Time seemed to slow down in the darkness and the approaching heat. Nina felt her mind racing out of control. She started to remember her childhood, running around the antique shop with her uncle, trying to help but making a mess instead. She recalled her uncle telling her stories about the "antiques," which turned out to be made-up tales. She remembered her first day of school, the first time she saw a steam engine in a textbook, the first praise from a teacher, making friends for the first time... and then losing a friend for the first time.
Her thoughts were jumbled, and her awareness grew more chaotic. Smoke began to seep into the room, affecting her breathing and her thoughts. All those scattered memories turned into images consumed by flames. A great fire... a fire that only existed in her memory seemed to blaze before her eyes once more.
Nina stared blankly at the ground nearby, as if it might suddenly catch fire. Just then, she felt a cold hand on her forehead.