W.I.T.C.H
Chapter 22
Fire
My alarm rings at 8:00 a.m. sharp. It doesn't need to though; I've been awake and alert for a while now. Too many things have happened in the last couple of days for me to sleep peacefully. Elyon's on Kandrakar. Our powers are gone. My brain's trying to go through every series of events possible for the next few days, but it's too much information at once, and I'm getting a headache. No good ever came from an 8 a.m. headache.
In case you haven't figured it out, my name is Taranee Cook. You probably know me best as a Guardian. I'm the one who shoots fireballs out of my hands. That's not me anymore, though, now I'm just an ordinary girl from Heatherfield, and that's the way I like it.
I decide to focus just on today. It's not as easy as it sounds, putting together a schedule for a normal day. I frown as I realize I can't remember the last time I had a day that wasn't affected by the Guardians in one way or another. Our entire lives, ruled by some old men in robes. It's not right. I don't know about the rest of the girls, but I'm perfectly happy without the wings.
Twenty minutes later, I'm on my way downstairs and I've got my whole day planned out. I've got to admit, it's going to be a pretty awesome day. A chance to catch up on my schoolwork (I don't even want to think about my GPA this semester), and a chance to just relax and have some fun.
"Good morning everyone!" I say cheerfully. What can I say; I'm in a good mood. I don't have to fight a single monster today. Naturally, it's my brother Peter that notices the change.
"What happened to you?" he asks, "You're smiling! I wasn't sure you still knew how to do that."
"Just glad to be with my family." I say, giving him a hug.
"Woah, now physical showings of affection? Who are you and what have you done with my sister? And whatever you've done with her, keep doing it. I like this version way better."
"Knock it off, Peter." My mom says. "You should be glad that your sister is in a good mood for once."
I manage to keep my smile, but I'm surprised by their words. Was I really that miserable as a Guardian? Doesn't matter now, that life is behind me.
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door.
"I'll get it!" I say, jumping up.
I answer the door and see an unexpected face.
"Taranee? It's me, Mary!"
And with four words, the plans of an entire day fade away. I give a shamefully girlish sequel and wrap the girl in front of me in a big hug.
"Mary! How long has it been?"
"A little under three years now, Tara."
Of course it's been a little under three years, because it was a little under three years since I moved to Heatherfield, and a little under three years since I became a Guardian.
Okay, time to explain. Before we moved to Heatherfield three years ago, we lived in a small town called Sesamo. I have a lot of good memories from Sesamo, and they all involve Mary, who was my best friend. We did everything together. She's a tall, athletic girl, who's very attractive in a dangerous sort of way. Pretty much the opposite of what I was like back then, which is probably why we got along so well. She always looked out for me, and protected me from anyone who would have picked on me. Once I moved to Heatherfield, though, we lost touch. You know how things are when you move, you make new friends and you forget about the old ones, no matter how hard you try not too. Sadly, I hadn't spoken to her since I became a Guardian.
"Wow, you're a lot stronger then I remember." She says.
"Sorry." I say, quickly realizing my bear hug. "But, what are you doing here? Don't you still live in Sesamo?"
"Yep, but Aunt Joyce just moved to Heatherfield, and we're giving her a hand moving in. I just had to come see you."
"Well, I'm glad you did." I say.
"Taranee, who is it?" I hear my mom ask from the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Mary is inside getting reacquainted with the family. Once everyone has said hi, I show Mary my room.
"So what are you doing today? You're not busy, are you?" Mary asks.
"Actually, I'm more free today then I have been in years." I say truthfully.
"Great! Then you can show me around town." She says, dragging me towards the door.
Where do two girls go when they've got no deadlines and no responsibilities? The shopping mall, of course.
"It went up about six months ago." I tell Mary as we wander past the stores.
I don't tell her that it's also the same place we fought Nerissa and her brainwashed Guardians. There are some things that have to stay between new friends.
"Wow, we don't have anything like this in Sesamo!" she says, looking around in awe. Sesamo is a pretty small town. Everybody knows everybody, and the biggest store is a Ma & Pa's.
"Hey, there's a Donnington's up there on the fourth floor! They have the best deals!" I say, pointing up.
"Great! Come on, there's got to be stairs somewhere." She replies.
"Why stairs?" I ask, "There's an elevator right here."
"Oh, I thought you were afraid of elevators." She says, surprised.
"Oh, I got over that years ago."
When you can fly, not much sense in being afraid of elevators. Two hours and two empty credit cars later, we decide to head home, mostly due to the fact that all of our bags are weighing us down.
"There's no way I'm walking home carrying all of this." I say. "Let's call a cab."
"You take taxis?" she asks. "You used to be terrified of taxis. You always thought they would drive away with you inside. I guess that's another fear you've conquered."
I had forgotten all about my fear of taxis. I was afraid of a lot of things back then, I guess it controlled my life. I used to be just a timid and frightened girl, too shy to do much of anything. That's why I was so close to Mary. She was the only person who would be my friend. I'm not like that anymore though, and as much as I hate to say it, it's because of the Guardians. Little yellow cars don't look like much compared to giant lizards.
After we've dropped our bags off at home, Mary tells me she should get back to her parents before it gets to late.
"Do you at least have time for lunch?" I ask.
"Of course, Tara." She says. "Know anywhere good?"
