Powering Up (a RV Fanfic)

Chapter 1: Icy Persuasion

It had been a year since Seulgi was shamelessly kicked out of her home. A year since she stayed at a home. She lived in the streets, desperately accumulating food from shelter homes. However, the great amount of free time enabled her to practise her 'cursed' powers. Her hands went from creating small sparks to intimidating lightning bolts. Her stronger power only allows her to practice during storms to be more subtle.

A storm was coming. Seulgi could finally practise mastering her powers. As the dense, dark storm clouds closed over the small forest, Seulgi channeled her energy from the clouds to a tall, wrinkly tree. Her hands released a jolt of electricity into the clouds, sending a thick, glowing lightning bolt crashing down onto the tree, igniting it. The sound of a twig breaking resonated behind her. She turned around and saw a woman staring at her. "I did nothing!" Seulgi bluttered, denying her curse.

"It's okay," the woman said. She opened her palms, releasing a cold energy which created small, fragile snowflakes on her hands. Seulgi stood in awe. There were more like her.

"Who are you?" Seulgi asked.

"My name's Irene," she said politely.

"I'm Seulgi," she stammered.

"What are you doing here?" Irene questioned after an awkward pause.

"Well, I haven't found a place to stay yet..."

"You can stay at my house," she offered. "I have a guest room, but I don't know if my clothes can fit you."

"Wait really? I don't really know you, but I really need a place to stay so thanks."

"Let's go to my house and get to know each other." They walked out of the forest and along the dim, empty sidewalk.

"Where is everyone?" Seulgi asked.

"I have no idea... This place is usually full of life." Irene saw a large, intimidating cloud of smoke, growing and covering the suburb surrounding them.

"Ugh, what's that smell," Seulgi rebuked. "It smells like... smoke?"

"Smoke... Seulgi, hurry! I think smoke is coming from my house!"

~

They dashed towards the smoke's direction and arrived the decaying, collapsing home. "Oh my God," Irene whimpered, hand over her dropped jaw. Seulgi placed her hand on her back awkwardly, lost of words to comfort her. There were wailing fire trucks, shouting neighbours and crackling fires, but all Irene heard was the calm silence of her mind, unable to comprehend the disaster before her eyes. She ran towards the nearest fire fighter, "What happened?"

"Someone reported that a fire started at this house," he responded. "We're not entirely sure how the fire started, but we know that the kitchen is the most damaged. The owner probably left the stove on." Irene walked away in self pity. Was it really her fault? She approached Seulgi who stared at crumbling house.

"Apparently the stove was left on," Irene explained in disbelief, "but I haven't cooked for myself in weeks." Seulgi's expression was as full of confusion as hers.

"Then how-?"

"I have no idea..."

"Oh, I feel sorrow for the owner of this house," a woman behind them said. "I wonder who owned it." Irene turned around to the tall woman.

"It was my house."

"Do you two have a place to stay?" the woman asked.

"Not anymore."

"My name is Joy, you two should come with me, I have a place for you."

"No thanks, we don't know you."

"Can you do me a favour and follow me to my car?" Joy said eerily. Irene and Seulgi followed her to her chic, black Mercedes.

"What the hell!" Irene complained. "Why are we in your car?"

"I'm getting out," Seulgi declared, unbuckling her seatbelt.

"Can you do me a favour and stay in this car until we get home?" Joy finally had enough of their complaining. She needed them. And they needed her. And again, they obeyed her words. Irene stopped complaining and Seulgi buckled her seat, snuggled comfortably in the warm leather.