Eyes in The Flame

The party ended but Emma stayed behind beside the beach fire. Her eyes fixated on the dancing flames while her mind dwelled on her broken relationship. She thought, did I just see a smile, before it dissolved.

Despite it being her first time scrying, she was already fascinated and continued staring into the fire. Then she saw eyes that resembled her boyfriend, Oliver. "Wow," she whispered.

Seeing a part of him with gentle wave sounds in the background made her feel good, and she immersed herself deeper, looking into the flame. She noticed a scene replaying—her boyfriend was walking into a river.

She looked closer. He wore the same twenty-five pound weight vest that he trained with. "Oliver?" she murmured.

No answer came from the fire, and the scene of her boyfriend entering the river vanished.

"Where did you go? Why did you leave me?"

Then half of his face appeared. Lips moved without sound. Again and again, the same silent words. Emma focused and understood—you slept with Sean.

"No!" she cried.

The words repeated.

"I'm sorry. It was a mistake. I'm sorry," Emma exclaimed.

After those words, the scene of Oliver entering the river looped endlessly.

"Please forgive me. Come back. Please come back." Emma wept by the fire..

While her head was bowed, the flames flickered differently.

A face emerged from the right side of the flame. An angry face with eyes locked on her. Then it spoke, "Oliver is long gone."

Emma shoved herself backward, palms and heels scraping sand. She scrambled up, bolted to her car, keys trembling in her grip. She yanked the door open, engine roaring.

In the rearview mirror, the same furious face burned, its eyes still fixed on her.