Holy Fire

3

This is my town and someone has to tell you where you fit in!

Cole growled behind the steering wheel, her knuckles white as they gripped the wheel. Annabeth and Rita exchanged a nervous look both unconsciously wrapping an arm around the boy in between them. Cole cracked her head side to side, her spine popping with the sudden strain. 

"Her town? Her town!" Cole seethed. "I've never met a more insufferable and conceited human." 

"This is my town," Derek whispered his eyes scanning the community outside the window. "at least it was..." Rita's tattooed arm pulled Derek into her side, engulfing him in a hug. Cole caught the action in her rearview mirror and gave her fiery friend a thankful smile.  Cole scanned either side of the road, keeping her eyes peeled for a motel. 

Starfall Inn

Well, that's just great...

Sighing Cole turned the car into the small car park, taking a park near the entrance. The motel was a navy two-storey building, cringe-worthy with the detailing of yellow stars on its bricks.  The engine continued to hum as she flipped open the glovebox rummaging through its contents till her fingers wrapped around a stack of cash. The glovebox clicked shut and Cole passed Annabeth the money.

"Get a room for the three of you and start researching the incident reports." Her eyes flitted to Derek briefly, the young boy was snuggled into Rita partially asleep as Cole gave her orders. "Your bags are in the back with your phones in them, you know my number don't hesitate to use it if you find something." Annabeth and Rita nodded in understanding but Derek sat up lazily rubbing his eyes, his nose scrunched up and brows furrowed in confusion.

"Why aren't you staying with us?" Cole pinched her nose in an attempt to keep it together. She didn't know how to explain to Derek how when in this town the constant pull she felt every second of every day was irresistible. Especially with the proximity of the thing, she craved the most. 

"She just can't Derek okay? We'll see her later and you can call her if you need." Annabeth soothed the boy, before helping Rita usher him out of the back seat. Cole flinched as the boot of the car slammed shut and Annabeth came up to the driver's window. "Just be careful Cole... It's most likely not the same anymore." Cole nodded both dismissing Annabeth and acknowledging her words. Cole shut the engine off, slowly stepping out of the car as she gave Annabeth the keys in exchange for her duffle bag.

"I'll see you soon." Cole spun on her heel making her way to the walkway by the main road. She barely recognised Wallvan anymore so she trusted her instincts, allowing herself to be led by the pull she felt in her core. It was as if there was an invisible thread that had lassoed itself around her heart and continued to tug on the line, pulling her ever closer to what she desired. She shut her mind off so it couldn't interfere and allowed her feet to carry her.

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The forest was still, the previously windy trails halting, holding its breath in anticipation. Cole wandered off the beaten path about a mile back, slowly navigating her way through the dense woods. She sighed in relief when the forest had come into view from the main roads, thankfully they had left this part of town untouched. Tiny beads of sweat dotted her brow as her trek was reaching the three-hour mark and breaths rushed from exertion. Cole grumbled wiping away the sweat with the back of her hand if she was herself sweating wouldn't be something she would have to worry about. 

Cole paused the force of her pulling back on that neverending tug on her heart causing her to stumble forward before catching herself. Frustration bubbled up as she glared down at the fence in front of her. That had not originally been there. Cole cursed whatever idiot thought it would be a good idea to own this land. Laying a hand on a wooden post she swung herself over it landing with feline grace before continuing. Officially trespassing. Hopefully, no one would catch her. 

The string around her heart went taut and Cole struggled to catch herself as the grassy ground suddenly fell away. Cole almost screamed in agony, the sight in front of her had her face twisting in disgust. The Pit was littered with empty beer cans and other scraps of random trash, the bottom of the Pit was covered in dirt, no longer the smooth stone floor she remembered. 

Throwing safety to the wind, Cole jumped off the edge of the Pit sliding down roughly on the dirt sides. She was a volcano about to erupt, her chest heaved as she tried to calm her fury. 

Buried! Disrespected!

Cole roared as she sent waves of flames out of her body, the Pit erupted every piece of litter melting into ashes. The fire flew out of the compounds of the Pit catching a couple of nearby trees, the wooden trunks and leaves engulfed in flames burned, smoke rising high in the sky. Just as quickly as the flames had come, Cole reigned them back in. Every last lick and wisp sucking back up into her. 

The Pit was rid of any litter but the layer of dirt separating her from what she needed stood strong. Her eyes became glassy and her body shook. Of course, her punishment wasn't over, it never would be... Cole sank to her knees in the middle of the Pit, and for the first time in years cried. Great sobs that racked her entire body. It seemed that the tears would never stop.