Hearth Fires

Every day, Heather visits the burned-down house. Every day, she finds it cold and empty. Her family, her life, her guilty secrets… all gone.

But the flames didn't destroy everything. There's something left in there, something the voice in her head wants very much. She doesn't remember what it is. She just knows she can't let the voice have it. She'll burn it all down again if she has to. And her own mind along with it.

Every day, Heather visits the burned-down house.

This short story is 4400 words long. It is also available in Digital Soul, a science fiction short story collection.