Chapter 3-The Inferno

They finally left after I insisted I wanted to be alone. I needed time to think. To breathe and pretend I was normal again. But I also had to face the truth. Nothing was ever going to be normal again.

I decided to take a walk outside. I started jogging halfway down the street. Does everyone have powers? How did Tiana and Krystal get theirs? Why do I lose mine in one day? Soon my head was filled with questions, and I stopped in the middle of a clearing. Oh great, I thought to myself, I ran into the woods. I started to turn back, but this was a good rest stop as any. I tried not to think about anything, and soon I was asleep.

I woke to the cracking of tree branches and smoke. What? I opened my eyes, and all around me, the world was on fire.

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All I had time to think was, What have I done? This wasn't just some random wild fire. The flames were too tall and bright, the smoke too thick. This is my fault was all I could think.

I stumbled into the fire, knowing I could get through. I was startled to find Krystal and Tiana about 20 yards away from the inferno. "What are you guys doing here?!" I shouted. "Get away!"

"That is one huge fire," was all that Tiana said.

"Concentrate!" Krystal said, "Concentrate on the flames receding and the fire ending!"

"I can't!" I exclaimed,  "It'll just make things worse!" I was nearly in tears now, and not just because of the smoke.

"You can do it!" Krystal yelled back, "just concentrate."

Concentrate...concentrate...concentrate. It seemed to be echoing in my head. All of a sudden, Tiana turned into a raven and flew over the flames, trying to snuff out the flames. Krystal yelled, and a torrent of water flew from her hands. But it wasn't enough. The fire was never ending. Concentrate... I closed my eyes and imagined the fire going out and the grass, trees, and flowers all coming back. A glowing light spread over me and I knew I had the power to reel in the fire. I ran to the heart of the flames, where this had all started. My glow sucked in all the flames and it became red-hot. Suddenly, the glow and the fire was gone and I was drenched from head to toe. Krystal smiled at me. I laughed and hugged them.

"Thank you," I said to both of them. "I probably would have died without you guys."

"Nah, maybe not," Tiana replied nonchalantly, "maybe just a few burns."

Late that night, I felt sad. Tomorrow I wouldn't have any powers. I didn't actually mind that, but I didn't want to forget how it felt when I had them. I grabbed a candle from my storage room and then snapped my fingers, just before midnight. I lit the candle and told it, "Never stop burning."