season 1. chapter 12

Chapter 12: Testing the Flame

The next morning passed in a peaceful rhythm, the RV humming steadily along the highway as the group settled into their new life on the road. Damion sat at the wheel, his hands relaxed on the steering wheel as he navigated the open stretches of highway, while Daniel sat next to him, occasionally glancing at a map sprawled across his lap. Every so often, they would chat about directions or crack a joke to break the silence, but mostly, the two were focused on keeping the RV on course.

In the back, Emma and Taylor had found a deck of cards and were engaged in a quiet game, laughter and light conversation flowing between them. It was a welcome distraction for Taylor, who had been more withdrawn since her brother's death, and Emma's easygoing nature seemed to be helping her ease back into a sense of normalcy.

Further back, Jason lay stretched out on one of the fold-out couches, Sarah nestled comfortably on top of him. Her head rested against his chest, her fingers idly tracing patterns along his arm as she drifted in and out of a light sleep. The rhythmic sound of the RV, combined with the gentle warmth of the sun streaming through the windows, made everything feel strangely serene—almost like they had escaped the horrors for just a moment.

But Jason wasn't completely relaxed. His mind had been swirling with thoughts of what happened the night before—the sudden burst of fire that had come from within him, the way the demon had disintegrated in flames. It wasn't the first time he had felt something stirring deep inside, but this… this had been different. It was as if something had awakened in him, something connected to the very thing they were fighting.

His eyes focused on his hand as he held it up, palm open. He could feel it again—the faint spark, the heat that lingered just beneath the surface of his skin. He wasn't sure what it was, or why it had surfaced now, but he had to understand it. If he could learn to control it, maybe it could be the key to surviving whatever was coming next.

Sarah stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she looked up at him. "You okay?" she asked softly, her voice laced with sleep.

"Yeah," Jason replied, though his tone was distant. "Just thinking."

She gave him a sleepy smile, leaning up to kiss his cheek before resting her head back against his chest. "Don't think too hard."

Jason chuckled softly, but his focus remained on his hand. He closed his eyes, trying to summon the same feeling from the night before. He pictured the flames—the way they had erupted from his grip, consuming the demon in a burst of heat and light. He concentrated, willing the fire to come, trying to feel the warmth again.

At first, nothing happened. His hand remained cool, unresponsive, as if whatever power he had tapped into had vanished. But then, slowly, he felt a flicker. It was faint at first—a subtle warmth that spread from his palm to his fingertips. His brow furrowed as he concentrated harder, trying to coax the flame into life.

The warmth grew, and soon, a small flame flickered to life in the center of his palm. It was weak, barely more than a spark, but it was there—real and tangible. Jason's heart raced as he stared at the flame, feeling the strange energy flowing through him.

"Whoa…" he whispered to himself.

Sarah, sensing something, opened her eyes again and glanced at his hand. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the small flame dancing in his palm. "Jason… how are you doing that?"

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice low. "It just… happened."

Sarah sat up, watching the flame with a mixture of awe and concern. "Be careful. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

Jason nodded, keeping his focus on the flame as he tried to control it. Slowly, he closed his hand, and the flame snuffed out, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. His breathing was steady, but his heart was pounding in his chest.

He had done it. He had controlled it—at least for a moment.

"I think I can control it," Jason said, his voice filled with quiet amazement. "This fire… it's inside me. I don't know how, but I can feel it."

Sarah looked at him with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Do you think it's connected to what happened last night? With the demon?"

Jason nodded. "It has to be. But I don't know why it's happening now. I've never been able to do anything like this before."

"Maybe it's part of whatever Tyler was trying to figure out," Sarah suggested, her expression thoughtful. "The journals… the demons… it's all connected somehow. Maybe you're connected to it too."

Jason fell silent, considering her words. He hadn't thought about it that way before, but it made sense. Tyler's cryptic notes, the demons, and now this strange ability—it was all part of something bigger, something they didn't yet understand.

"I'm going to keep working on it," Jason said finally. "If I can control it, maybe I can use it to protect us. To fight back."

Sarah nodded, though her eyes were filled with worry. "Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I will," Jason reassured her, pulling her back down into his arms. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

As they settled back into their comfortable position, the RV continued its journey along the road, the others unaware of the quiet awakening that was happening within Jason. But he knew now that this power—this fire—was going to be a part of him from now on. And as much as it scared him, it also filled him with a strange sense of purpose.

He wasn't just running from the demons anymore. He was preparing to fight back.