Rewriters [Completed]

Chapter 32: Checkmate

In spite of the pain, Lysa moved. Before the flames reached Kaleo and the rest, she pushed them all away. While they fell roughly a few metres away, the flames engulfed her.

"Lysa!" Kaleo cried out.

It's always fire, she thought, closing her eyes as it took her back to that fateful fire incident.

Caesar was speaking, but she couldn't hear any of it. Not then.

"But... if I could just have one wish... if anyone could at least hear it..."

"I wish for her to live."

She opened her eyes, widening them in shock. This is...

"I know it hurts. I know your heart will never forget this pain that I caused you. If it helps you to live, hate me. Hate me for eternity."

"But please... don't give up on your life."

She felt a rough, desperate push that sent her towards the window.

"Stand up... and live."

For some reason, tears came to her eyes. This is... Caesar's memory.

He... wanted... me to live?

Lysa scarcely noticed as Belladonna pulled her away from the fire with one of her vines.

"Lysa, can you hear me?" Kaleo was tearing up, his voice cracking. "Hang... hang in there."

Kaleo...

Shakily, she reach out, brushing the tears from his face. "I'm... okay..."

She turned to Belladonna. "You... saved me... again."

"No... you were the one who saved us," she spoke. She sounded pained.

"I don't mean to interrupt, but we need to help him," Vindicate said, his voice trembling. "At this rate... Seth is going to..."

"Then let's work together," Kaleo said. "Until this is over at least."

The leader of the VOV nodded reluctantly. "I need some time to gather enough water."

"I'll... buy you... some time," Lysa responded, letting out a choked cough. Kaleo wanted to object but she continued talking. "Belladonna, can you... incapacitate him like... what you did to me last time?"

"No, it will just get burnt," the superhero responded.

"O-okay..." It was still hard for Lysa to breath, and the smoke was not helping. "Then-"

"Watch out!" Vindicate warned. "The fire is spreading faster."

Not only was spread accelerating, it was becoming more intense. She flinched as Crimson Flare started screaming in agony as his flames started to burn him.

"Please..." Caesar's voice seemed to echo in her head. "Save him."

Lysa realised she didn't hate Crimson Flare. She knew the gut wrenching feeling of losing a loved one all too well. Perhaps it was those feelings that resulted in him manifesting that power.

I don't know whether I can... but I will at least pave the way to. I will try to save him.

The fire then burst forth in a speed too fast for everyone to get away from. In Lysa's eyes, it seemed to be moving in slow motion as she dropped into a solid stance.

This time, I'm not going to run. I'm going to face the consequences of my past.

Perhaps she was hallucinating, but she could see Caesar beside her, moving to the same stance as her.