The Cold Flame
Chapter 1
A strawberry brown haired girl walked into a convenient store, flinging her long silky hair behind her shoulders. She walked up to the cash register and said., "Hello. I had pump 6."
"That'll be $17.89," the girl behind the desk said as the girl gave her the exact pricing. "Thank you have a nice day."
"You also," She said turning around and hitting the person behind her.
He was startled. He had seen her before but her beauty was...astounding. Little to no one came as close to her beauty.
"I'm sorry," She said smiling at the black haired man.
"It's ok," he answered, almost in a trance. As she left, he stared after her, only being torn away after the cashier had asked him why he was here.
"Oh sorry. I wanted to buy these," He answered and put down a bag of chips and two Cherry Cokes.
"Ok that'll be $7.56," the cashier replied getting handed a debit card. "May I see you license?"
He pulled out his wallet and got out the identification card, having a picture looking somewhat like himself. "Michael Fraser?" she asked him getting a nod.
She put his stuff in a bag and handed it and his debit card back. "Have a nice day, Mr. Fraser."
He nodded and walked out of the store and towards his black Mazda 6. He opened the door, careful not to hit the car next to him. "Idiots," he muttered under his breath glaring at the two people in the car next to him. He sat down in his black leather seats and closed his door behind him.
He ran his fingers through his dyed black hair and glanced into the mirror to take out the contacts he wore giving him fake blue eyes. His eyes were cold- black with a hint of brown. Maybe even some red if you looked deep enough into them. But by then you'd be under his spell.
He started his car, backed out of the spot and wait to get out of the gas station's parking lot. He opened one of the Cherry Coke's lids and quickly drank from it, carefully watching the street as cars went by awaiting a gap in their system. He spotted one and quickly pulled out into it.
After he stopped at the traffic light and turned onto another road, heading towards the sunset.
The girl got out of her pink metallic eclipse, brushing her hair behind her ears once again. "Adrian!"
A dog ran over to her, jumping up in her arms. It was a beautiful Golden Retriever, young and spunky. It licked her face, causing her to laugh. "Oh Adrian you are so silly!"
Adrian barked then jumped out of her hands, racing towards the house.
"Hold on Adrian! I have to get my key!" She rumbled through the keys on her key chain and found it. She stuck it into the keyhole and the door opened, admitting them into the neatness of the house.
She threw her book bag onto the couch in the room closest to the door she had entered through and walked into the kitchen in search of food. She saw a note on the kitchen table, which read:
Hey Mimi- had to pick up a few things from the store. Should be home before dinner! Love ya! Vira
She sighed. "Vira I never see you." She pet Adrian who was happily panting nest to her. "Adrian, she should bite some sense into my sister."
Adrian tilted his head slightly and barked. Mimi smiled. "You're so silly!" She bent down and kissed him before getting a bar of chocolate out of one of the cabinets.
The phone rang abruptly, causing Mimi to jump. She quickly picked it up after the second ring and answered, "Yes?"
"Mimi!"
"Vira!"
"I was just making sure you were home. Last time I called no one picked up and you're cell phone was turned off."
"Well that's because I had just gotten out of school and had to get gas."
"Oh well I should be home soon."
"And in the very unlikely chance that you wouldn't be?"
"Call my cellphone. If you don't get through there, I'm at Tommy's market."
Mimi scowled. "Is that why you went there? To see Tommy?"
"I am dating him."
"Fine. Well I guess I'll see you later."
"Yup. Bye."
Mimi hung up the phone. "Why is she always like that Adrian? She's so stuck on this guy. Has been since she graduated." Adrian jumped up onto the chair next to her, begging. "Adrian you can't have any."
He whimpered.
Michael pulled to the side at Thicket's Hollow and got out of his car.
This part of the city he had just driven to wasn't the friendliest. The men glared at him from where they stood at the doorways of their houses. Michael ignored them walking into the apartment building up to the second level, knocking on one of the doors closest to the stairs.
