Author's Notes: Heh, so you like it, huh? Glad to hear it! Thanks, I got 5 reviews! Yeah!!!!! Okay, gotta thank the 5 reviewers:
Sabrin (gotta love the fav list), dxinsider, Kalgoorlie (yes, the dun, dun, dun was very appropriate!) Moony1 (true, that's not how things work) and Okami (yes, you officially made the 5th one)! Thanks!
Disclaimer-::many, many screams of annoyance::
"Help!" I whispered. Fear had frozen my vocal cords. I was glued to my spot, and could only stare at the ebony smoke seeping from under the door to cloud the room's ceiling. I heard an animal like cry and backed away from the blazing door. I ran to the window, searching for a broken pane or at least a hole so the smoke could escape. I heard another animal cry, and realization dawned on me * That was me! * I thought. Hysteria was still ebbing at the edges of my mind, stealing the air right from my lungs. I took a deep breath to calm my shattered nerves, only to cough it back out. The smoke was clouding up the air, making breathing difficult. I cried out again, my lungs begging for fresh air. Suddenly, everything was black.
*No, not again! * I cried. But the only answer was echoes, bouncing off invisible walls. Light! I cold see light up ahead! I ran forward, almost reaching it, when I was jerked back violently. I lay in a dark room. Light was shifting through my curtains, making the familiar place eerily un-welcoming to my unaccustomed eyes. I sat up, my breath labored. I saw swift movement in the corner of my eyes, and turned to see a fuzzy body land on top of my chest. But, it wasn't my chest; it was a clone's. * Or maybe…* No, this can't be happening!
I sat on the floor, staring at my sleeping body! I was a ghost, except my body was alive. I lifted my hand, and stared at it. * I can see through it… * I thought. I drew a deep, shuddering breath, and got to my feet. My body, the one on the bed, instantly opened it's eyes, and stared at the ceiling. I froze and watched her-I mean, me, sit up. She-I reached out and absently rubbed the sleeping cat's head. The being I had seen was only a cat. I sighed, but then remembered my predicament. I reached out slowly, and brushed my-her face. My hand went straight through her, and hit the pillow behind her, um, me. I pulled my hand back, and stood up quickly. This place…I knew it. Suddenly, it hit me. My home. In Georgia. The one that the doctors told me about. This couldn't be happening, though. I was really locked in a burning barn right now, about to be consumed by the violent flames.
"What's going on!?" I yelled to no one. Not even the cat moved. Was I dead? Had I choked to death on the smoke? Isn't that what usually kills people in fires first; inhaling smoke? * I guess it doesn't matter now, * I thought. I sat down on the edge of the bed, shock turning my fingers and toes numb with cold. * I didn't feel a thing… * I thought, blind to everything but the world inside my head. A sudden crack above my head broke me from my reverie. I looked up, and was confronted by a hideous sight. The room was on fire! A giant ember fell through me, and caught the sheets on fire, slowly burning a hole through the mattress. I leapt to my feet, and screamed. This was my dream! Only it wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare!
I, the real me, not the ghost me, was hanging from the windows edge. I ran to her, and looked down. She would fall on the car…but she probably wouldn't be really hurt. A fiery bit of roof fell through me, and landed on her hand. She cried out in pain and surprise, and let go of the ledge. She fell, screaming, to the hood of the car. I watched in slow motion, and saw the white light that gathered in her palms. It shot out quickly, blinding me, and destroying the house around me. It went through me, but this time, I was filled with a burning sensation. My cheeks were stinging, as if someone had just slapped me. I closed my eyes, but even through the lids I could see the white light. It hurt my eyes, and I did the only thing I could. I fell to my knees, covered my eyes, and curled into a ball.
Images were flying through me. Mass destruction f my house; the ungodly pain of my burnt hands; The sorrow to find later that I had killed my parents and my little brother when I fell. The three nights on the street, my hands cracked and bleeding; The three men who said they were working for the government, and wanted to ask me some questions about the horrid night; the chase that ensued after, when I refused to talk. Everything was coming back, and I wished I could force it away again. All this new information was choking me; it was killing me, speeding up my heart and squeezing the air from my lungs. I could feel the fire of the night again; could feel the fear that forced my mutant powers to the surface, burning my hands and destroying my life.
Then I felt it. Cool air, water; someone was here. I was lifted suddenly from my deadly corner, and carried to the cool air. I could barely hear their words over the ringing in my ears. I could feel the air moving me, the hot, cloudy air of my prison. Then it was gone. I could still feel the heat of the fire near me, but I wasn't inside it anymore. It didn't surround me anymore. It was gone…finally. I opened my watering eyes, to see many faces swimming in my blurry vision. I coughed, bringing the deadly smoke from my lungs, and drank in the fresh air of the outside world. I wasn't dead. I had been saved. I was safe now. And it was almost over. Not quite done, but it was getting there.
I could here voices now. They were asking how I was, whether I was okay or not. I think one of them even said how many fingers were they holding up. I smiled then, and ignored the tearing feeling of my dry lips. I could taste the blood when I licked them, but it didn't matter. I wanted the taste of the blood. I wanted the sore feeling in my lungs. I wanted to feel the warm tears running down my cheeks. I wanted to hear the buzz of the crickets around me. I wanted to feel the goose bumps rising on my skin. I wanted to feel the sharp rock digging into my back. Because it meant I was alive. I was okay, and I would live. I closed my eyes, enjoying the exhaustion that filled my being suddenly. All I wanted now was to sleep. I wanted to sleep the healing sleep that would bring all of me back, refreshed and eager. So I did.
Sooo…was it any good? I hope so. One more chapter after this, to better explain the situation. Should I do a sequel? I'm not sure. I probably shouldn't, you guys MUST be sick of this one! ^_^ REVIEW!!!!!!