Strangers to the World

Burn, Baby Burn

"Can all students please report to the assembly hall as the Police would like to give a speech to everyone" The booming voice of the school's headmaster - Mr Harris, requested, with no alternative option.

Everyone piled in, Ben and Tommy found themselves next to a girl who isn't in either boy's classes but Tommy knew exactly who she was. Hayley-Rose... Harris, the headmaster's daughter. She was a little above average in height but Tommy thought she was the most beautiful lady to walk the halls of Oakhill.

"Okay everyone shush now! Settle down!" Mr Harris took center stage and tried to quiet everyone down and when everyone settled he continued "Okay so here is Police Constable Ned Ingledene, he has been sent in regarding an incident in the local park"

The Constable coughed twice before he began speaking "Morning guys and gals, yesterday an incident happened in the local park that numerous parents have reported. Some reports even speak of smoke rising from under a tree that is now found to have faint burn marks in the shape of a person! I will be in school today until 1 o'clock so if any of you students know anything about the incident and wish to tell me what you do know then feel free. That is all"

Ben glared at Brad across the hall.

Mr Harris dismissed everyone, one row at a time like every other assembly.

"Um... Excuse me? You're Hayley right?" Tommy all of a sudden asked.

"Yeah? Who wants to know?"

Tommy blushed "Tommy? We were in the same class in like year 5? We haven't really spoken much?"

"Er yeah I remember you! You're the guy who threw up in that sex ed lesson aren't ya?" Hayley asked trying not to burst into laughter "What was wrong? Not a fan of the tiddies? Most boys are..." She couldn't help it and she burst into laughter.

"Yes... That was me... I'm not gay if that's what you're asking?" Tommy blushed harder than anyone had ever blushed before.

"Ahhh fun times... We should hang out at some point and you can tell me all of your other mishaps".

"Um... sure? Here is my number... Text me sometime" .

Their row were instructed to get up and return to class. Within minutes he got a text reading 'I am having a party tonight and you and Mr Silencio are invited as long as neither of you do the technicolor yawn'.

"Mr Silencio? She means me right? Ben asked.

"Yeah I'm gonna assume it's you? But what is that yawn thingy she was talking about?" Tommy asked back.

"Chundering, mate, chundering"

"Right well we need to head to Chemistry so let's hurry".

The two boys hurried to their lesson together only to find the only seats were next to Brad. Not a word was said all lesson and thankfully it was the last of the day. School was out. Ben and Tommy only had the party on their minds. Sally had brought Ben a bottle of cheap Vodka for his birthday so he was prepared for this very occasion.

They both headed to Ben's house so they could pick up the vodka, get changed and tell Sally that they were going to the party then headed to Tommy's so he could get changed and tell his mum the same thing.

Both boys we forced to have dinner at Tommy's. His mum demanded they ate before they drunk to stop them from getting absolutely 'shit-faced'.

The had a big meal full of carbs ready to soak up the booze before they even started drinking it.

They get to the party at nearly 9 o'clock and everyone else is already there. Tommy recognises almost everyone from school. The music was loud and the rooms were all crowed. Ben knew almost no one and tried his best at fitting in. A few individuals came up to him asking if they were in one of his classes and he told them all he might be and they would have small talk but truth be told, Ben didn't know any of them at all.

The two boys after being separated by the crowd of dancing drunkards eventually found each other as well as Hayley and they were all talking. The house across the road had it's bathroom window open and on the windowsill were an array of candles. Tommy had that sudden feeling he was going to sneeze, to be polite he turned away, to an open window and sneezed out. A sudden gust of wind blew across the street and into the neighbour's bathroom. The flame from the candles reacted with the wind and the curtains caught alight

Within seconds the room was up in flames and black smoke rose from the room. The smoke blended with the night sky covering roof of the house.

Screams filled the street. The fire spread from the bathroom through to the entire house, the carpets all caught light so quickly along with the wooden furniture. Mr Harris descended down the stairs telling everyone to go home but to stay away from the house. He got his phone out a dialed 999 to get the emergency services.

Tommy was in horror he thought he had something to do with it. That he caused the fire to start and if there is any death, the he is to be held responsible. He froze.

"Where is Hayley?" Mr Harris bellowed.

No one responded but as he asked Ben caught a glimpse of her darting across the road to the house. Ben chased after her into the house. As Ben got into the house the fire parted wherever he stepped. Hayley could be seen in the distance behind flames in the kitchen by the sink. Ben chased her deeper into the house.

"What do you think you are doing in here Ben?" Hayley shouted.

"Getting you out of here! It isn't safe! I could say the same for you!" Ben shouted back.

"I can save them! Just get out!" She shouted back

Hayley turned the tap in the kitchen on and the water began to flow but it never touched the walls of the sink, the water rose up through the air. She shouted "I am an Aquakinetic, I don't know how or why but it is what it is! I can save the people who live here and that is all that matters just get out!" Her arms moved through the air and the water followed, the flames were slowly going out but it wasn't quick enough.

All of a sudden the door burst open. Tommy flew in with a gust of wind. The flames rose for a split second and all of a second the air began to thin out as if there was no air in the room. The flames began to die down but it still wasn't good enough, the flames had severely damaged the frame of the house and a beam that was supporting the second floor of the house fell and caught Tommy off guard. He fell backwards towards flames that were advancing and quickly. Ben reached out and the flames came to a halt. Tommy was safe to recover from his fall and get back to his feet. He began to make similar movements to Hayley and the air was beginning to thin out once more.

He did not know what he was doing all he knew was that he, too wanted to save the family in the house and that waving his arms round like a lunatic was working, somehow.

Ben did the same. He thought if he did what the other two were doing then it may work. Nothing. All that he managed to do was move the flames. He moved his hands down abruptly and the surrounding flames dies out instantly and they didn't spark again. He did it again, reaching out for nearby flames and lowering them suddenly once more. They too died and didn't spark again. The combination of the three elemental kinetic abilities were able to put out the raging flames. Depriving them of oxygen or fuel, wetting any physical fuel and manipulating the fire itself. The fire downstairs was out.

They raced upstairs and did the exact same thing but as the raced up, sirens filled the area. The emergency services finally arrived. The three kids quickly put the fire out and jumped out an open window onto a solid looking branch they, one by one, escaped the scorched house and fled the area.

Hayley managed to sneak home and into her room without being noticed by her dad and the two boys made it to their homes too only to be welcomed by terrified parents.

All three collapsed from exhaustion. The had used up almost every bit of energy they had to do what they did. They slept the entire weekend and rose Monday morning, conveniently just in time for school.