The Flames

Chapter Twelve

The group was furious. They were confused. Why had It brought the child? It said it was misbehaving. It was supposed to be conducting a meeting about the next Fire Ritual. But the kid ruined it. "No, not ruined," It said, "the child can help."

"I have to go potty," the child said.

"Silence!" said It.

They were to come up with a way on their own. They were to forget about another Fire Ritual for now, and focus on catching Cole Carter, the sole survivor of the deli fire. They had been able to catch Celia Gardener easily when she escaped, but this one would be harder. This one knows.

It left the men to figure it out.

"Please, listen!" The child said as it squirmed around, "I really need the bathroom!"

"Shut up!" a cloaked man yelled at the child.

The child jumped and he watched as the floor beneath it became wet until it was sitting in a puddle. The group laughed at the child.

The child complained every day. It was always something.

"I'm hungry!" "I'm thirsty!" "It hurts!"

Silly child. You did this to yourself.

They needed to keep the child alive, so they gave it just enough water. After a few days, the child seemed to accept his situation and fell silent. He wanted to rub everything in the poor child's face.

But he couldn't. He remembered the oath. I shall never give away my identity. I must look like the others in public, no matter how much they disgust me. I shall never marry, he thought, Not that I ever wanted to.

Then one afternoon, the plan went out the window. Something landed on the floor and slid into the corner. He smelled smoke and heard shouted curses. The child was forgotten as everyone ran out of the hideout.

The child should have inhaled enough smoke to hurt it. But it didn't. That meant someone came in and got it immediately, and put the fire out. And I bet I know who took him.

Now they had two tasks. Number one was, of course, to kill Cole. Now the child needed to die too. Stupid boy.

If anything, he thought, It was to blame. It let Cole see It. He could never voice those thoughts, however. Then he would be the bad one. He would have to die, for chance of anyone learning the Secret if he were to be kicked out.

Two tasks, he thought. Hopefully, they would be able to catch the group of a man and children before they left Chicago. And it's my job to locate them. After my failed Fire at the deli, I can't fail again. The group would be watching, waiting for a chance to get them alone and execute Cole and the child. And, of course, scare the other two enough that they never say a thing. If they did, he chuckled, they would die too!

He was excited for a chance to redeem himself.