Jacob and I stand amid the rubble of The Village. Dozens of homes are blazing, the flames reaching higher and higher.

The Villagers who once lived here are gone. The Flame has them now, the way It has me.

I take Jacob's hand, though it's cold, and squeeze it as hard as I'm able. He doesn't know me anymore, and I don't know him. I shouldn't know him. He's my secret.

"I'll fix this," I promise him. He doesn't hear me. He does nothing but stare blankly ahead, his eyes cloudy and gray. Funny, I thought they were brown. They used to be brown.

"I promised to keep you safe," I speak again, knowing Jacob will never answer. "I will keep that promise."

What hurts more than anything is knowing Jacob is this way because of me. I did this to him, despite my promise. Because of this, I have to undo what I've done.

Some day are easier than others. Today is a good day. I have more control over myself. Most days, the Flame has me. I forget who I am and my promise. I do things I hate and spend the rest of my time forgetting them.

For instance, this Village fire. I set the flames. I burned these people's homes to ruins. I gave them, willingly, into the hands of the Flame.

Now, I stand with a ghost. The ghost of the boy I destroyed. The boy I loved. Once. I don't remember a lot, but I must have loved him once.