Please rate my story so far: THE BURNING UNDERGROUND
By Andri Bailey

It was September 1786 when my life changed, Monica stood outside my door with a dress in hand as we were getting ready for the ball. Mother screamed from the kitchen, “EMILY! MONICA!” We rushed to the kitchen wondering what had happened. “You girls should be ready by now!” Mother said angrily “Analise do go fetch me a brush for Emily’s hair, it looks like a bird’s nest.”
“Yes, your royal highness...” Analise whispered. She walked upstairs and grabbed our pearly white brush with jewels, worth more than most commoner’s homes mother had told me. After we were both ready we hopped in the carriage and took off…

Chapter one

“Oh Emily, I am surprised you could make it” The duchess laughed out. “You look like a mess… per usual. BAH!” I glared at her but made my way to the center of the palace, where the actual ball was. Monica and gone off to flirt with the first prince she saw. As for my mother she was seated up on her throne next to the king of Gravina. This ball was so both kingdoms could make peace. Now where is my father? He died in war between Gravina and our kingdom, Elgravia. Later that evening I saw the dukes and duchess dance and the prince and princess waltz. I went to the back to get more punch but then I smelt smoke. I ran into the kitchen to see if something caught on fire but everything was normal. I raced to Monica and yanked my mother to the side. “We have to leave. THERES A FIRE SOMEWHERE!” I blurted out in fear. “Nonsense! You are just a silly girl with a silly imagination.” Mother replied. Monica however ran down the stairs and yelled “FIRE!!” No one got up. They just stared. Even a few laughing. The night went on and the smell of smoke was getting stronger by the minute. Hours passed by, I saw a spark come from the kitchen. Soon enough a flame burst out and I could hear the woman screaming for mercy, the men scrambling out the door. Monica and I ran out behind mother, but I fell behind. The fire roared and tried to swallow me whole. I got up and it was like the fire was chasing me. I grasped at the carriage door coughing up ash and dust. I fell to my knees and felt like I had just survived war. Monica was screaming “HELP PLEASE, MY SISTER!” While my mother was crying and trying to help me stand up. “M-mom...? Is that you” I said holding back coughing up more ash. My mother got me and Monica in the carriage and we headed back to our palace.

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