"The best." I say with a smile. "There's a little place, it's called the Silver Dragon."
I take us through an ally way, behind some old shops. It smells horrible, but it cuts twenty minutes off our walk.
"Wow," Mary says, holding her nose, "the Taranee I knew would never have walked down here."
I smile, remembering the first time I came down here. The Star of Threbe had taken away our powers, and we had to sneak back to the Dragon without being seen. I'm surprised to find I have good memories of those days. Despite my best efforts to the contrary, I find myself feeling fondly about the Guardians. No sense worrying about it now though, those days are long gone.
Suddenly, a strange feeling washes over me, as if someone had just stepped on my grave. It's coming from the store beside us, but what is it? It feels so familiar… too familiar.
"Mary, get down!"
The back door of the store beside us is blown open by a massive fireball. Fire. Of course it's fire. I could sense it coming. Guess some things stay with you, Heart or now Heart. Mary's fine, but shaken. I don't know what happened, and I don't care. I can hear coughing. There's someone still inside!
"Mary, stay here." I say, sprinting towards the door.
"Taranee, wait!" She says, but it's too late, I'm already inside. It's weird how my instinct was to run into the burning building. I guess I'm just used to rushing into danger. Normally I have the girls beside me, but…
The store is engulfed in flames. It's a convenience store and the owner is the only one inside, but he's unconscious. Turns out he had been smoking, and had accidently thrown his cigarette butt into the furnace. I don't know any of that at the time, though. I'm too busy trying to get both of us out alive.
The trouble with flame is that it's hypnotic. The flickering light, the warmth, it's enough to put someone to sleep. I'm used to it, so it doesn't slow me down. Even the smoke doesn't bother me as much as it would other people. When you fight with fire, you also know how to fight against it.
I sprint through the store, pulling my shirt over my mouth. The storeowner doesn't look too good. He's unconscious, which is probably for the best. I grab him and drag him towards the door.
Not many people know this, but fire cools down a little before it explodes. Not much, only a couple of degrees, but if you're in tune with fire like I am, and if you're looking for it, it's noticeable. Just as we're nearing the door, I feel it. The calm before the storm. The intake of heat just before it's dramatically released. I throw the owner out of the door, and then leap to safety seconds before the store explodes.
By the time it's over, I'm lying on the cold pavement, coughing a store's worth of smoke out of my lungs. Mary, not used to life or death situations like I am, is panicking, and calling my name over and over again.
"Calm down, Mary, I'm alright." I say, getting to my feet. "How's the owner?"
Mary rushes over to the man and does a quick check. She was a lifeguard at one point, so she knows her first aid.
"He's not awake, but I think he's fine. Tara, that was amazing!"
That's a relief. At least all that effort wasn't in vain. I can hear sirens in the distance.
"Let's get out of here." I say, "Before anyone sees us."
"What? But you just saved that man's life! Don't you at least want your name in the paper?"
"Sure, but I don't want to go through hundreds of interviews and police reports. It's easier if we just make a clean break."
She resists for a while, but eventually I get the both of us out of the alley before the cops show up.
"I don't understand you." Mary says, "You could be a hero, and instead you just leave?"
I shrug. It's all I can really do. I'm already a hero on another world, and after all I've done, I guess pulling someone out of a burning building just doesn't cut it anymore. I hate to admit it, but I'm starting to rethink my position on being a Guardian. If it weren't for my Guardian experience, that man would have died. How can the Guardians be a bad thing if they save people's lives? By the time we get to the Dragon, I'm thoroughly confused.
"And the way you just ran into that building? That was amazing!" Mary says, "You used to hate fire more then anything."
"I've grown to appreciate fire in a completely different way. It's like a friend to me now." I say truthfully.
"So no more fear of fire, or elevators." Mary says thoughtfully. "What about spiders?"
"Nope." Too much time fighting Miranda forced me to get over that.
"Public speaking?"
"Not anymore." I've had to reassure so many Meridianites…
"Heights?"
"Gone." I can fly. Could fly.
"Bats?"
"No problem." I've faced Phobos. Bats are nothing.
"High toilets?"
"Fearless." Okay, that one was just stupid.
"Well, I don't know what you've been doing these last few years, but keep doing it."
"Huh?" I say. Not my most intelligent response ever.
"You're a whole new person." Mary says. "A better one too, I might add. You used to be timid and shy. Now you're a strong, independent person. You saved someone's life today like it was a regular occurrence. I used to feel bad for you with all your fears, now I envy you. You're braver and stronger then I'll ever be."
The weirdest thing is, she's right. I used to be scared of my own shadow, and now? I feel like I can do anything. I'd hate to be the person I was three years ago. And the reason for the change? The Guardians. Like it or not, they've changed my life. How can I reject something that's made me such a better person? I realize I can't. I need to be a Guardian, if not for others, then for me.
Mary and I finish our meals and she says she has to go. It's been great seeing her again, but I'm afraid I had too much on my mind to appreciate it.
"Thanks." I say, giving her a hug.
"For what?"
"You helped me make a tough decision." I say.
She doesn't understand, but she doesn't have to. We say goodbye, promising to keep in touch.
I've made up my mind. The Guardians have made me the person I am today, and I can't wait to see where they take me tomorrow.
My name is Taranee Cook, and I am a Guardian.