember.”
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Challenge to the Reader: Write a paragraph (or more) explaining how you think the fire started that burned Charlene and her home. Post your explanation in the comments below.
Mack Ames Books and Maine Moose Patrol 
possible answer:
the house was old, built in the 1900 and had original moldings. there was a large cast iron oven set into the fireplace in the kitchen, which had been painted black and sealed years ago with the invention of modern stoves and heating units.The copper pipping was still original, as was the basement foundation, formed of large irregular stones pressed together like a strange yet compleated puzzle. It had housed many, from collage roomates to young families,- even to crimminals, and the buck shot marks on the ceiling in the living room were testiment to the dangers which the home had seen. But dispite its age and occupents over the years, the house had stood the test of time, and once again a family was living there in relitive peace. But homes this old without updates and original- everything, while their value to soceity might be high, their value in safety is not.
It only took one spark from the old twisted wires which were housed with in the walls, their protective rubber coating haveing erroded with time, to smolder in the dust and debris that had collected behind the dated insulation. One spark which slowly grew over the next few days, so that by the time that anyone could figure out where the strange smoky smell was coming from, it was already too late. the strucutal integerty of the house- which was mostly dependent on ancient dried out wooden beams suddenly collapsed, while the nice peaceful family were stitting down to dinner. At once it caught on fire, with a roar, the influx of oxgan feeding the smoldering ruins, until they grew so hot they could melt doornobs.
Only one member of the family could be rescused, simply becasue she had still been in the bathroom washing her hands before joining her family for dinner. She was found trying to walk through the flames to reach her parents, her lower body on fire. It took two firemen to drag her away, she was so insitant on reaching her loved ones. Her sobs were heart renching to hear as she lay in the amblance reciving emergency care, so her legs might be saved. The treatments necessary casued her to loose consciousness and she woke nearly three days later…. confused, and suffering memory loss…
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Oh, I like that! Thanks for posting!
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