Prologue

My name is Ida.
I am not alive.

Ugh, wait... please let me explain that before you go around rolling your eyes and declaring that I'm some kind of socially unacceptable lunatic.
My brother, Ember, would be facepalming if he were here. "Really, Ida?" He would say. "This is how you introduce yourself to complete strangers?"
My brother is not here. No one is here.

You see, I was sent to the Land Where Time Stands Still.
How long have I been here, exactly? I have no idea. I suppose it would be a valid argument to say that I have not been here for any time at all, being that there is no time here. I like that; I think I'm going to use it. I really do rather enjoy winning arguments. I miss having Ember around so that I might argue with him. We would always get into some rather "heated" discussions. It was such fun.

Here, there is no fun.
Here, there isn't anything at all.

Everything is completely frozen.

I have gone back to my home more times than I can possibly count.
Each time, everything is always the exact same as before.

Ember is stuck. His eyes are burning and angry. His hands and arms are flaming, completely out of control.
My parents have halted in the doorway of the room Ember is in. Their faces are frozen in an expression of horror and fear as they look upon their own son.

I want so much to materialize between them and set everything right.
If only I could have calmed my brother. If only I could have made him stop the fire.
If only I could have one more chance to live in a land where time actually ticks on.
If only I could have warned them.
But I have been removed from this scene for all eternity.
All I can ever do is watch helplessly as my brother drowns my home in flames. All I can ever do is watch as my parents look upon him with a look that brings remorse into my heart.
All I can ever do is pray that they are all right.
I cannot do a single thing to change anything.

Therefore, I do not visit my home any longer.

I have been walking the face of this tortuous land with no destination and no purpose; for how can one have a purpose in a Land Where Time Stands Still?