Phoenix

Meeting Gale

I woke up to the sound of rain on the roof and windows. I got up and saw that Cloud was still asleep on the couch, like when I came home last night. I went into the kitchen and got out a skillet and put it on the stove. When I turned it on the flames were low, even though it was on high, probably because I wasn't fully awake yet. I cracked a few eggs in. A large thunk sounded on the other side of the wall. I jumped, fully alert now. The flames jumped with me, going up towards the ceiling. I tried to take a deep breath and calm down, but it was too late.

Cloud jumped out of bed as the smoke alarm went off. He saw the fire and ran to the sink for water. I got out of his way as he dumped water on it and then turned off the stove. The flames lowered, but they still weren't out. I started to take deep breaths and focus on getting the fire to go out. Before he could dump on the second pitcher of water the flames vanished. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"What the hell?!" His eyes were frantic and they darted between me and the now black eggs and scorched skillet. "How many times do I have to tell you not to cook?! I do the cooking around here, not you. There's a reason for that."

I could tell from his eyes that he was beginning to suspect there was something strange about the fire. I nodded and took off.

I went out, covering my head from the rain. I couldn't let anyone find out about me. It was hard enough as it is. Cloud wasn't the first one that got close to knowing the truth. I've always had someone that I agreed to help out in turn for their being with me. They were an alibi, and yes, sometimes a cook. I made my way to a small covering in an alley. Letting a little of my frustration go, I made a flame in the palm of my hand. It helped to keep my nose and ears from getting too cold, but I had to be careful. I didn't want anyone to see.

After twenty minutes or so I had calmed down and the fire went out. The rain kept coming and coming as the hours went on. I walked for quite a while. Cloud didn't know I wouldn't be coming back tonight, or any other night. I'm sure it won't take him long to find out though.

Once I got into the business district there were a few people walking around. I ducked my head and kept my hands in my pockets. Some people looked at me, wondering why I wasn't wearing a jacket or have an umbrella, but I just kept walking, until someone caught my eye. A tall man in a black trench coat. He wasn't burly or obvious, unless you knew what they did, and you were like me. Those are the guys who round up the oddities, the strange ones, the ones with abilities. No one knows where the people they take go, but we often don't see them again, and the ones we do aren't the same afterwards. His eyes met mine and I knew, just like that. Cloud called them.

I ducked down even further, trying to get lost in the crowd. Glancing back, I could see that he had started to advance towards me. I couldn't take it. I ran. I slipped into an alley and took off. There was a fence at the end, but it didn't deter me. A couple boxes provided a jump stand. As I took off from them I sent heat through my foot to start the process of burning the wood. I was careful to make sure it wasn't noticeable, just a spot starting to cinder away. I made it over the fence with no problem. When the guy went to get on the box however, it broke away underneath his weight and its weakened structure. I grinned to myself as I kept going. I was learning, that was the important thing. I was learning how to control it.

The screech of tires caught my attention. There were more. I kept running, looking for a way out. Another man in the same type of black trench coat came around the corner. I jumped up onto the wall, running along it over his head. I dropped back to the concrete and kept going down the alley. Five of them were now chasing me. When would these guys learn that their fancy coats not only made them more noticeable, but also didn't work in their favor for chasing someone?

Up ahead a brick wall cut off the rest of the alley. Glancing back, I could see the look in their eyes. They had me. A shadow on the wall told me there was a small gap between the last building and the wall. Maybe it would be enough to get to the top. I took the chance. I couldn't get caught. I would not let that happen if I had a choice.

I took a sharp turn, jumping as I went. I felt my foot hit brick, and I used it to launch to the other side. I prayed I would reach the building. Contact. I launched of again, repeating the process back and forth from the wall and the building, until I was able to jump over and grab the top edge of the building. I hauled myself up onto the roof and took a breath, panting. The guys were still down there, talking into their ear pieces, calling different codes, and so on.

I got up and looked out over the city. From here it just looked like a jigsaw puzzle of roofs. I had work to do now. I had to call some of my old people and find Cloud. I could not let him get away with calling those goons on me.

I got about a mile away from those guys before finding my way back to the street. I then made my way to a group of people, taking the change out of a wallet before returning it, and found my way to the nearest payphone. I tapped the toe of my shoe on the ground as the fifth ring sounded. Half way through the sixth they picked up.

"Name?"

I sighed at the gruff male voice on the other end. "Funai."

"Problem?"

"Called on. DCAP."

"Connection?"

"Gale."

"It will be processed." The line went dead.

I tossed my head back, closing my eyes, and letting loose a breath. I decided to walk around a little. When they were done they would find me.

I felt good that I had gotten that done though. I looked through the small petals flying through the air. It would be nice if I could talk to Gale again. It had been a long time. We were twelve or thirteen. Now I am eighteen, with many more years of experience. Even back then he kept trying to get me to join the organization he found. He gave me the number to call in case I ever needed anything. He promised they would keep DCAP away from me. Those stupid guys. Department of the Containing of Abnormal Persons.

The small street had some quaint little buildings. Some shops and a couple duplexes. Then I noticed a hand sticking barely past one of the corners, giving a small thumbs up. I checked the time. It had barely been twenty minutes since I called. I made my way to the inner edge of the sidewalk as I made my way closer to the person. When I got close enough I brushed my hand across the person's. I had accepted the help. But then I felt them grab my hand and pull me into the alley. My eyes went wide as I saw who it was holding me in their arms.

"Long time no see, Niran." I gulped. His voice had gotten deeper and more soothing than ever. His deep grey eyes grinned. A small bit of chocolate brown hair fell into his face, brushing the bridge of his nose.

"Hello Erik."