Finally updating now and a new story at last. This has been gathering dust in my desktop for ages ask my lovely editor, Nevermore the Raven, how long ago i sent this to her. anyway, don't think i'll be on for a long while so thought i'd post this first.
Gowns sparkled under the golden light that poured out from the crystal lamps hanging above. Many people chattered about many things but more specifically about the many aspects of science. Scientists from all over the country had gathered that evening. All had smiles pasted onto their faces as they greeted each other and compared theories, or their works in small groups of threes and fours. However, a much larger group gathered at one corner of the room. All of them were whispering excitedly at an auburn-haired girl of about fourteen years of age. Eager eyes scanned her from head to toe and pointed at her as though she was a newfound, exotic animal under their study.
The girl, however, showed no reaction to them, keeping her head bowed down and hair hanging down at the side of her face to avoid the stares. Her burgundy eyes burned fiercely like wild fire, if anyone had seen them, they would have thought that it really was fire and would have leaped through her two eyes to devour them. But other than her hands clenched tightly around her emerald dress, she showed no other obvious emotions.
"Really Professor Melville, what did you say that this girl can do? Light fires with her own two hands?" A proud-looking lady asked with contempt dripping from her voice. "You can't be serious. That is not humanely possible."
"Is that so Madam Rosette?" Asked a tall man with streams of white hair running down his brown hair. His eyes glittered with obvious glee. "Then I'll show you the very thing that you name impossible."
He walked forward proudly like a parent and laid a hand onto the girl's shoulder. "Show her Phoenix."
The crowd waited in tense silence but Phoenix was a still statue. She did not move an inch; her eyes were still fixed on the carpeted floor. Mutters began to rise up from the group as seconds passed and Madam Rosette's high strung voice could be heard clearly, "See, she's nothing but a phony." The crowd buzzed in agreement but it had no effect whatsoever on Phoenix. But the effect on Professor Melville could be seen as his face fell from confident to anxious. Glaring down at the seated girl, he wringed her delicate-looking shoulder with his large hands and whispered harshly, "What are you waiting for? Show them what you can do!"
"Do? Do what?" The girl stood up and swung her hand at the professor to shake his grip off her, her voice shrieked as she demanded and the whole crowd was silenced immediately. But for a split second, they were sure that they had seen sparkling light, fire, at the girl's fingertips just as she swung them. Her face screwed up in anger.
"Do this?" She spat out. Turning to the chair that had toppled over when she had stood up, she glared at it and a hand was lifted and brought down in a chopping motion. Before anyone could blink, the chair suddenly burst into huge gigantic flames that easily towered over the girl.
The crowd drew away with a gasp of amazement and surprise. But Phoenix stood beside it and did not even flinch when the sides of the flames licked her.
The whole crowd had fallen silent after her outburst but now the whole room was silent as all watched the hungry flames devour the chair till nothing was left but a charred heap. The flames started to spread and some people shouted to get the extinguisher. But Phoenix held out a hand in front of her and made a small waving motion and the flames disappeared. Everyone stared at the girl in silence before excited mutters broke out. Phoenix glared at the floor once more, her fists clenched tightly against her sides until her nails dug into her palms, leaving new moon-shaped scars over old ones.
People from all over the room walked over curiously, inquiring about what had caused the fire. People who had seen it buzzed delightfully, conveying the spectacular they had seen. Others looked the black heap of what had once been a chair and moved back cautiously while others moved forward eagerly to look at Phoenix with new interest while maintaining a careful distance.
So absorbed were all of them that they did not notice Professor Melville creep away from the group as he entered another dark room, his eyes were weary and showed white as though he was afraid.
Stepping into the room, he saw a window flung wide open and the cold night draft blew towards him making him shiver. White sheets hanging over the window fluttered towards him like the hem of someone's dress. The professor looked around wearily.
"Who's… there?" He shuddered.
"I am." A voice announced just as the door behind him slammed shut, causing him to jump. The sound of chattering ceased. The bright light disappeared and dim lights flooded into the small room. The professor turned around and saw a face or rather, a mask stare back at him but he looked as though he was seeing some supernatural being, a ghost.
"You! You're… you're supposed to be dead!" The professor exclaimed.
"Ah yes, but I'm standing right before you now, am I not?" The mask laughed, as it stepped forward to reveal a body clad in metal armour. He obviously enjoyed the discomfort of the other man. "Tell me how is my girl?"
"She… she… That's none of your business! She's mine now." Professor Melville said, his voice suddenly sounding confident.
"Oh really? Might I remind you that I was the one who helped you during your little crisis? And I gave you a job." The man paused. "Are you going to defy me?"
"I would be a fool if I was to hand her over. With her I can get the Nobel prize and all the fame that I want and that my greatness truly deserves!" Greed could be seen in every line of his face.
"Looks like you don't have a conscience… Well, neither do I." The masked man said, his one eye seemed to fill with uncontrollable glee. He turned and walked toward the open window paused and turn around. Flicking out of his belt, he took out a small device and played with it in his hand.
"Goodbye then professor. Enjoy your night."
Professor Melville turned around and placed a sweaty and shaking hand onto the doorknob. He turned the knob and breathed out a sigh of relief as though he had just avoided a catastrophe.
"Cause it's going to be your last."
The professor turned around sharply but all that met his eyes were that of the open window, the masked man had disappeared. He had no time to ponder on whether the words he had heard were just the wind or if it was said by the masked man as a surge of people rushed towards him and bombarded him with questions. He grinned like a child that had just received a new toy, putting the whole conversation that he just had to the back of his mind.
"You know Professor Melville, I really didn't want to do this…" The masked man whispered to the night air, the small device still in his hand. He watched the building that he had just broken into. "But then again, you are of no further use to me."
Raising the small device so that his eyes could see it clearly he placed a thumb over a button.
"Good bye, professor."
The thumb pressed down.
People were still chatting happily, no one noticed anything out of the ordinary until someone screamed. Heads turned and eyes were widened.
The girl seemed to have caught fire as ravenous flames covered her from head to toe. Someone grabbed an extinguisher and sprayed it at her but he was only rewarded with a whip of flames lashing out at him and sent him flying to the other side of the room. People drew back as the flames got fiercer and bigger.
"Professor Melville, control her!" Someone shouted at the bewildered professor. He calmed himself and stepped forward as though this happened every day of his life.
Phoenix's back was turned to everyone and her nails dug into the sides of her arm. Her mouth opened in a silent scream. It was obvious that she was in great pain.
"Phoenix, that's enough! Stop throwing tantrums!" The professor commanded.
Phoenix turned sharply and lashed out an arm toward him. He did not even have the time to scream nor was there a chance for him to show pain or fear before flames devoured him and he disappeared. The life of Professor Melville had ended.
There was a mad dash for the exit as people screamed and tripped over each other. Phoenix's attention turned towards them and a hand reached out to them. Flames followed the direction of her hand. They speeded hungrily towards the people and devoured them one by one until all screams ceased except the silent ones of Phoenix.
The masked man watched from his roost. The floor that the party was held was completely devoured by flames and was spreading to the other floors. Many red fire engines were parked below, desperately trying to put out the fire. But the victor of the battle for the building was obvious.
The man chuckled. "As much fun as that was, I guess that will have to do for now." Holding up the same device, he flipped it over and pressed the other button there. Almost immediately, the fire seemed to be less violent and the fire was gradually being put out.
Standing up, he watched the fanatic scene below. People were running here and there screaming. Some just stared behind the tape that the police had put up. He let out an exasperated sigh. "I guess I'll have to pick her up another time…"