Pyromania

chapter 5 - Smoke and haze

The very question I ignored after losing my parents, the sight I behold, replayed in my memory forever tormenting me. If they hadn't died, what would've gone differently? I sighed lightly "Realistically we would have gotten Texas Roadhouse, then she'd take me home so I could rekindle family life, and we'd celebrate my birthday, but eh, I guess we'll never know"

She sat up and pecked me with a kiss on the forehead "They are still open so how about we get you the meal you waited for" she said happily to just give me anything "I'm gonna fatten you up a bit, make sure you can't leave" she chuckled mischievously "why would I ever leave?" I giggled getting up and putting some pants on. "Though darling, I do ask if I can cover for your meal; you've already given me so much I can't ask you to just keep letting you go and give without me repaying," I'd told her, wanting to give her anything she desired.

"Maybe we can do 50/50 'cause I don't wanna burden you myself. Is that a deal?" She asked, "Alright, I can do that," I replied. We got into her car and we took the quick drive to Roadhouse after we got there we went in, it was busy but not insane, a rowdy child was running like a headless chicken that tripped and knocked a tooth out, I couldn't help but giggle to myself, we were seated within a minute, an older Southern waitress bearing a thick southern accent "howdy howdy y'all what can I getchyall started with this fine day" she said with a grandma like tone "I'll start with the cactus blossom and the rattlesnake bites" I'd said "I'll just steal from him" Amiya
giggled, we got drinks as we waited, joking around and teasing each other with playful insults.

"Alrighty y'all 2, here are your starters, a nice cactus blossom, and some rattlesnake bites. Please do call wherever y'all need y'all's main dish. And here's your rolls, too, with our Texas Butter," she said with a smile. We'd dug into our meal, even letting her feed me a forkful of cactus blossom; the onions taste with the sauce reminded me of an onion ring, but better. A new waiter came in, a younger man who was probably my age, "Alright, would y'all like to order your main dishes for today?" He'd asked humbly, not with any emphasis, "Are you ready?" I asked Amiya, and she nodded with approval "I'll try the Fort Worth strip rare with uhh, uhh, a baked potato and uhh buttered corn" I stuttered, Amiya then made her order, shooting me a devilish side eye beforehand "And I'll have the UHHHH BBQ grilled chicken with UHHHHhH, steamed veggies, and UHHHHHHHH house salad" she couldn't help but laugh mocking my Indecisiveness, she was so cute when she laughed, just seeing her have a fun time lit my world, it made my heart sing with joy

15 minutes later, after talking about home life for her when she lived in India, we got our orders; I'd never had any luxuries like this. I cut a piece of the Strip off and bit it, it was tender and so juicy, I'd never had meat in my mouth before that tasted this good, it was like the lord himself stuck his 2 fingers down my throat and touched me so deeply, the potato was just loaded with an abundance of flavor, the butter, cheese, sour cream, the bacon bits, it was steaming hot but it didn't matter, my mouth was infatuated by these sensations upon my taste buds, this was a heaven and a wildflower. I could tell she was enjoying her meal, too. The BBQ chicken she ordered was cooked perfectly, but I assume she was enjoying the greens more. The buttered corn I ate was like the psych ward corn but better, so much better, it was seasoned correctly, not under-seasoned or beyond salty.

After dinner, we decided we'd just hit the road after we paid; our total was about $61 for each of us. It was well worth it. It was 2 PM after we got back to our hotel, and we decided to do our own thing, she wanted to read and I did some research on hooker lake woods, the camping grounds were named after Dr. Elannor D. Hooker Jr, she was a local conservationist who served to save the environment of El Paso, she always wanted to combat environmental pollution, but she had died via "Suicide" though I belive someone killed her. As I got my research done and got ready to propose the idea, I got an urge, and the urge to burn it tingled me internally, almost grazing my skin with its cold and bitter claws. I needed to ignite SOMETHING; an opportunity arose in the night; the gas station was holding a special on their pizza, I never had it before, so it'd be new.

