10 Sides to Taylor | Chapter 1 - Playing with Fire

I panted as I stopped pedaling my bike, letting the built up momentum run its course and carry me onward. The sound of my tires rolling over gravel and pavement slowed as I squeezed the hand brake. I felt a drop of sweat fall from the tip of my nose as my panting continued. Ick, I thought. The sun was high in the sky, and there wasn't a single cloud to give me any shade. It may not even be noon yet, but I already felt like I was melting in this blazing heat.

It had taken me all morning, but I was finally here. Out in front of me, the sun cast its light on an endless field of sand, water, broken and rotting docks, and floating heaps of bows, sterns, sails and motors. Technically I'd entered the Boat Graveyard a while ago, passing by beached wreck after beached wreck, pedaling through the twists and turns of a now rarely used road that followed the coastline. Now, I'd finally arrived deep enough inside the graveyard that I felt was necessary. Actually, I had no idea what was necessary, so I was just taking zero chances. Here, close to the water, debris was scattered in corners and crevices, and rust flaked off the ships like leaves falling from trees. It was so old and abandoned, not a single person who would want to look at the skeletons of these once great ships was around.

It's perfect, I thought as I hopped of my bike and started looking for a place to lock it up.

I still thought it was a little gross though; I mean, who would want to spend a huge chunk of their time around these rickety old ships? Most of them looked like they could sink or tip over at any moment. But I didn't exactly come here for majestic scenery; it was the seclusion part of the setting that served my needs. No one around meant that I could practice and experiment freely with my new powers. It was step one in my superhero training.

As that thought came to the forefront of my mind, I was yet again glad for the seclusion of the Boat Graveyard. No one could hear me as I squealed and practically trembled with delight. I still couldn't believe it. Me! I was gonna be a super hero! ME!

Now that I had caught my breath, I was starting to feel my face-breaking grin come back. It had been there since I'd rocketed out of bed this morning, and it probably made a few onlookers question my sanity as I made my way through the Market on my bike. The ride would have been longer, but I'll be the first to admit that I love city buses that let you bring your bike with you. It had left me just one exhausting hour of biking – as opposed to several - on the one day of the year, where apparently, clouds had decided to stop existing! God, it was hot out here.

I spotted a place that I could park my bike, and took a deep breath to center my focus as I made my way towards it. As awesome as my future heroics were going to be, I had to remember that I had almost no idea how to use my new powers yet. Which was, again, why I was here, to practice.

I stopped next to a red sailboat. Most of the ships pulled up to or on the shore were the larger cargo freighters and the occasional yacht, with the smaller, previously individually owned ones squeezed in between them. It'd make a good spot to find my bike. It looked like the boat had been on a trailer, before its tires had been replaced with cinderblocks; and now even some of those were missing, resulting in the trailer, and the boat by extension, tipped over on their sides. I didn't think it'd be going anywhere. This did, however, allow me to use the railing of the boat's deck to secure my bike.

I tugged on the lock a few times to make sure it was secure, then stood up and looked around. I wanted to move away from my bike while I practiced, and didn't like the idea of it not being here when I got back. The tipped side of the boat was leaning towards the water, so at least my bike would be hidden behind its bulk from anyone that wasn't looking for it. Not that I expected anyone to be looking; I mean, come on, it's a bike. But, better safe than sorry.

I started walking along the shore, further North into the Graveyard. As the sand shifted underneath my beaten up sneakers, I laid my right hand on the left wrist of my jacket, and the device that lay beneath. I started to roll up my sleeve, and grinned as the device came into view.

I had decided to call it The Watch, for simplicities sake, and for the fact that there was really nothing else I could think to call it that fit. It was a snug fit on my wrist, its body a solid black metal, though the edges were a slight grey. The grey parts also had indents on the part lining up with the clock face. Solid white "wires" ran along the borders between the two sections, the four ends facing inwards towards the clock face. The face itself had an hourglass-like symbol, almost glowing a brilliant emerald on a grey background. The symbol had a solid black border, with small green light dots at the twelve, three, six, and nine positions of the "clock" face. Finally, facing me, there was a single green button on the body of the watch.