The door slowly opened revealing a man about Michael's own age. "Tai. Where've you been?"
"I got something to eat and drink. I was hungry." Michael walked into the apartment and sat down on the couch.
"I have to say I was expecting you an hour earlier." He sat down next to Michael, propping his feet up on the coffee table in front of them.
"Agen I don't like the sun. You may. Just like everyone else out there does but I happen to not be a big fan of it."
"I've realized this over the past few years I've known you. Why?"
"Because I think it messes with my eyes." Michael looked at Agen, smiling. "Because I thought I saw Mimi at the gas station on 56."
"Now why wouldn't she be at that gas station?"
Michael shrugged and sighed. "She just seems to good for it. Too beautiful, too rich...too perfect."
"You still have that infatuation with her?" Agen laughed.
"If that's what you want to call it. I don't feel it's foolish as you do. Where's your sister?"
"She's here somewhere...probably in the shower or in the kitchen." Agen answered, looking around at the mess of his apartment.
"Tai you're over again?" A young girl walked into the room.
"Ascia-"
"Aspen."
"I'm never going to get your name right. I should just give up now and call you Miniature Agen."
She pushed her dyed maroon bangs behind her ears. "It's really not hard Tai. Aspen."
Michael shrugged. "Sure. Whatever you say Ascia."
"Why do you call me that?" She groaned and walked back into the kitchen.
"I think your sister's mad at me again," Michael said.
"Yeah well she always is mad at you for something. Either because of something you said or didn't say or some random reason." Agen looked at the clock across the room. "Crap I have to go work."
"You would." Michael groaned as his friend stood up and searched through his mess for his keys.
"Are you going to be sticking around or are you taking off?" Agen asked walking towards his door, only turning around to speak with Michael.
"I think I'll probably be going."
"Where to?"
"I haven't decided. I'll call you," he reassured to Agen.
"Later," Agen called after leaving his apartment.
Michael got off of the couch and walked into the kitchen. "Does Mimi go to your school?"
Aspen cocked her eyebrow. "Yes. Are you trying to hit on one of the most popular girl in school?" She looked down at the Calculus book on the table and wrote down one of the problem that she had to solve.
Michael laughed at the accusation. "No. Nothing like that. I just find her absolutely remarkable and beautiful. That's all."
"Yeah you and all the boys in my school. The craziest thing is, she's not stuck up at all. Or preppy for that matter. She may have a pink car but her attitude and clothing are far from being preppy."
"I know. I'll be leaving now."
Aspen looked up, "Oh fine leave me here all alone."
"Sorry I don't want your neighbors to be suspicious. I don't think they know that I'm your brother's best friend. They might think there's something between us." Michael smiled. "Good bye Aspen."
She smiled, realizing he had said his name correctly. "Good bye Michael."
"Tai is dead. He's been dead for a year, Jason. There's no way that Michael Fraser could be him, especially if he's dead. It doesn't make sense." The cashier said to the man pacing in front of her.
"Does the government have records on his death?" Jason asked.
"Is it worth hacking to try and find out?" The cashier asked, sounding quite uncertain.
"Try to Haven!" Jason sat down next to her as Haven hacked into the government's database.
"Crap someone's on my trail." Haven worked quickly, speeding through the records of people named 'Tai Kamiya.' She frowned. "There's no match. Does he go by anything else?"
"Umm... Maverian. Try Maverian Kamiya." Jason leaned towards the computer screen, in anticipation.
She quickly typed in the name and the file came up. "There's no updated information on him...since...a year ago. But...it doesn't say he's dead." Haven glanced at Jason. "I'm going to print it out. Someone's onto my trail." She hit print and the information printed. As soon as it was printed, she quickly turned off the computer. "What else does it say about him?"
"It still says he lives here. Shall we give him a visit and see if he still lives there?"
Haven smiled. "Of course."