Fiery embers sporadically jumped across her vision, their balletic motions pirouetting into a firey ring.

With a light sting to her fingers, she turned the page. Orange-illuminated print from the book burst into color. The room became the rising sun’s lightening ablaze or the striped tiger running with vitality.

Her book’s characters jumped into action, their burning glow highlighting her surprise.

As the tall grandfather clock across the room ticked closer to midnight, the loud anticipation from the room thickened along with her beating heart.

She heard the lively characters’ metal swords clanging with an increasing vigor. The polished sounds of their boots seemed to chime faster and faster with the black wood clock. The flame in the nearby fireplace appeared to consume and only grow larger.

Until suddenly, a deep chime resonated through the room, announcing the predatory arrival of midnight. She felt the ground rumble steadily and the absence of shouting. The tangerine color that filled the room was now gone along with the riot.

Every candle, lamp, and flame had burst into ashes; Fading away with the sighing twelve chimes.

The world outside remained impassive, unaware of the girl now enshrouded by a heavy darkness. Her spirit blackened and the book that had lain in her lap, was shut close.