Chapter 83

There were a number of strangers walking casually down the street but none could see her. It must have been around mid-morning....the sun was just starting to rise. 

Flame still kept her focus on the girl, noting how she staggered every once in a while,how she had cursed at the sun for hurting her eyes. She was clearly hangover, and almost everyone she passed by would take a second to glance at her and shake their heads, possibly wondering what sort of parents would let their teenage daughter wander around dressed like that. 

So many conclusions were racing through Flame's mind, but she feared to commit to either of them. The girl stopped and so did she, they were outside an apartment building, and not a classy one either. It looked old and poorly maintained, the girl went in and so did Flame. She swallowed as she looked around, almost incapable of seeing anything since the staircase was flooding with darkness. The girl finally stopped at the third floor and headed for one of the doors, then she banged on it with both hands and took an unsteady step back. Not long after the door was opened up by yet another girl. Also clearly a teenager. She rolled her eyes and stepped back inside, leaving the door open for the stranger to pass. Flame walked in with her and stood just inside the doorway. The apartment was crappy. And it smelt. There were packets of takeout laying all around and she could see the dust in almost every surface from where she was. 

" Jesus Lisa, you trying to break my door down or what?! " the new girl asked. 

Lisa, Flame thought. So that was the girls name. 

" That old thing? I'd be doing you a favor. "

" Yeah well unless you have cash to get me a new one, which you don't, then learn how to fucking knock!"

" Okay, jeez Mel, relax, "

Flame watched as Mel, proceeded to sit down at an old and stain filled couch, then she leaned towards the table next to it and went back to what she was doing. On taking a step closer, Flame realized that she was sniffing cocaine. Lisa went to bend and do the exact same thing when all of a sudden she gagged, standing up she dashed for the washroom and headed straight for the toilet. 

Both Mel and Flame followed behind her....and little by little, Flame was starting to realize what was going on. 

" Hey, you okay? " A concerned Mel asked. Lisa threw up, flashed then slowly stood and headed for the sink.

" Yeah, must be the hangover..." There was doubt in that voice. As if she was trying to convince herself of something. Mel rolled her eyes and said something about drinking too much before she walked back to the living room. Flame looked at Lisa once more through the reflection in the mirror, her eyes narrowing in scrutiny. Then all of a sudden the scene changed and she found herself in some sort of trailer. It's condition was worse than that of the apartment. She furrowed her brows and looked around the cramped space,then she saw Lisa again. Lying on her back on the floor.

Pregnant. And she was clearly far along in her pregnancy. Flame noticed how the females face seemed to be scrunched in agony. She was taking in deep breaths, moaning painfully,her hands clawing at the floor. And Flame could tell that she was in labor,but there didn't seem to be anyone around to help....she dashed towards her and went down on her knees. 

" Hey!" she called out but got no response,and when she tried to touch her again she was unable to, her hand passed through the females form like that of a ghost. 

Lisa arched her back and screamed in obvious pain, she was panting and her forehead was wet with sweat. She shouted for help but no one ever came. Flame looked around hopelessly, then she heard some sort of hissing sound. And when she breathed in all she could smell was gas. She stood and her eyes immediately fell to the tiny kitchen area where the stove had been left on. She shook her head vigorously and ran towards it,but she couldn't touch it either. 

She couldn't help.

Lisa continued her screaming, and Flame wondered why no one was dashing to aid. She dug her hands into her hair and let herself drown in the raw feeling of hopelessness. Knowing that there was literally nothing she could do to help the situation. She watched as Lisa reached down with shaky hands and took off the pair of sweats she had on, then she planted her palms on the floor and forced herself to sit up a little straighter.

Then she pushed, her eyes squeezing shut and her scream so feral it was almost capable of breaking the glass around them. She pushed with all the might that she had, taking short breaks to try and steady her breathing before she pushed again. Sitting back in her heels Flame urged her on, aware that she could not be heard but yet unable to control herself.

Then she heard some sort of gunshots outside and she shuddered. Standing up and running to the window she peeped outside. Wondering what sort of place that was, how people lived there. She had spent her life in awful places but none of them, the asylum excluded, had ever been as bad. And right outside the trailer, a few feet away were two men. One held a gun to the others head, facing towards the trailer.

Flame's mind immediately registered the stove that had been left on....the gas that filled the space.

Flammable gas. Bullets. Not the best combination there could be. 

Another scream, then the sound of a child crying. Flame looked back around and watched as Lisa fell back on the floor with a soft thud, her chest rising much slower. A heavy pool of blood around her. Tears staining her cheeks, running all the way to her temples and disappearing into her brown hair. She looked devoid of strength. Dashing to her, Flame went down on her knees again and looked at the child. So tiny she was. And her cry was so loud, as if she could understand the sort of misery and chaos she had been birthed into. Lisa tried to get up, to stretch her hand and get a touch of her baby's skin, but she was too weak. She could hardly lift her hand. 

And the all of a sudden, out of the blew she appeared. In a blast of light that was too bright to withhold...a being bred of softness but who could end a life with a single flick of her slender fingers. Flame's breathing hitched and she looked at the female, the dark curly hair and the features lined with untold magic. She walked slowly until she got to Lisa and her newborn, then she knelt beside both and simply looked at them. Pain and affection swirling in her blue eyes. 

Lisa was hardly conscious, her lips parted as she looked at the stranger.

" Aurelia?" Flame whispered more to herself than anyone else. It was her, she needed no reassurance because she could feel that it truly was. 

" What....who? " Lisa struggled to ask, confusion evident on her pained features, the pool of blood beginning to increase, it surrounded the baby completely. 

She coughed weakly then uttered the word, " Please, " Not even sure whether or not Aurelia was real but choosing to believe because there was nothing else she could do. She could only believe.

" Time runs out, " Aurelia spoke in a gentle voice that was also confident and firm. She turned to the window and listened to the two men arguing.

" Take her, please..." Lisa pleaded. The love for her daughter who she was yet to even see clear in her voice. Aurelia separated the young child from her mother and then picked her up from the pool of blood. Holding her against her chest. The baby stopped crying.

" She is destined for greatness, " Aurelia said. Her eyes on the baby, then she reached out and held Lisa's hand. She was barely breathing at that point, her eyes flattered closed and Flame watched in immense pain as she drew in her last breath.

She had just witnessed her mother die. 

" It appears fate has chosen you little one, " Aurelia gently spoke. Then Flame watched in confusion as Aurelia placed her palm on the baby's chest and closed her eyes. A wave of something in bright orange suddenly got transferred from her hand and into the child. 

" From the flames you shall rise. " 

Cradling the child closer to her chest, Aurelia stayed still. She didn't move, didn't disappear. She stayed still until at last a bullet came flying into the house and everything exploded in a blast of heat. Flame didn't even have it in her to scream, and the next time she opened her eyes again, she discovered that the scene had once again changed.