Playing With Fire

3. Psycho Killers? Not Again.

Yesterday, Julian and Kate hadn't tried out the simulation. I did regain consciousness but just as Julian was about to go in, I nearly fainted again and their sessions were cancelled. Today, however, I saw Julian walk into the room with a determined resolve that slightly fell after a minute of being in the room. I saw him wince in pain as his face flashed a look of discomfort. Five minutes later, he covered himself with his own hands as if he was trying to stop something from entering contact with his body. Another minute ticked by and I noticed a white-blue spark of fire. The spark blazed closer to Julian who was backing away with a terrified expression. A few flames tentatively licked his calves, causing him to whimper. A few more flames rode up and began burning his skin. He let out a scream of agony.

"Let him out of there. He's going to get burnt," I yelled at Brian, who just shook his head. I could not watch my best friend burn to death in a glass room. I would not watch it. I nearly charged in there, but Kate held me back. I gave her my 'are-you-out-of-your-mind' look.

"I know you want him out of there, but he'll be okay. The fire won't actually burn him, just give him the sensation. Just believe in that and that his power will save him. I gave her a dry 'how-do-you-know-that-that's-true' look.

"We both had to believe that while we watched you almost drown yesterday." That definitely shut me up, but I couldn't help worrying about Julian. Finally, after what seemed to be forever, I saw the bright glow dim. I soon saw torrents of water flowing through the room, extinguishing the inferno that had been raging a few minutes ago. I saw Julian silhouetted against the hazy smoky glass room, the water withdrawing towards him. He stood there until the glass room looked completely dry and then walked out and came to us, falling down into the chair, utterly fatigued.

"That was so tiring, ugh! How did you survive it?" he moaned. Naturally, we decided that Kate wouldn't do it either that day. We went back to the treehouse late at night. Kate had been doing a lot of physical training, so she fell asleep but Julian and I continued to talk.

"How did you finish the thing in only ten minutes today?" he asked me

"I don't know. Yesterday was actually bad and today felt like a piece of cake. Maybe it was the physical training that had me more aware and alert. I honestly don't know."

"It could have been the physical training. The mind and body aren't really that different. What affects one affects the other."

"Aw, look at you being all deep," I said, chuckling.

"We both know you're just jealous," he replied with a slight smirk.

"Jealous of what?"

"My amazing ability to make something meaningful. Also, my awesomeness," he added as an afterthought.

"What awesomeness?" I asked.

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Ash."

"Deal with it," I replied with a smile.

As we lay in silence for a while, I thought of how his greatest strength, water, was my weakness and my strength, fire, was his weakness. My mind meandered in thought.

"Do you think our powers affect our personality?" I voiced.

"Well, it makes sense. You're fiery and feisty. You're also pretty determined and while sometimes you make rash decisions, you always end up doing the right thing. I'm- "

"-calm, cool and collected. Patient and yet never to be underestimated." I finished.

"Our friendship is so strong that we finish each other's – "he began.