I pressed the button, and stopped walking as I stared at the Watch. The green of the symbol glowed, as did the lights on its border. The clock face rose, a small column of metal rising with it. It was black, and all around it, lines like that of a computer's mother board, made of glowing emerald shined, just like the hourglass symbol. Said symbol shifted, its two points crossing over each other until the symbol was gone, and only a glowing emerald diamond remained. That is, until a silhouette appeared on the inside.

All of this accompanied by a series of odd beeps that I could only describe as encouraging. Like somehow, the Watch was… alive. Weird.

I rotated the clock face, as I'd learned to do before, the silhouette changing as I did so, considering which form I should test out first. I still wasn't sure exactly what I was dealing with, as far as most of the other forms went. And since this was my first day of training, I figured I'd start with the only form I'd taken so far, accident though it may have been.

So I turned back to the first silhouette that had appeared, then stopped to look around. I'd stopped right next to some rectangular cargo containers scattered around near the edge of the water, a good distance away from my bike. How they'd gotten onto the beach I didn't know, but I'd be willing to guess there was a cape involved in their current placement. It looked like they'd been tossed around a bit, what with one of them turned on its side, towering over the others; one was even torn in half, the metal shredded like paper. But I didn't see any sign of anyone or anything, so it must've happened a long time ago. Looking back at the Watch, I figured this would be as good a place as any. I raised my other hand to hover a ways above the dial.

"Ok," I took in a deep breath. This was it. "Here we go." I grinned, and brought my hand down.

The emerald light, which had only glowed softly until now, exploded from the Watch, enveloping me along with it. The light only lasted for a few seconds, and it was during that time I felt my body change. Now that I knew what was going to happen, I could focus on how it felt. It felt like my entire body was heating up, yet at the same time it felt normal, like it was supposed to happen, like nothing had changed. It was almost like this was me just being… well, me. I really had no idea how to describe it; I'm not even sure there were words for it.

The light faded, and I opened my eyes to gaze up at the sun. At least I wasn't feeling the heat anymore. Well, it wasn't that I felt cold exactly. I could feel the heat from the sun blaring down on me, but it just wasn't bothering me anymore. I raised a hand to shield my eyes from the still cloudless sky, but stopped to take a look at my new hands. The flesh of my arms had been replaced with solid red stone, with crisp cracks giving way to the inferno beneath. The cracks seemed to travel down and around my arms, lining up in the spots where my elbows and shoulders were, I think to allow me a free range of movement without grating the solid stone together. The rest of my forearms and hands were burning with living lava. I guess I should have made note of the fact that I only had four fingers now, but not only had I noticed that the first time, it was kind of overshadowed by the lava-flesh that flowed as a part of my arms like the insides of a lava lamp.

Pft, lava lamp. I snickered as I moved my arms to my sides, and looked down at the rest of my heated body.

The first thing I saw was the Watch's symbol on my chest. Except instead of green, the hourglass was now a plain white. I was aware of the fact that I was taller now, but I'd noticed that the first time around. My torso was made out of the same solid rock that contained my second kind of lava-flesh. My legs were no different; they were in the exact same condition as my arms. My thighs and shins were made of the red stone, and gave way to my feet, flesh that had become a living inferno. What caught my attention were my new feet, or rather the shape of them. I didn't notice the first time I took this form, but I only had three toes! And that was if you included the small one of the back of my heel! The other two were large, both curving inward towards each other and forming an oval shape in between each other. I balanced on one leg and turned the bottom of one of my molten feet towards me to see if it still had an arc, and although it seemed this body was flat footed, my attention was soon redirected to my other foot. The one still on the ground. Because I was very noticeably sinking into the sand.

Actually, I think I was sinking because I was melting the sand.

"Ah crap." I griped. My other foot returned to the ground and I stepped away, but sure enough, as soon as I stopped I could feel myself slowly sinking into the beach from the immense heat my feet were emitting. It seemed a little slower now that I didn't have all of my weight on one leg, but that didn't mean I liked it, or that it was stopping.

