Chapter Eight

As we got to where Tyson was taking us, I was met with the sound of short shouts, slashing and clanging of metal on metal with a few lots of Mavi’s training left and right in the field. Some were fist sparring on the right side of a field, some were target practicing with bows and arrows, some used their elements to shoot the ragdoll. On the other side of the field, there were sparring with wooden swords, beside them – a short fence divided them and few Mavi’s were sparring with real swords.

This looked like in movies where there’s a camp for training people who have their own unique ability – either swords, bows and arrows or spears, but there were no spears of course, just their powers.

A thought suddenly came to my mind as I stood there with everyone so busy with their training, as if I was in another plane – another dimension, another voice I was hearing but my voice at the same time.

That's right, no one would look your way when you're gone.

My brows furrowed. What was that? I looked at Leah who was busy ogling the place – she walked up towards a rack of equipment hanging from it and picked up a longbow. She caressed it like a baby in her hands, her finger tips brushing the wood gently – turning it over to the side and she picked up a few dozen of arrows on her other free hand.

"So," Tyson started beside me. "Let's get you up and sweating. Firstly, I'll teach you how to control your flames." He nodded his head, indicating to follow him to a spot in a field. Mike followed us behind her scrawny figure was so out of place since everyone here has muscles on their arms.

We stopped at the end of the field – it was almost deserted and away from the Mavi's trainings. I was slightly offended at it but given that I was still not in control of my powers, I let it be.

Tyson took off his red flannel shirt, revealing a white sando and his flexing buff muscles. The veins in his hands were evident and so manly. A woman passed by and she turned to take a quick glance before running off shyly out of sight when she saw Tyson's body. I admit, he is hot, but he's an egotistical man. I would've liked him if he wasn't such a self-centered guy. It makes me gag thinking about him flexing his muscles every once in a while.

Tyson stood gracefully in front of me – raising his hands. "Fire is like a raging bull." Flames slowly lit up on the center of his hand. It was small at first but it grew bigger as the minute passed. "But when in control, you can manage the size of it and seize it under your control."

I was mesmerized by the flames dancing on his palm. The glint on my eyes was clear that the fire mirrored in my eyes. It was calming looking at it, it was beautiful.

"Now you try it." He smiled and closed his palm, the flame disappearing as he put down his hands. He walked up towards me and raised my left arm – tracing his fingers on it down towards my wrist. "Feel the heat, run up your arms when you build it. Feel the flow in your arms like water running."

When he traced his fingers on my arm, a person popped up in my mind, wishing it was this person who traced their fingers on my arm. I would've shivered from this person's touch, and would've wanted them to keep caressing me. But sadly, this man was the one who's tracing his calloused fingers on my arm. My mood turned sour the instant I thought about it.

"Calm your nerves, the more emotions you feel, the more the flames go berserk." He patted my shoulder.

I nodded in understanding. I took a quick glance over to Leah who was a few feet from us – shooting the target right in the center. I looked back at my own hands and focused on the heat running up my veins. I could feel the heat flowing clearly as instructed by Tyson. I swallowed a lump on my throat. I admit, I was a little scared. What if I can't control it?

"Clear your head, focus on the heat running in your veins to your hand." He let go of my arm and placed his hands on his hips as he watched my hand.

Slowly, embers lit up on my palm just like what Tyson did when he demonstrated it to me. I could feel a smile coming up my face as the flames on my hand grew to an enough size.

"I'm impressed. You learn fast." Tyson complimented.

I looked over the flames and saw Leah crossing her arms and smiling whilst leaning on the table that was set out situated at the fence. I felt my cheeks blush and diverted my attention back to my hand. The flames dancing in glee – I thought about what happened in Neverwhere and pictured the slithering fire slith on my arms around. The flames before me took form as what I had in mind and slithered around. I was surprised by it, but let calmness overtake my shock as I did not want to burst this slithering flame on my hands. I looked up at Tyson, only to be met by shock and fear in his eyes.

My smile dissipated as soon as I saw the look on his face. Looking over his shoulder, Leah's arm uncrossed. I had a feeling what I was doing was not something I should've done. I put my finger down and looked at Tyson. "What?"

He cleared his throat, glancing around as if afraid that someone saw it. "Never do that trick in here, Selina." For the first time since we met in the garage, his tone changed to seriousness. It was firm and deep.

I was confused why I shouldn't do that. It was just a trick. "Why can't I do that?"

"Because, you just can't.", he replied. His tone still firm.

"But why? It was just a tri-"

"You just can't! Okay?" He cut me off. Sighing, "It's not good for you to do that trick in here. Not while you're in Mavi's territory." He looked around once again, making sure no one saw what I did.

"Oh." I simply said. But I still didn't understand. It was just a simple trick. Was there something unsettling about it to the Mavi's? "Is there something with it to the Mavi's?"

He nodded. "Yes. And it's not something you would want to hear."

My brows furrowed. "I would want to hear whatever it was. A simple trick couldn't just scare a Mavi's like that. They could put out my flames whenever. So I don't get why you're telling me that I'm not supposed to do that."

