Clara narrows her eyes. “You have something on your mind.”
“It's nothing.”
“Is it actually?”
I shake my head. “No. It's fine.” I don't want her to worry about me. Nor do I want her to get upset from the idea in my head. “I’m just thinking about the attack.”
“What about it?”
I squint, thinking to before the attack. There was something I wanted to know from Clara, wasn't there? She was already irritated and worked up.
My heart jumps. That was a minute after the invasion started. That was a coincidence, right? Maybe…
“Did you know?” I murmur.
“Huh?” Clara cocks her head slightly, as I bring the towel away from her wound.
My stomach drops. I can't just accuse her of something that can get her killed
“Oh, nothing. Just… gibberish…”
“Did I know what?” She looks deep into my eyes, burning through my soul.
I gulp. I guess now I have to explain. “Oh… yeah… it was a dumb question.” I grin reassuringly. “I had the idea that maybe you might have known about the invasion before it happened. But you didn't. I mean it's not like-”
“I would never plot against you or any of those kids in the orphanage.” A scowl slowly forming on her lips.
“You wouldn't,” I whisper, drawing in a deep breath. “I'm sorry. I'm just concerned about what you were tense about before the whole thing. It was probably just a coincidence.”
It falls silent as the flame in Clara’s eye calms. Her gaze shifts to the floor.
I bite my cheek and force my tapping foot down. I shouldn’t have said that.
“No… actually…” she says, barely above a whisper. “I heard something…”
My lips twist. I don't recall there being any noise at the time. “You must have good hearing.” I give a smaller chuckle. “Almost like those dreamscreechers do. O-of course I'm only joking!”
She gets quiet again, completely staring at the floor now. My laughter drifts. Probably not the best joke for the situation. “Yeah… bad joke…”
“What would you do if I was a dreamscreecher?”
I raise my brows. “Huh?”
She looks into my eyes again. “What would you do if I was a dreamscreecher?”
“Well…” I take a second to think. “I… I think I would… be shocked honestly.” The image of her being the dreamscreecher feels both wrong and right. “I wouldn't tell anyone… and I would want to learn more about these attacks… and how to stop them… I don't want more kids to be caught in the middle of everything. I would help you solve the problem… and figure out why you came here.”
She gives a slow nod, the end of her lips curling up just slightly. “Okay…”
“Why? Are you one?”
She shakes her head. “It would be funny… wouldn't it?”
“Yeah.”
Clara's slight smile grows as I stop laughing. Her amber eyes all aglow again. No matter what I do, I'm instantly drawn to her eyes. There's so much character in them. One poke at the ring of fire, and it's ready to burn whoever dares to talk against the ones she loves.
“Flame…”
