Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

Eva held the rock tightly. Its pointed edges digging deep into her palm. She had to save her brother. She ran down the road, kicking up clouds of dirt and pebbles. At the hill, she climbed grabbing at the dirt with one closed fist so as not to lose the rock. At the top her free hand wiped the dirt from her face and she kept going. Light was beginning to creep into the sky. She didn’t have much time before the sun rose. The wind picked up, momentarily blinding her and forcing dirt into her lungs. It didn’t stop her.

Suddenly he came into view. His massive form facing the brightening sky.

Eva’s heart was pounding and her fingers were white from the force of holding the rock. She stopped when his eyes narrowed upon seeing her.
“Aurum, I come to you to try my luck so my brother can be returned,” she whispered.
“YOU?” His laugh shook the ground.
“Yes!” she said more forcibly, not looking away. Her body trembled.
Aurum stared at her. “You know the rules,” he said.
“Yes. As soon as the sun begins to rise I throw my rock at the bottle. I can try as many times until the sun has fully risen. If I hit the bottle, I win,” she said, more confident than she felt.
Aurum moved aside to reveal the small bottle.

As the sun began to rise over the horizon, she knew she only had a couple of minutes. Quickly she began hauling the rock. Miss. Frantically retrieving it, throwing again. Miss. The rising sun hit the rock turning it gold. Throwing…
This time it shattered the bottle. Everything was bathed in gold. Aurum melted into the sun and her brother ran out of the light into her arms.