A Pyre For Two by River J. Myers

The fire worked slowly, devouring the manor with an insatiable hunger. Golden flames climbed the beams, tearing them apart as they transformed the grand estate into blackened ruins. Smoke poured into the night, where the cold held firm, sharp and merciless. Daniel stood in the open, a shadow against the blaze. His shoulders were rigid, his face illuminated by the shifting light of the flames. He didn’t flinch as the embers floated past him, nor did he step back from the heat pressing against his skin.

In his hand, the pistol hung heavy.

The gates behind him, locked tight, marked the edge of his world. He waited, the fire at his back, his eyes fixed on the empty road ahead.
***
Javier gripped the wheel tightly as the car tore down the winding road, gravel rattling under the tires, headlights sweeping across trees and shadows. His chest tightened with every mile, the low sputter of the engine doing nothing to drown out the thoughts assailing his mind.

Then he saw it.

The glow hit first: bright and unnatural. The air turned bitter, the stench of burning wood and something worse clinging to him as he approached.
The car skidded to a halt.

The house—his house—was gone. The structure that had once towered over the hills, that had held his life within its walls, was now a collapsing skeleton. Flames chewed through what remained, and ash engulfed the sky.

But his eyes weren’t on the house for long.

A figure stood at the edge of the blaze, still as a statue, the fire casting long shadows around him.

Daniel.

Javier’s stomach twisted. He lowered the window just enough to let his voice carry. “You’ve lost your mind.”

Daniel didn’t move.

The gun in his hand caught the light, its dark metal reflecting the fire. Slowly, he turned his head, his expression unreadable. “Get out of the car.”

The words cut through the crackle of the fire.

Javier stayed where he was, gripping the wheel. “Is this what you wanted?” His voice was low, tight with disbelief. “To burn it all down? To make some point?”

Daniel stepped closer, his boots crunching over gravel.

“You think this fixes anything?” Javier’s voice rose, trembling as he pointed toward the burning wreckage. “My God, Daniel. She was in there.”

That stopped him.

Daniel’s head tilted, his brow furrowing. “What?”

“Angel,” Javier said, his voice breaking. “My wife. She was still inside! You’ve killed her!”

The words landed hard. Daniel froze, his grip on the gun loosening for just a moment.

“She wasn’t supposed to be there,” Javier continued, his voice barely above a whisper.

“She was!” Javier’s shout ripped through the night. His chest heaved, the words spilling out in uneven bursts. “You burned her alive. You killed her, Daniel. You—” His voice quivered.

Daniel’s shoulders slumped. He looked back at the flames, his mouth opening as if to argue. But no words came.

When he finally turned back to Javier, his eyes were wet, glinting in the firelight. “She never loved you,” he said. “She didn’t care about you. She didn’t care about anyone. Just the money. The two of you, you’ve taken everything from me—everything.”

Javier clenched his jaw, his fingers pale against the wheel. “And what did that get you?” His voice dropped, shaking with grief. “What did any of this get you?”

Daniel faltered, his shoulders sagging under the weight of it all. He looked at the pistol in his hand as if seeing it for the first time.

“You took everything,” he muttered, the words so soft they nearly disappeared in the roar of the fire.

Javier’s eyes flicked to the pistol, then back to Daniel. His foot shifted toward the gas pedal.

The first shot shattered the side mirror.

The second tore through the windshield, scattering glass.

The third silenced everything.

© 2025 River J. Myers
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About the author:

River J. Myers is a Phoenix-based writer and librarian exploring contemporary fiction and dark epic fantasy. They hold a BA in Creative Writing and an MA in English Education, and are currently pursuing their MLIS at Louisiana State University. Their work has appeared in WILDsound, with forthcoming publications in Eunoia Review and other venues. Between pages, they can be found hunting down Phoenix's best local eats and watching Eagles games.