Fragile Fire

Chapter 4

Love and hate.

The line between the two is thin. So thin that two single people would have a hard time distinguishing between the two. That throughout their whole lives would scream at the top of their lungs, their hatred for one another. Unknowingly, falling deeper and faster in love.

Yet since, admit their love from the start. Showing each other with small touches and loving glances. Then something happens.

Something so huge and so disastrous that their love becomes covered in layers of disgust, anger, and hate.

"Vanessa," Detective Greenspan says. I stare at him, leaning back into the hot seat.

"Yes?"

"I need you to tell me what happened" he states tapping his pen on the desk. Rolling my eyes, I groan. This would be the 20th time I've had to re-state my account of what happened.

"Like I've said a million times," he gives me a glare, "I don't know. I wasn't home."

He looks at me and writes something down. "Who were you with?" He questions.

"A friend." His eyes glaze over and roll. "Courtney Rhodes."

"Can she second that?"

"Yes," I state dumbly. He writes her name down quickly.

Pushing the chair back he states, "if you'll excuse me." I watch as he leaves and remember one tiny detail.

~ The night of the accident ~

"Nessa! You're such a bitch!" Courtney yells waving a knife in my face.

"I don't know what I've done to piss you off!" I scream backing into the wall.

"You don't know!" She screams wagging the knife in my face. I shake my head. "You ruined my life! You embarrassed me at school with your fucking disgusting scars!" She yells ripping off my gloves. I look down and see the burned flesh.

"I don't know what to say," I whisper. She pushes me against the wall and holds the knife to my neck.

"Courtney!" I hear someone yell. I look behind her to see a tall figure with blonde hair and eyes so blue they look white, Adam.

"Adam," I whisper falling into the wall. Courtney relaxes and backs away from me. Adam walks past her and gently turns my hands over to see the burns. He places soft kissed to the marred flesh, one scar at a time.

"Are you okay?" His voice rumbles and his eyes look over me to check for any other scars. I nod shakily.

~ Present ~

"Ms. Mitchell." I hear a voice and shake out of my trance. "I've talked with Ms. Rhodes and she said the same thing." He states unconvinced. I just stare at him while he looks over his notes from talking to Courtney. "Ms. Rhodes also claims that you attacked her and she wants to place charges." That statement alone pulls me fully out of the trance.

"What?" I question and look into his eyes for any emotion that would give up that he's lying. "Why is she charging me? I should be charging her!" I scream at him.

"She's charging you with first degree assualt," he states very matter of factory. My jaw drops and I can't believe this.

"Have you talked to her boyfriend, Adam?" I question.

"Yes, he reciprocated her complaint," he states and I'm dumbfounded. Why?

"Detective I swear to you I didn't kill my family!" I please, hoping to break through to him.

"Ms. Mitchell, all of the evidence points to you." He states calmly.

"What evidence?" I question.

"Intent: you never got along with your family and you hated your brother. MO(modus operandi): burning, hence your pyromania. Finally your signature a series of burn marks on their hands that look a lot like yours."

"My pyromania has nothing to do with their killers MO." I say, attempting to remain calm, for I know if I respond hastily he will think I have something to hide.

When I was younger my family and I would take yearly camping trips. Each year we would go somewhere new. It was our way of exploring.

~ 10 years ago ~

"Nessie. Toby. Please stop." Mom pleads with us. She always hates when we sing. She claims we sound like dying sheep.

"Alex, it's okay," my dad coos and reaches to squeeze her hand, "they're just having fun." Thats when the song hits the chorus and Toby and I start to sing louder.

"Ooo baby do you know what that's worth," Toby starts holding my hairbrush as a microphone and passes it to me.

"Ooo heaven is a place on earth," I belt. Mom begins to groan from the passenger seat trying to hide her growing smile.

"Dad," Toby asks, "can we stop for food? I'm starving!" He complains holding his stomach, pretending to be in pain. Dad turns down the radio and looks at us.

"Sure Toby. Nes, do you have a preference?"

Toby and I share a glance and yell at the top of our lungs.