I started to pace to keep myself from sinking. I didn't want to try any of the other tricks I already knew this form could do until I had a handle on that, since there could definitely be… issues if I used this form in the city without proper control. It must have looked a little odd; a girl made of fire, pacing back and forth while staring down at the sand. I hadn't had much time to consider this problem before, but last time I'd been in a forest. I'd had a completely different set of problems then, but even so, there had been a portion of my time spent in this body where I didn't burn everything I touched. I just wasn't sure how to do it again.

I looked out to the water, small waves still rolling against the sand and the hulls of the cargo ships. Maybe… maybe if I cooled down enough, I'd stop sinking? Stop melting the sand? My pacing shifted course, taking me from the dry sand to the firmer wet sand. I noticed the sand in the space between my toes was rapidly changing to a lighter color as it dried up, then a wave washed up and over my feet.

I flinched, and the water hissed quietly as tiny tendrils of steam rose from where it had touched me. It hadn't hurt exactly, but it wasn't comfortable either. I walked a little deeper, ignoring the urge to get out of the water completely due to the sizzling sensation it was causing. I was ignoring it, because it was working. I was more than ankle deep now, the steam continuing to rise in wisps that occasionally obstructed the view of my now cooling feet. The lava-flesh of my feet were darkening, and the steam was slowing down. I felt a smile creeping up on my face; this might just-

And then the heat flared, my feet brightened, and the steam plumed with renewed vigor.

"Argh!" I groaned, my smile dying. I straightened up and swung my arm in front of me in a vain attempt to clear away the steam. This was ridiculous! If I didn't know any better, I'd say my legs were burning even hotter than before! And since this is only the second time I'd used this body, it's safe to say I didn't know any better. I stomped back onto the sand and stood there, hands on my hips and my head hung, uncaring as I stared at the melting sand under my feet.

I needed to get a handle on this; otherwise I'd never get to be a hero! I'd just be the girl made of lava that scorches everything she walks on! I'd burn entire buildings down just walking on the sidewalk! How pathetic would that be?! I hadn't even tried out the other forms yet. What if I had even more trouble after transforming into them?!

I took a deep breath, and steeled myself. I was right when I said I didn't really know what I was doing. This whole thing was really just trial and error, so I had to be patient, and try anything and everything. It would all work out. I just had to be patient and keep trying. I was able to use this body and its powers last time, why should now be any different?

Maybe do what I did last time? Now there was an idea. The setting and situation weren't the same, but I still had plenty of targets to fire at. I wasn't sure if it would make any difference with my hot feet, but it was the main thing I wanted to practice the next time I took this form. My whole 'melting down into the beach' thing just distracted me.

Speaking of which, I'd sank almost up to my shins into the sand. After I pulled my legs out of their super heated sand traps, I headed back towards the water. Again, I stood ankle deep, this time ignoring the steam that rose around me as I faced the open water. I raised my arm and extended my index finger, pointing down towards some of the calm, innocent looking water in front of me.

Take that. I thought as I fired a bullet of fire from the tip of my finger. A miniature geyser of steam accompanied its splash into the water, along with the same sizzling sound the water was making by my molten feet.

And that. I brought my other index finger up and fired again. I grinned. This was kinda fun when I didn't have to worry about setting a forest on fire. I started firing from both fingers this time.

"Pew. Pew. Pew-pew-pew!" I whispered as I fired. My sound effects might not have been accurate, but I soon found my earlier grin returning to my flaming face. I stopped firing and placed my hands on my knees, my shoulders shaking and my breathing erratic. I don't know how I'd done it, but I'd managed to send myself into a giggling fit with just shooting fire blasts and laser sound effects.

OK, ok, come on, I thought, still holding my sides slightly as I straightened up. Let's get it together. Time to try something else. I lifted my hand again, this time my whole palm facing towards the water, and focused. The entire surface of my hand and fingers spewed a stream of flame that quickly started to produce steam, not only in the area where the fire hit the water, but also in the area within a few feet of it. I was beginning to enjoy that sound, the water sizzling as my fire turned it into steam.

I cut off my 'hand made' flamethrower, and brought my palm closer to me. I grinned, an idea striking me, and after a quick clench of my fist, brought my hands together. My fingertips touched the heels of each hand, and as I separated my palms, a fireball grew between them. It was small, just slightly larger than a baseball, and I gripped it in the palm of my hand. And like a baseball, I drew my arm back, wound up, and pitched the flaming sphere out over the water. It may have only been about the size of a baseball, but when I saw the size of the splash, I might have believed someone had launched a rock way bigger than that!

