The rain was falling heavy that night. It didn't stop, not even one second. The sky was so dark, it look like it was covered in smoke, and the thunder rolled slow across the sky. In the town close by, everyone had already lock their doors and windows. Lamps off, curtains tight. Nobody want to be outside when the weather go crazy like that. It was the kind of night even brave people stay inside and just pray nothing bad happen.
But far away, deep inside the cold forest, one boy still walking alone.
His name was Coker. He didn't walk 'cause he have a place to go. He was walking because he got nowhere else to be. His coat was wet through, boots making noise in the mud with every step. He didn't care. His red hair stick on his face, his breath coming out like white clouds. He walk through many towns before, and everywhere, people say the same thing: "That boy is cursed."
Coker never argue. Maybe they was right. Maybe he really is cursed. He don't remember his parents. Don't remember where he was born. Only thing he remember is the fire. Big fire that take everything. When he was small, the orphanage burn down after he dreamt bad. When he was eight, a lady tried to hug him—and her arms catch fire. After that, he stop touching people. Stop getting close. Everybody he love get hurt. The curse don't sleep. It live inside his name. When people say his full name, it get worse. So now he only say, "Coker." Nothing more.
He keep walking slow through trees, the mud pull his feet. Then, something show up ahead. A shape in the mud. First, he thought it's just old cloth or maybe animal. But when he go closer, he see it's a person. A girl. Lying still on the ground.
Coker stop. Rain pour on her body. Her hair was silver, long and shining even with dirt. Her face was pale, her hands stiff like ice. Her clothes was rip, and her eyes closed. She wasn't dead... but she look close.
He look around. No house. No voice. Just the sound of rain and wind in trees. He know he shouldn't help. If he touch her, she might burn. She might die. That's what happen before. But his legs moved anyway. Something inside him didn't let him walk away.
He take off his wet coat and put it on her. Then he use a dry cloth to touch her shoulder and shake her soft.
"Hey," he say. "Can you hear me?"
Her eyes open a little. Silver eyes. Cold and bright. She look at him, confused.
"Who… are you?" she whisper.
Coker look away. "Nobody," he said. "But you gonna die if you stay here."
She stay quiet long time. Then she whisper, "Then let me die."
Coker feel something in his chest. He had say same thing before. Hearing someone else say it... it hurt more.
"No," he said. "Not today."
He lift her up careful. No skin touching. He surprise a bit the curse didn't react. Maybe 'cause she weak. Or maybe... maybe she different. He carry her through the forest, arms shaking from cold, until he find a small cave hiding behind thick trees. Dry inside. Just enough.
He lay her down soft. Then he light a fire—not with his power, just with stick and flint. He never use his fire magic. Too dangerous. As fire burn warm, her face become clear. She was young like him. Maybe sixteen. Her eyes open again.
"What's your name?" he ask quiet.
She stay quiet, then say, "Sera."
Coker nod slow. It was a nice name. But her voice sound like it belong to someone who stop caring long time ago.
He didn't tell her his name. Not yet. Not safe.
They sit near the fire. No one talking. Just the fire dancing, the rain outside softer now. The flames show their shadows on the wall. She just stare at it like it was from a dream.
After long time, she ask, "Why you helped me?"
Coker think. "Because I know how it feel to be left."
She look down. "I didn't ask you to save me."
"I didn't ask for this curse either," he said low.
She didn't reply. But she also didn't look away.
Coker rest back, close his eyes. He tell himself he will leave by morning. That he didn't make mistake. But deep inside, something feel different. Like he open a door he can't close.
Morning came soft, and the light fall into the cave. The storm done. Sera still sitting by the fire, quiet, holding the coat. He gave her small old bread. She take it, eat slowly. No talk.
They walk together out of cave, the forest still wet. Coker walk ahead, keeping space between.
"Don't touch me," he say.
She nod. No question. He like that. She not asking things. She not talk too much. She just walking near him like someone who understand silence.
They didn't know where they was going. Maybe nowhere. Maybe somewhere better.
But for once, Coker didn't feel all alone.
Even if the curse still inside him...
It didn't burn her.
Not yet.