𝐏𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 || Liam Dunbar

- 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐧𝐢𝐚 -

California, Beacon Hills

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Carmen sat staring at the candle, the soft yellow flame dancing in front of her hazel eyes. She watched the fire, mesmerized by the way it moved and flickered. A strange sense of calm washed over her as she stared, her mind becoming detached from her body. Without thinking about it, she placed the lit candle on her lap.

Her hand slowly moved towards the flame, as if it was being guided by an external force. She was strangely disengaged from the situation, watching her actions as if from a distance. As her fingers made contact with the flame, a searing pain shot through her hand, and she jerked her hand back, wincing. She hissed, staring at her slightly charred palm.

She felt a sense of frustration and anger as she looked down at the burn mark on her hand. It wasn't the first time she had accidentally burned herself while playing with the flame, yet she was usually able to control it. This time, she couldn't understand why she had made the same mistake again. She clenched her fist, feeling the annoyance flow over her. Why couldn't she control the flame? Why did she keep hurting herself like this?

Carmen closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knew she should stop, that playing with fire was dangerous and reckless, but she couldn't help herself. The compulsion to touch the flame was stronger than her common sense, and she was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. With a sense of resignation, she slowly raised her hand towards the candle once again.

Her hand was now immersed in the flickering flame, and she felt the heat on her skin. But she didn't feel the pain this time, her mind becoming entranced by the beautiful sight of the dancing fire. The flame shuffled and flickered, its yellow and clementine colors shifting and merging together. The heat was intense, but she didn't feel it, caught up in the captivating rhythm of it's sporadic movements.

Her finger twitched and the flame jolted, it's maneuvers somewhat controlled by her hand. She drew in a breath, very slowly lifting her hand a bit higher.

The flame followed.

It stayed close to her palm as it grew, her other hand moved to the side of it. Each time her fingers flexed it would move along with her, like she was guiding it. The heat was now unnoticeable as she closed her fists and the flame extinguished instantly. Faint smoke swirled around the room, the final reminiscences of her fire.

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Carmen was giddy with excitement at the thought of seeing her friends again. She tilted the steering wheel, turning the car into the student parking lot. Her eyes scanned the vicinity, students were littered across the area, but no sign of her friends. She parked the car, pulling her lips into a thin line and climbing out the car, swinging her backpack over her shoulder.

She began toward the main entrance, her gaze flicking around the campus. Students milled about outside and she rocked on her heels slightly as she searched for a familiar face.

A smile broke across her lips as she recognised Scott and the others standing between two yellow school buses. She approached them, her smile growing as Scott noticed her, his pink lips dragging at the corners into a grin. "Hey Carmen!" He greeted, his arm going to drape round her shoulder.

Her gaze met two, known, onyx eyes. "How was Paris?" Aurora beamed and Carmen's lips parted slightly in shock at the sight of her. She instantly lunged at her, throwing her arms round her neck. She squeezed her tightly, bouncing up and down slightly in excitement. "What are you doing here?" She squealed, her voice muffled slightly against her shoulder.