Siku : The Unimaginable Life

Chapter - 8 : Fire Girl! Part - 2/3

I think I’m in the void again. But strangely, the tension I used to feel isn’t there anymore. It’s... calm. Too calm. Too strange.

"Oi! Max 2.0! Are you here?" I shout, my voice echoing into the emptiness.

Last time I met him, it was just like this. Maybe he’s behind it again.

But... no reply.

"Where’d he go?" I mutter, frowning. "And what was up with that girl?"

I look around, hoping to find a clue, anything that might help. But as always, there’s nothing—just endless, empty blackness.

"Tsk, I need to deal with that girl. But how do I get out of this?"

Frustration bubbles up inside me, and I stand still, waiting for something—anything. Maybe Jeniff will come?

"Hmm... a void," I mutter, remembering the principal's words. "She said I had some kind of power... something to do with reality, right? Could this be part of it?"

An idea creeps in. I hesitate. "What if... what if I can consume the void?"

I shake my head, brushing it off. "What am I even thinking? That’s impossible."

Suddenly, a bright light flashes—scorching hot. Did I just get out of the void? How?!

The flames grow larger than before, sweat dripping down my face as thick smoke fills the air. I can barely see through it.

“Cough, cough.”

It’s hard to breathe. I was stuck in the void for a few minutes, but it feels like… hours.

“Haven't the firefighters come yet?!”

Suddenly, I sense something—someone's presence. It runs down my spine like a shockwave.

I look around, but no one’s there. Then I look up.

A girl. Black hair, long, flowing in the heat. She looks about my age.

Her whole body is wrapped in flames, the fire swirling around her like it’s alive.

My heart races, and a strange feeling creeps in. I’ve seen weird things lately, but this... this is something else.

I have to stop her. But how? I don’t even know if I can. But I feel like I’m the only one who should try.

There’s something off about her, like someone else is controlling her.

“You! Are you trying to save me?” she shouts over the roaring flames, her voice cold, distant.

She looks at me—but wait… her eyes. Weren’t they brown before? I’m sure they were. Now... they’re red. What happened to her?

Should I call Maya? But how?

“Do you even know what’s happened to me?!” she yells, anger lacing her voice.

Her hair whips around wildly in the fire. Her hands are hard to see through the flames, but I can tell—that’s where the fire is strongest. She’s controlling it, isn’t she?

“I… I don’t know what happened to you, but I can tell—”

The heat spikes, flames flaring up even hotter, pushing me back. It’s overwhelming! What should I do?

Why am I even trying this hard for someone I don’t know? Maybe it's just my nature—

"Looks like you need help," a voice whispers in my head. It’s Max 2.0!

"W-what?! Now?"

“She thinks she’s the heroine of some show? How pathetic.” His voice is calm, almost amused. “Show her who you really are, Si—”