"Yo Amiya," I called to her, "Imma grab me a pizza slice; want one?" I asked. "Nah, I'm stuffed, but grab me some chocolate; been dying for some," she replied. "Anything for you, I love you!" I yelled, walking out the door. "I love you too, my boy," she replied. I got into my car to go to a gas station for the first time. Once I got there, it was a lot. Like so much, things I'd never seen before in my life. I grabbed her whatever chocolate she wanted; I think it was dark 55%; I saw a candy that struck my eye, another bar of chocolate, though the same size. It was milk chocolate; I remember this. It was a childhood favorite that I pickpocketed from some random kid in a store, holy shit! I haven't had these in years; I'll get Amiya one, too. I saw the beverage aisle, a lot of beer soda, and energy drinks; this was all alien; I'd only ever had water. I grabbed a red soda bottle, "Dr. Pepper," it was called, and I saw a can that struck my eye, "bucked up." It was an energy drink; I'd been dying to try one; I picked a rocket pop flavor and rushed to the counter.

"Hey, can I get a meat lovers pizza?" I'd asked humbly. "Yeah," the cashier said; he sounded dead inside; there wasn't any life lying in his grey, baggy eyes. He pulled a pizza cutter out and got a slice with a bunch of meat "$14.73 is your total, cash or card?" He asked monotone, I handed him $15 and he gave me change back. I got my sack and put it in my car; a few blocks from here was a pool shop going out of business; they had a tube gun, perfect, and dirt cheap too. I had enough even with the change back I had. I went back to the gas station, weird feeling In my stomach arose, a bubbling passion. I siphoned some gasoline from a lone car that stood in the dark. After it was full, I began spraying around the shop and the gas pump; the gasoline had a rancid stench everywhere. After everywhere was good as covered, I took out a match and lit it. With one fell toss I ran as fast as I could, the explosion nearly knocked me down, but everything I bought was safe, the car was safe too. I sped off as fast as possible and made it back to the hotel.

I knocked on the door, no answer. I waited, and after 5 seconds, half asleep, Amiya came to the door, hugging me tightly. She was warm, but after a second, she sniffed me, and the stench of ash and ember hit her hard. "Jesus, you stink," she grumbled, still trying to wake up. "Sorry, there was a bit of an emergency at the gas station; a fire broke out," I nervously chuckled, getting into the shower. "Oh, are you okay?" She'd asked, concerned for me, "Yeah, I'm okay. Your chocolates are in the sack if you want them." There was no response. After I showered I saw her sleeping in the drunk monkey position. I laid next to her, giving her some warm forehead kisses before sitting next to her, reading about those damn woods. Eating my pizza and drinking my energy drinks, I couldn't sleep at all.

I had to get her to come with me, but I couldn't risk her seeing that side of me. Dr. Penny and Dr. Linsday had to die some way, somehow. The stress was immense, I felt as if I was under so much pressure.
Then I got a whim of something, a familiar scent; it was a vanilla-scented perfume. Dr Penny! What the hell was she doing here? With Dr Brown too. I crept outside with a camera. They went into the hotel room a few rooms down from us, and they were fucking like rabbits. Nonstop action that would put a porno to shame. I'd snapped a few pictures when they weren't looking. I now know what must be done.

I banged on their door as loud as I could. "OPEN UP CUNTS, I NEED A WORD" Dr. Brown opened the door with a fury that soon became a feeble fear. "Ash...?" "Don't act dumb. Where's Dr Penny?" I demanded the noise and brought her right to me. "What is your goddamn problem? You left long ago when you weren't supposed to!" "I just had to check myself out, nothing to worry about. All though I am a witness to years of abuse in your facility. And a witness to adultery, I could release everything but I won't understand 1 singular condition. Take Dr. Brown on your camping trip with Dr. Lindsay, and I'll strike a deal; when you hear the code word ignite, you will submit to me and only me, am I understood?" I held out my hand to shake it. And with reluctance, she agreed. They went back in and I turned to see a horrifying sight at my side

Amiya had seen it all, heard it all. Her face was numb, yet I could see everything she was feeling. What now?