The Dark City

Chapter 2

"You've got to be kidding me." Tamareh moaned through gritted teeth, looking back at Ashley.

He, in turn, glared. Shooting minature daggers at her. 'I.. Can't... Help... It...' he panted out.

They had been sprinting away from the operation scene for almost 5 minutes now. In reality, Tamareh was sprinting while Asher, on the other hand was being dragged along.

Tamareh's iron grip was on Asher's left wrist, projecting her invisibility to cover both of them.

Whenever she did that, her energy would burn twice as fast as usual.

Man... Asher is SO unfit.

Tamareh shook her head. Asher panted heavily and continued his 'jogging'.

After another few minutes of getting dragged along and nearly twisting Tamareh's ankle, Asher stopped abruptly. This caused Tamareh's grip on his wrist to be wrenched off.

Tamareh's power was draining too fast.

Now they were fully visible.

"Oh crap" Asher muttered under his breath. Tamareh turned slowly, with an 'Oh fudge' look on her face.

There he stood.

Lucas's wet hair sizzled on his burning forehead, along with his drenched clothes. He breathed heavily at having been chasing them. He glared at both of them, obviously seething with rage.

Tamareh stood there, arms akimbo, overflowing with confidence, staring straight at Lucas's sky blue eyes.

"I know it was you Tamareh." Lucas's dangerously slow steely voice penetrated through the cold air. Tamareh raised her neatly plucked brow.

"Oh really?" her voice had a deathly challenge in it.

Asher's face paled and he shot her a 'Shut up or your hair will be on fire soon' glance. She rolled her eyes so back, she could almost see her brain.

"Yeah, I did it. What's wrong with water huh? You did need a bath. You should be thanking me."

Tamareh instantly regretted saying that. Lucas' breathing intensified and his hands became a unique bright red colour. Tamareh and Asher slowly backed off, holding up a white flag of surrender.
He wasn't really going to attack right?

Lucas raised his right hand that cupped a ball of fire and drew back, preparing to throw it hard and straight towards them. Tamareh and Asher yelped and bounced back, dodging the fire ball that landed on the place where they were previously standing.

Damn... Jerk-face sure has some temper issues.

Lucas grew even more frustrated. He readied another fire ball, about to launch one at their faces when suddenly-

"Stop! Put your hand down!" Asher's strong little voice shouted out with so much force and power, that Tamareh finally pried her eyes open and lowered her hands that were protecting her 'precious' face.

Asher was finally using his compelling super power.

He always gave himself strict rules about his power usage.

Lucas threw his arm down to his side with so much force that his shoulder bone popped.

"You will not remember anything that has happened for the past 20 minutes."
"Tamareh and I were never here."
"You never saw us."
"You will now meet Jasper in The Peak Cafe."
"Go now."

Lucas' hands stopped glowing red, and then a look of extreme confusion embedded itself onto his face. He scratched his head.

What... am I doing here... Oh right! Jasper...

He completely ignored Tamareh and Asher, spun on his heels and strutted off toward The cafe.

"Wow, nice save Ash." Tamareh complemented, while hopping on the pavement, trying not to touch the crack lines.

Asher blushed, and gave her a meek smile.

"You really froze up there Tam." he laughed softly. "Get it? Freeze-Fire-Lucas"

'Ash... Really?' Tamareh chuckled. Asher could be so lame sometimes.

"We gotta do that again, execpt without him forgetting. I want Jerk-face to remember the humiliation." she said, raising her clenched fist in indignation.

Ashley smirked, and then slowly brought her fist down with his own."Come on, you've got to have dinner with your dad tonight. Let's go get you dolled up."

Tamareh scowled at Ashley. She was not in the mood of seeing her father, much less dressing up.

Tamareh sighed, then nodded. She had no choice.

Her father, Daniel Riccio, was 107 years old, but looked about 30 years old. He had the uncanny super power of being able to live forever without ageing.

He had always blamed her for her mother's death, because her mother had died giving birth to her. 

It was obvious that he did not love her much, but no matter what, she still loved him in her heart.

She only pretended to not love him at all because she felt that it would be unfair to have a one-sided relationship.

When they reached her house and started up the stairs, the forever sickening melody of 'Jingle bells' sounded from the dust-coated, rarely used telephone near the living room couch .

Tamareh sauntered down the stairs and towards the phone, feeling extra wanted. She flipped up the phone and caught it mid-air, plopping down on the sofa, and pressed the phone to her ear.

"Heeelllo?" Tamareh drawled.

"Good Evening Mam', Is This Tamareh Riccio?" The woman on the other side of the phone asked.

Her voice was unnaturally serious and monotonous.

Getting suspicious, Tamareh replied, "Yeeeaah? Who's this?"

At that tone, Asher sidled up to her, looking curious.

"I am an agent from The Department of Death (DOD)... " Tamareh's body tensed.

Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit...

"I'm Sincerely Sorry To Inform You That Your Father, Daniel Riccio, Has Passed Away. We Are Still Investigating Possible Reason For His Sudden Death. I Am Very Sorry."

How was this happening.

Tamareh gasped and the phone fell to the ground.