I suck in my breath as fire surrounds me. Smoke fills my lungs and stings my eyes. My wings are torn and burning. 

King Dante stands over me, grinning. There's an evil glint in his eyes. He raises a fire-filled fist. 

I have failed. And Earth will fall without me. 

I can't sleep again. No surprise there. I haven't had much sleep for months. I've been having strange dreams. Dreams of men and fire. Men with wings... 

Maybe fifteen is the age that you start losing your mind. Or maybe it's the energy drinks I've been gulping. They're no good. I should know. I'm considered the Health Nazi when it comes to food. And drink. 

I wander through the trees behind my house. I'm hoping the walk will clear my mind. Or at least tire me enough to fall asleep. But terrible images are taking shape. The images of my dreams. And I don't have to close my eyes. 

The earth is on fire. Burning bodies and flaming wings rise from the flames... I must do something, but I don't know what. 

Trees. They're only trees, I tell myself. I blink hard to squint away the terror. 

And then they are just trees again, outlined by the moon. The branches sway gently. I must have imagined what I saw. 

* * * 

I've always thought I was an average girl, living an average life. We've lived outside Willow Creek by the forest since I was small. 

I turn sixteen tomorrow. I'm not sure what my parents have planned. Birthdays are usually a quiet event around here. Nothing big. 

There's enough going on in my head. I'm not sure what the dreams mean. Or if they are even dreams at all... 

And that's what scares me the most. 

The water in the pond is clear, like the morning. I sit at the edge and dangle my feet. Just looking at the water calms me. 

It's the middle of January but it feels warm. There hasn't been any snow. My mom's been hoping it stays that way. And I agree. 

I stretch my toes into the water. It glides over my feet. It's cold but it doesn't feel cold. 

I slip off my jeans and sweater and slide in. It's murky at the bottom. I swim a few laps and then pull myself out. I feel warm and relaxed. 

Strange. Maybe it's all part of global warming. A gust of wind blows across the field. It isn't a cold gust. It lifts my hair and I shiver, but not from the temperature. 

I slip back into my clothes. It's getting warm, WAY too warm. What is happening? 

Another gust of wind nearly knocks me over. This time it's a HOT gust. 

I scan the trees, the field, and even the sky. There's nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing that shows the source of the heat wave. 

Suddenly, a figure dives through the air into the water. On FIRE. I can't help the scream that rips from my lungs. 

Before I can dive in after it, a body breaks the surface. A boy. He goes into shock as the air hits him. Ripples flow from him like waves. He gives an ear splitting shriek. 

I hurry into the water and reach for him. There are things sticking out of his back… Wings. 

I'm back in that dream. But I see only fire. And I feel hot. The water is HOT. I'm burning. 

I gasp as steel arms surround me and drag me out of the water. I cough and splutter on the warm, dry grass. 

I avert my eyes as he staggers to his feet. I know I'm not dreaming. Maybe if I don't look, the strange boy (or creature) will disappear. 

He doesn't speak. I climb slowly to my feet. He wears nothing but pants that reach his knees. I back away slowly. The air is thick and hot around him. 

A frown creases his face as he watches me. 

I look into his eyes. They're amber, outlined with thick black lashes. They burn like hot lava as he glares. 

He's older than me. Maybe seventeen or eighteen. He stands with his chin lifted. His hands are on his hips, his feet planted apart. 

Who or what is he? And why is he here? 

My heart sticks in my throat. "W...what do you want?" I ask. 

He says softly, "I'm here to kill you."