Their Flame {ON HIATUS UNTIL MY WRITER'S BLOCK GETS HIT BY A TRUCK}

Chapter 12: Katrina

I text my mom at 3 o'clock and she agrees to let me stay at Jack's place for the night. An hour later I realize that I need to run back home to grab a few things. Jack walks with me to help if I collapse again. 

When I get home my mom isn't here, she probably went to work. So I run up to my room and grab a few things, tossing them into a bag. Pajamas, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a hair brush, and a change of clothes.

I sling the bag over my shoulder and walk back out, meeting Jack outside. "You good?" He asks and I nod, "Yeah."

We're halfway back when time suddenly slows and my knees go weak. My eyes lock shut as I'm sucked into a dream world. In front of me, a white flash blinds me for a moment before I look around to see my mom. But something's wrong, her eyes are puffy and red like she's been crying. 

It takes me a second to realize that she is slowly getting further away from me. I twist around to see my father is dragging me backwards, but it's not him that concerns me. 

Beyond him, there is a cliff edge that is steadily getting closer. 

Is he going to…. No!

I try screaming but nothing comes out. My father drags me to the edge before shoving me off the jagged cliff and into the dark below. But before I hit the bottom, the dream retreats and I wake up on the ground with Jack beside me. 

He gently hoists me up and takes my bag from me as we continue walking. "She's making me dream about my family. About my fears." I say, "I don't know how to stop her." Jack doesn't respond, instead keeping me close in case I black out again. 

***

We make it back to his place without another incident and I collapse on the couch in his room.

Jack sits down next to me and sighs, leaning back with his arms behind his head. I know he wants me here to keep an eye on me. And I'm glad, I don't know what I'd do if I blacked out in front of mom.

We sit in front of the TV for a while, watching movies and eating snacks instead of dinner.  I gradually begin to drift off, this time of my own need. I'm exhausted and sleep comes easy, there's no dreaming this time, just quiet. 

I can hear when the movie ends and expect Jack to move or try to get up. But he doesn't. I can't help but peek my eyes open a bit, glancing over to see his eyes closed and his head leaning against the couch.

I close my eyes again, smiling, it's nice to know that I have a friend, a partner, in all this chaos.

***

When I wake up the next morning, I'm curled up against Jack's shoulder with a blanket over me. Said boy is already awake, on his phone playing a game. I sit up, blushing slightly as I adjust my hair and clothes. Jack looks at me as I yawn. "Did you have any dreams?" 

Thankfully I didn't, "No." I smile, relieved that I didn't have to suffer through nightmares all night. He nods, happy with my answer.

I stand and head to his bathroom to get ready, thoughts running through my mind. 

What if I collapse in front of mom, how would I explain? 

How much time do I have before we leave for Minnesota? 

What are Jack and I going to do?

As I brush my hair, I realize that we have to find another way to activate our fire. Even if we're thousands of miles apart from one another. 

When I come out of the bathroom, I try to think of ways to use our abilities. Walking over to Jack, I quickly tell him my idea. "That could work!" He grins, standing up and walking towards the door, "Come on, let's go!"

Apparently we are going now. 

I walk behind him and quickly tug my black Vans on, waiting for Jack to finish tying his laces. We walk out the door and race to the abandoned restaurant. 

I pull my phone out and look at Jack "I'm wondering if we have to physically touch in order for our ability to work. Maybe if we're just able to see each other, that'll be enough." 

"So if we video chat or something, it might work?" 

I just shrug, unsure of my idea. Jack agrees and moves away from me,  back down the alley. Jack sends me a FaceTime request and I immediately answer, letting the call connect. 

"Ok, we are probably going to have to try a little harder to get this to work. Let's try the same thing we do when getting rid of our fire, but in reverse sort of. We have to make our fire appear, not disappear." 

I raise my hand so it's in the camera's view and watch as Jack does the same. My eyes slip shut and I try to focus on my ability, on it appearing and covering me in red hot flames.

Both of us wait, praying for any sort of small reaction between us. Two minutes later and still, nothing has happened. I hang up and walk over to Jack. "Now what?" I murmur.

"I don't know. I was kind of hoping that would work." 

We sit on the ground next to each other and think. "Maybe if we just really concentrate on each other, sort of like meditation, it will do something." Nodding, Jack stands and walks backward, sitting down about fifteen feet away from me. 

"Ready?" I ask and he gives me a thumbs up. My eyes shut again and I try a different method than before. This time, I concentrate on the core of a fire. 

At first, a fire is just a sputter of light, barely existing in the grand scheme of things. But if cared for properly, it can grow larger, gradually gaining power and thriving. Eventually, that sputter can turn into something much different. 

An inferno.

A body of heat and light so large and deadly, that it can destroy almost anything that gets in it's way. Red, orange, yellow, white, blue. The hotter the fire, the more beautiful the color. But fire doesn't just destroy.

It also creates, it saves.

From clearing a forest so new, more beautiful plants can thrive, to warming up a cold body after a day in the snow. Letting the fire's warmth chase the winter's cold kiss away. Fire is a creature that has a mind of its own, it cannot be tamed. That's what makes it so beautiful.

Slowly, I peel my eyes open and glance down at my hands. Nothing. Not even a spark.

I lock eyes with Jack and he looks at me, defeat overpowering any hope left flickering in his eyes. 

He's giving up too. 

My shoulders droop as he walks over and joins me on the ground. Like yesterday, I can't stop the tears from falling. When I look at Jack, he's not doing any better than me. His eyes gleam with unshed tears and I bite my lip.

"Please don't." I beg between sobs.

Don't cry. If you cry it's like you're giving up. If you give up, I'll know it's over.

I don't want it to be over.

Tears spill anyways and that only frightens me more. 

It can't be over. 

I stare at the ground for a moment before realizing that he is releasing something like I did when he first came to help me yesterday.

So I did what he did for me and hold him, letting him use me as his crutch. So we both sit there, on the ground near an abandoned restaurant, and cry.

Author's Note:

Hey guys! How have you been? This was sort of a long chapter so I hope you liked it. If you have any feedback I'd love to hear it. Just wanted to check in to make sure you're all okay! Anyway.... I hope you guys have a great day.... or night. I don't know where you are!

Love you!😝🤓