Blurb

My name is Ella. And everything is collapsing. Dark clouds hang over the sky and...and I'm alone. I can't see anything because of this dust, it's choking me...and the falling ash...ah! I beg for a bit of light...
Please...someone...help...help me and my home...

Chapter 1
Shaking

It all started. So sudden and I was going to die...I just knew it.
" M-Marriage?! " I whimpered to my father.
" Yes, marriage..." my father said. " Your getting married, to that boy Alexander in the army "
I shook my head in dis-belief. " Marriage..." I whispered to myself, as though it was a word I had never wanted to hear and couldn't believe I just said it.
My father pulled himself to him full height before putting his hands on my small shoulders. " Now Ella, this marriage will be wonderful! Alexander has a rich family and you will be able to live in a comfortable life style! Lots of servents and a personal slave I bet! " my father attempted to put on a happy tone and make it seem positive. He knew I never wished to marry and here he was, making me marry some guy I had never actually heard the name of!

I thought for a long time. Staring at my father in silent. Suddenly the confused and upset silence was broken.
" The gods will be angry at this! " I suddenly shouted, surprising me and my father. Father's face turned grim.
" The gods support marriage, Ella! Do not assume they will bend just for your want to not marry! " he said angrily.
I shook my head and spun round and ran out of our home, my father shouting after me.

A hour or so later I arrived at the foot of the looming mountain that lays behind Pompeii. I sat down and stared up at the giant mountain. " Marriage..." I croaked out as tears started streaming down my face. " I-I can't get married! I-It's not fair! I never get my say! It's always about my families wealth or...or something else! Nothing is done for my wishes! " I shouted at no one but the mountain. " Please...please...gods...please don't let this happen...just this one little thing for me..." I begged.

I shut my eyes and leaned my head on the ground. I don't remember how long I was there for, but I must of fallen asleep because I awoke, startled as I heard rumbling and the ground seemed to be shaking. I stood up, almost collapsing as I lost my balance. " A-ah! " I cried out. In the setting sun's light a huge black cloud erupted from the top of the mountain. " The gods! Did they hear me?! " I said out loud. "Did you hear my wish gods?! " I then shouted. As though answering another loud rumble came from the top of the mountain and more black cloud shot out.

I leaned back and stared up. I should of ran but I didn't...

Chapter 2
Didn't run

I carried on staring at the top of the mountain and then realized the black cloud...seemed to be...falling? No...coming down...
I reached a hand up and it touched the black cloud. I grasped some in my hand and pulled my hand to my find to look at it. What is this? I thought, staring at the black stuff in my hand, it was dust but stained my hand black like a piece of charcoal. " Is this a cloud? " I wondered out loud. I looked around and saw it settling everywhere. I suddenly heaved up a coughing fit as the stuff got into my lungs. " A-ah! " I cried out, covering my mouth in attempt to stop breathing in the dark cloud. I looked up at the mountain and I was surprised at what I saw next.
A orange, glowing light...

I had to look away quickly because the black cloud kept going in my eyes. I turned out and started heading back home, keeping my mouth covered. I coughed again and when I breathed in felt more of the black cloud enter me.
This is not good, I thought panicked, the black cloud...it's stopping me from breathing...

I had to lift my hands up to brush off the black cloud which had settled on me. It was actually very heavy when there was a large amount of it and that scared me even more. Do the gods disagree? Do they think I must marry?!
I coughed and quickly moved my mouth to try and stop breathing in the cloud.

I suddenly jumped as the rock under my feet cracked open and orange, hot, light slowly bubbled out. I backed away from it and started running back home. By now there was a carpet of black cloud and it was slippery...
I fell over now and then and scrapped my hands but I could still feel some of the heat from the light behind me.

I'm going to die if I don't get home! I thought desperatly.

Chapter 3
I'm so sorry...

I scrabbled down the rock until I reached the cool grass. Running still I headed to the last short run to Pompeii. Suddenly as I entered the town it was like I had entered a world of noise. People where shouting and pointing to the mountain. Some where desperatily trying to get their children inside.

Where was father?! Maybe he's still inside...I thought as I changed direction and headed home. " Father?! " I shouted as I entered the house. " Father! " I called again. Where was he?!
I ran around our home. No one was there. " Father! Mother! " I called as I then ran outside, to screaming.

What I saw next sent fear running through me.
The orange light was in Pompeii. It was moving slowly but even from where I was I could feel it was hotter where it was. " Oh...god..." I muttered as I stared at the light.
The mountain was almost completely blocked from view by thick black clouds and the falling black clouds.
I remembered a story mother used to read to me...I couldn't remember what happened but I read out a line. " And the light is not that of safety...but that of death and fire..." I muttered outloud but quickly regretted it as I breathed in the black cloud that was now falling in the town.

People screamed as they then started trying to run to the boats on the docks, they knew this wasn't good. They knew if we stayed we would die...

I turned to follow them. But I was quickly knocked over by the running, shouting and screaming people.

I'm sorry...I'm so...so sorry...this is my fault...

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