He sighs. Mike stood up from the ground, patting his back to get rid of the dust. "There's a story that everyone tells to scare kids." He walked up to us, fixing his round glasses on his nose. "A snake, no rather a serpent, turned to flame. Its body encased with the fires from hell, black flames that slithered in around a woman whose face is hidden behind a veil. She was the woman known as the wielder of fire serpents from hell. And she'd take kids who were still awake at midnight and feed them whole to the fire serpent." Mike scoffed. "It's what the adults here say to scare the kids away." He shrugged.

"Honestly, that is just ridiculous." Leah, now beside me, commented. I shivered at her presence. Tyson snapped his fingers in front of me and I snap back from my state.

"Now, where were we?" He said. He snapped his fingers once again and a red flame lit up on his finger like a lighter. "Do it again. Practice on controlling it."

I nodded. Pushing the story they told me aside in my head, clearing it out of any thoughts. I exhaled. Closing my eyes, I felt the world slow down before me. The birds stopped chirping, the wind ceased to exist – I could feel the stillness caress my skin.

Do you ever wonder how it feels like to suffocate? 

I opened my eyes at the startled of the voice. But only when I opened my eyes, I wasn't where I was supposed to be. Everything was dark, burned and almost barren. Tyson, Mike and Leah were gone along with all the Mavi's. I turned my head around, searching for everyone. 

Do you ever wonder how it would be of humans made you feel lonely?

I panned my head behind me to where I heard the voice, but there was no one.

Do you ever think they'd stick by you?

I could feel my heart beat against my chest loudly now. Scared of this unknown voice.

Forever? The voice laughed. It was chilling and taunting.

What if they found out about your truth? The truth you've escaped?

"Who are you?" I shakily asked.

Oh nobody. I could feel its smile. Just someone who brings out the truth. Someone who's always right about things. Someone that people should be afraid of.

"What do you mean truth?" I asked, still searching for the source of the voice. It was echoing everywhere – a familiar yet unfamiliar voice.

People push you to your edge. And the feelings are just suffocating that you just want to burn everything. It laughed.

"Who are you?!" I shouted – feeling anger rising up my chest.

I told you, I'm nobody. But a somebody in your life. A leech sucking out the life you have. I'm someone you speak although unconsciously.

My brows furrowed. "What does that mean? I don't know anyone." I felt the air around me slowly build its rage.

"Oh yes you do." the voice – now clearer, came from behind me. I turned around and saw a shadow figure of a woman. Red haired, shining flaming red eyes that shone against the shadows that hid her figure. "We might not look alike right now. But soon, you'll succumb to your own darkness."

I squinted my eyes curiously at her, slowly approaching her. "Who are you?" I asked in a whispered voice but enough for her to hear. 

"You're going to turn to me soon and tell me that I was right all along. That everything you do, is futile. No matter the things you do rightly." I could feel her smile behind the shadow that covers her. Those glowing red eyes – amusedly looking at me.

I was scared now. The wind that picked up paced around me, surged through the place – creating havoc to the field. The shadow that embraced the woman before me still covered her figure despite the raging wind around us. Sparks of fire flew with the wind, catching some trees that got in the rage on fire. I was getting a hard time standing up now because of the wind.

The woman spoke again. "You'll thank me soon.", she smiled wickedly at me. "See you soon, Selena." She rose up on the ground, the shadows around her covering her, she looked at me one last time before the shadows totally covered her left eye, and she suddenly swooped down towards me, making me knock off my back.

The time slowed down – my eyes half close, I could see the leaves that flew with the raging winds, I exhaled shortly. And before I knew it, I was back on the field. My back on the ground. I could hear my chest pounding.

"Are you okay?" Mike's familiar voice came beside me.

I looked at him, he was crouched down, his round glasses stuck on his curly black hair. I gulped, bewildered at what I had seen. Who was that? What was that? I stared at the perfectly clear sky, ignoring the buzz I hear around me. There was a tingling in my ear, a continuous sound.

You'll be thankful I came.

I sat up suddenly, startling everyone around me with their worried look etched on their face. "Did you see that?" I asked. Not knowing what I was saying.

Worried turned to confusion. "That you knocked yourself off?", Leah answered confused.

Don't trust anyone, girl. They'll betray you one day. The voice came in again.

"That!" I exclaimed. Looking at everyone around me.

"That what?" Tyson asked, looking around us.

Am I the only one who could hear the voice? I glance down at the trimmed yellowing grass. "I-...nothing. I probably hit my head." I shook my head and stood up, brushing off the dirt on my back.

"You alright?", Leah asked, a hint of softness in her voice.

I looked at her. There was something that I see differently now. A tinge of hurt in my chest that I couldn't fathom. I quietly walked away from her. "I need a break.", I said whilst already walking away from them.

I could feel the heat run up my veins as I pondered upon what that woman in the shadows said. What she meant by her words, what she meant that I'd be thankful to her soon.

What did she mean?