Ashes, Oh Ashes

chapter 12

In-between her fingers the little flickering flame danced in the abundant presence of oxygen. It grew until the entire inside of her cupped hands held the vermillion, translucent fire. It sounded soft, but still very solid- only without the popping of wood. Just like her breathing.

I blinked a few times, and stepped back.

She didn’t look up. Her face was set on concentrating on the fire that was dancing in between her hands.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. She wasn’t playing with a lighter and we were in the middle of a creek.

Fire.

She was actually playing with the fire. It wasn’t even burning her.

I backtracked. This was weird. This was . . . beyond explainable. This just wasn’t right. There was no way that this was real. Ashley was . . . I didn’t know how to put it. Controlling the fire? She had obviously . . . made it.

She looked up as I backed away further. She turned to face me. She looked to be unsure if she wanted to speak to me or not.

I tripped over a rock and fell ass first into the water.

If I hadn’t been paralyzed with fear I would’ve busted out laughing. And that’s just what Ashley did.

She walked gracefully over to me, and held out her hand, smiling normally at me with her bright eyes and rosy lips.

I just stared at her. The fire was gone. Her hands had no scorch marks or any signs of fire at all. Damnit, I knew it was too early for me to be up and tromping around in a creek.

I scowled and got up, ignoring her hand. I turned and walked towards the bank.

“Matt?” she called.

I shook my head furiously. “I’m seeing things. I think I need to lie down.”

I looked over my shoulder to see her biting her lip in a worried manner, watching me with eyes full of concern. What just happened?

“What did you do?” I asked.

“Huh?”

“I . . .” I trailed off, staring at the treetops as I sat down on the rock. “Nevermind.” I didn’t want to worry her with my hallucinations.

“Mitchell?” she called softly.

Or so I had thought. When I looked up, she was back down to the thigh-deep water, trailing her fingers lightly over the pristine surface.

~

“Is he an erotomaniac?” I asked hours later, trying still to figure out this nut-job named Brian.

“I wish it were that simple,” Ashley groaned.

“Isn’t that . . .” James started. “Like a rapist?”

“No, it’s an obsessed stalker.” Ashley answered. Good, I didn’t feel like explaining erotomania. “It’s a psychological disorder.”

“Oh. So like those people that think someone’s totally in love with them?”

“Right. Except that’s not Brian at all.”

“Just a bastard.” Henry smirked.

None of us were focusing on the movie. We were too excited- for lack of a better word- with our plans that Lucas helped us form. We hadn’t exactly told Ashley what we were planning- just subtly hinting at it like Lucas had suggested.

“He just knows what I did. I’ve told you this.” She shrugged.

“Ashes, that’s how most blackmail works.” James pointed out.