That was awesome! I thought, grinning ear to ear. Now then, lets see what I can really do.

I clapped my hands together and immediately started growing another fireball. This time, I made it as big as a soccer ball. Now that it was bigger, I could take a closer look at it. It almost looked like there was lava flowing inside it; it kind of reminded me of this body's hands and feet, just not alive, if that made sense. Gripping it as best I could with one hand, I swung my arm sideways and lobbed the thing as far as I could before gravity dragged it to a watery grave. A column of steam rose in honor of its absolute awesomeness.

Ok, I thought as I started rubbing my hands together only semi-evilly. Time to either go big, or go home.

I clapped my hands together once more, but this time, above my head. I looked up as I spread them apart, a beautiful orb of fire growing with it. I'm not quite sure how big I made it, but I knew it was bigger than me. I saw that same kind of flowing heat inside it, just like before. I also noticed that, despite its size, I had no problem holding the fireball up. I wasn't sure if that was because this form was just strong, or if it was that I was somehow holding fire, but I wasn't about to start complaining. I looked back down towards the water, wondering where I should aim my flaming masterpiece, only to realize that I couldn't see anything. There was just too much steam. I don't know how much heat me or my fireball gave off, but it was evaporating too quickly, and getting in the way.

Slowly, I backed up out of the water and onto the beach. After the steam cleared, and it cleared quickly, I didn't waste any time. I gripped the fireball a little tighter, swung my arms back, took a step forward in the sand, and began to throw the fireball all in one motion.

And then it felt like everything was moving in slow motion. I knew it really wasn't, but it was just one of those moments. Just before I started to let go of the fireball, I felt my foot lose its, well, footing; it slid further forward than it should have because of what I later realized could only have been melted sand. I was leaning too far forward, and on reflex brought my arms down in front of me to catch myself.

I took me a moment to look up from the sand, and the next moment to realize that I'd throw my giant fireball in the process.

I'd meant it lob it up in the air like a beach ball, but during my slip and stumble, I'd been leaning further forward at a slight angle. This all resulted in my fireball rocketing into the water almost parallel to its surface, leaving small waves in its wake even before it hit the water. I don't know if it had something to do with its size, or if I'd just packed that much heat into a small enough package, but the fireball dropped into the water like a stone. I'd seen slow motion videos of a raindrop hitting the surface of a pond, how the pond water surged outward before rushing back in and colliding into itself over the drop. If I had filmed this moment and could replay it in slo-mo, I'd imagine it'd look like that.

Only instead of a ripple of water following the splash, I got my fireballs' imitation of Old Faithful. Steam exploded outward in every direction, rising higher and higher into the air. All I could do was stand up and stare at it. Shortly after, I blinked a few times, finding my voice.

"Well, I… certainty went big," I commented to myself as I turned and walked away from the water. I wasn't sure how I was gonna top that, but before I come up with any ideas, I heard something; something I'd only heard once before. I looked down at my chest, and saw the Watch's symbol flashing red in time with the beeps it was making.

When the final beep stared to drag on, the red light flashed outwards and enveloped me, just like before. Only now, I was changing back. Like last time, the light only lasted a second, and when it faded, I was me again. Same beat up sneakers, same long curly hair, same summer camp jacket, and the same incredible, unbelievable Watch attached to my wrist.

"But, now it seems it's time to go home." I finished, turning towards the general direction of home. It was gonna take me a while to get back, and even though it had to only be about noon now, I didn't want to risk biking through the city too late into the afternoon or early evening.

I turned back towards the giant pillar of steam my last fireball had created, now being pushed towards me by a gentle breeze. I smiled up at it, at least until I saw something move in the corner of my eye. I turned slightly to the right and squinted so it was in the center of my vision, and it was then that I noticed that the something was two somethings. There were two small dots in the moving through the cloudless sky, growing larger by the second. It didn't take me long to realize that they looked like people.

No, not just people. Capes. There were two capes flying straight towards me.

I felt a drop of sweat run down the back of my neck, and I was pretty sure it wasn't from the heat.