The Fire Inside

31. Dragon of Hell

"Yeah. So that's basically how I got here," Dakota told the group in front of her.

They stared at her not able to react to the shocking story. Jimin was the first to speak up, "You said Casper..."

"Yup. Casper. He left afterwards, but yeah. He was pretty cool as a guy, shifty, but cool."

Jimin and Julien exchanged looks.

"Dakota. You do know that Hell goes by Casper, right? And that we're fighting him?" Julien asked.

"Yeah—Wait what?!"

The group shifted nervously as Dakota looked at them in shock and surprise.

"Casper, huh? Maybe it's a different Casper. But he did disappear on us..."

"He disappeared?" Varun asked.

"Yeah. He was fine the days before but suddenly he just vanished. We thought he was dead and stopped looking."

"Did he ever act weird?" Maria asked.

"Nope. The most honest and kind kid there. Just quiet. Like really really quiet. He barely made a sound!"

"Watch him be that kid that bottled up his feelings, had a weird-ass past, and—"

"Emmalynn! Watch your language!" Riley interrupted, smacking Lynn on the head.

"After all that we've been through, is a potty mouth really something to be worried about?" Maria said raising her eyebrows.

"I guess not..." Riley said softly.

Emmalynn silently cheered at her small victory over Riley.

"So you think the Casper I know had some sort of... traumatic past that made him into the Casper you know?" Riley asked Emmalynn.

"Y-Yeah. Something like that," Emmalynn shrugged.

"But what could've caused him to leave in the first place?"

~~~~~

Meanwhile...

Casper was adorned in a red cloak and black metal armor, the same material that decorated his own building. The towering terror that entrapped the fighting kids about a week back. Going up the spiraling staircase and into a dark chamber in one of the castle's towers, the king of the Hell's fire stood in front of his dresser. Looking into the long, pristine mirror, all he could think of was the life giving flame that plagued his castle.

"Huntsmen! I want this place cleansed of the purity! It's too damn positive."

Shadows appeared and disappeared after hearing Casper's orders. Soon enough Casper could hear flames touching every inch off his hellish abode. The corner of his lip twitched in satisfaction as he looked at himself in the mirror.

"So Jimin huh? How much did you sacrifice to get that power? That energy? Your life? Nah, you looked alive and well. Your friends? Probably didn't have many as a child. Family? Oh wait, I did that for you! Right. I did that with my own sweet power. The power you'll drown in if you think you stand a chance."

Casper chuckled maniacally before shedding the blood red cloak and black armor. Before it hit the ground, a huntsman appeared out of thin air and caught it. He hung it up on the coat hanger in the corner of the room before evaporating again. Casper dressed himself in silk garments that seemed to be well suited for the night. He laid down on the ginormous king sized bed and shut his eyes, hopefully drifting off into a less fitful sleep.

Casper woke up to find himself in an abandoned alley. He stood up and dusted himself off, gagging at the putrid oder around him. The light outside the alley glared at him as he squinted at the street. He watched as people with simple robes walked by him and towards the shops and markets that decorated the simple street.

'Psh. Look at them. Peasants,' Casper thought.

"Hey mom! Who's that?"

Casper looked into the street to see a young boy in a simple tunic and a mother with a float dress.

"Just some beggar boy. Leave him be."

Casper raised an eyebrow as the boy was led away from the alley. He looked down and screamed when he noticed what he was wearing. Rags. There was no other word to describe the scraps that he was dressed in. He shook his head and walked towards the street. As he emerged out of the musty alley, he watched the people on the streets move away and give him some space.

'Hmph. That's right. Hell king right here. You'd best be giving me my personal space.'

Casper looked around and saw a familiar face.

"Mom? Is that you?" Casper's eyes caught the sight of a malnourished woman who stood weakly in front of him.

"Casper? Oh my god! Where have you been?"

"I thought you were gone so I-I just..."

"You left me. You left me to them! You let those men take me!"

Casper was about to respond before an arrow shot down the frail woman. Casper screamed. His mother was taken away as he stood there sobbing. Not too long after losing the only friend and family in his life, he got a rotten apple thrown at him.

"Here! Take this and get lost beggar boy!"

Casper looked at the merchant in horror. None of these peasants could call him a beggar. He was stronger. Nothing could stop him. He had no weaknesses. All he had was power. Power to crush all those who've oppressed him in the past, present, and future. Casper growled before summoning the hell's fire. He shot flames at the wooden stands around him, mainly targeting the plump man who thought being skinny was hilarious. Soon, the entire street was burning in blood red flames, eating away at every soul in sight.

"That's right! You're all peasants who'd be better off bowing down to me! Try to mess with the Hell's fire and you'll get burned!" Casper's eyes glinted maliciously.

Suddenly the scenery shifted. He stood in front of a wall of flames. He could make out a silhouette of a dragon. Casper stared at the figure unamused before hearing the same message that was relayed to him when he first learned to harness the deadly power.

The dragon roared, "The Hell's fire may seem like a powerful thing, but it'll consume you. Use it well. If the flame of life heals, the flame you've been entrusted defeats evil. It's not the source of evil. Understand that you're the bearer of the hell's fire, not the hell's fire itself. I leave you with this small source of wisdom."

"Who are you!" Casper demanded to know. The voice had refused to reveal itself before.

"The hell's dragon. Who else? I'm the guardian of the destructive side of the fire. Learn to harness this side and you'll live greatly. Misuse it and you'll fall harder than ever."

"I know what I'm doing! I wasn't born with this power for no reason! I was born a peasant and got this power to show the world that I'm strong! I'm stronger than ever! And I'll get even stronger!"

Casper heard the dragon sigh before the fire collapsed. He held his breath as he watched for the dragon, but he was met with darkness. He moved his hands around to feel for any sign of life and instead felt a darker presence. Fearing for his life, he jolted up and fell. Fell out of bed.

"It was just a dream. Of course it was. Goddam fire dragon. Putting stupid thoughts in my head. I'll show them a thing or two. I'm not the king of the Hell's fire for nothing.