Elements of Freedom

Chapter Six [Part One]

Chapter Six

Fire

I swirled the small balls of fire around my fingers, once the last ball had gotten to my little finger, I shot it towards the branch that sat in front of me.

I couldn't handle the awkward tension between the boy and I. Ever since last night, we hadn't spoken a word to one another. I think he felt the same as I did - scared and confused about what happened. It was like we had been made to go together, our powers just merged and complimented each other. The feeling inside was unbelievable - something I had never felt before.

I'd always dreamt of what a boy would be like, I'd always wondered how they'd speak and how they'd behave. I couldn't help but sneak glaces at him to try and answer the questions about boys that had always haunted my mind. I could feel words bubbling up in my throat, I wanted so badly to speak to him - to just talk about his powers and himself in general. Every time I thought I would let the words lose, my heart would race and then I would forget how to speak. I felt this process happen several times before I built up enough confidence to speak - or at least mumble in his direction. I managed to form a pathetic attempt of a sentence, and aim it at him.

"So, sleep okay?" Of course he didn't. We were up all night waiting to be found or attacked by a lab bastard. I felt my stomach start to eat itself with embarrassment - a feeling I had long gotten used to. Living in the lab made it impossible to maintain some sort of dignity and self-worth. Ever since I was capable of throwing a ball of fire, I was stripped of all control, all rights, and all say over my body and my 'life' in general. I'd never even known life to be honest. The walking-talking Labcoats would allow me to read magazines on families, houses, and love. As soon as I had read every corner and every letter at least three times, they'd rip it up in front of me and make me burn it - just another sick joke they would make.

His voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up at him, my cheeks blazing red, and my head spinning.

"Umm, you okay?" He turned his head to face me more clearly. He waved his pale hand before my eyes, making my daze and my thoughts disappear back into the pool of things living in my mind.

"Huh? What? Yeah. Sorry. I was miles away."

"It's okay, I used to love miles away. Miles away was the only safe place, the only place I could find solice. Miles away was always what I made it to be. There were never any assholes sticking needles into every inch of my skin. There were never sinister laughs at my fear and my pain. There were never rivers of blood gushing out from my body from where they'd beaten me to see how fast I could heal. All I'd feel was the wind in my hair and rushing past my body. I'd let the air take me wherever it decided to. I'd be able to sleep the whole night without waking up in a puddle of sweat and fear. The warmth of the homely embrace miles away would give me hope for a better life. I'd escape to miles away whenever I could. Life was actually living when I could let my mind run away to miles away." He seemed to be in his own daze now. I shuffled my shaking body closer towards him, and I rested my hand on top of his - it wasn't much, but I was hoping it would let him know that I understood what he had said. I wanted him to know that he was no longer alone, and that he'd no longer have to be scared of what the Labcoats would do to him.

"They'll never touch us again. I promise. " I felt his hand grip mine in return. He stared at me once more. His gaze spoke the words, "thank you."