The Daily Dime: Fire

So, last night, Gabe and I were talking, and we agreed on a sort of duel, his suggestion. That cad sneakily got in the first thrust, so this is my parry with a counter attack. Hiya, sucka!

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Jenny

Lost in her world

Jenny

Consumed in a flame

Lost in her world

Don't leave quite yet

Consumed in a flame

Don't leave quite yet

Jenny

As most things do, at least most things worth writing about, it starts with a girl. And like all girls, this one's different. There's something unique and special about her, something only she can bring to the world.

“Please, don't do anything crazy,” he pleaded. He reached across the table and gripped her hand, pleading. She hadn't touched her food at all, and it looked as though she hadn't touched any in days. Her eyes betrayed her; the crying she'd done, the nights she didn't sleep.

“I can't promise. I can't promise anything.” She looked up into his eyes, “I can still feel that presence in my mind. I don't think I can ever be normal again.”

“Don't say that. You're fine, you're OK, you're going to be OK.

“Have you been playing with fire?”

She shifted nervously in her seat.

“Have you!” his voice alerted the other patrons in the food court. Quieter: “have you?”

“It's the only thing that feels natural.”

“Please, be careful. And know that I'm here for you.” She nodded. His cellphone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked down at the face. The puppy dog background sort of irritated him, but enough to urge him to change it. The animation of the two bells clanging together was looping over and over.

“I have to go to work,” he said putting the phone back into his pocket. “I'll see you in a couple of hours?” She shrugged manically bouncing her foot up and down.

“I can still feel him. I can still here him.” His shoulders slump, and he grabs at his hair, exasperated.

“You tell me this now? I can't stay later! I would love to, but I can't! I've gotta get down town, my partner's waiting for me! You know that. Please, just... just sit tight, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can, kay?” She stares at her bouncing foot, eying her untouched burger and fries with her peripheral vision.

“OK?” he urges.

“k,” she acquiesces.

“You have my number: use it. I've gottta go.” He sat for a moment waiting. This was the most awkward part. Should he hug her, just smile, or more?

She pursed her lips and nodded. “I think I'll be OK.” He nodded.

“Good. I'll see you in a few hours.” He got up from the table and put his coat on, hoisting the black leather over his head, sheathing first the right arm and then the left. He stared down at her for a second and smiled. She didn't respond. He turned and walked away, taking out his cellphone. He dialed hotkey 1, and waited through the rings.

“Hey... what's up?” said the voice.

“Not much. Hey, any chance you can get someone to the food court with her pronto? I think she's going to do something drastic.”

“Who? Oh, right, right. The 'firestarter,' I remember her. As hot as she is crazy.”

“Shut up. She's been through some crap, like the rest of us, more than most. Just get down here. It's all over her face, I don't even have to be a mind reader to see it.”

“Whoa, hey man, we're all friends here, no reason to get belligerent. I'll send the first person I see. Ten minutes, tops.”

“Thanks.”

“You should stay,” urged the voice.

“I can't. I got that hospital I've got to sift through and my partner's already down there. Been there for a couple of hours. I've already delayed a couple of times and I can't do it any more. We've gotta get that hospital cleaned,” he snapped.

“Alright man, it's cool, just a thought. Not a mind reader like some people. Oh, hey, I got someone to go down. You're clear.”

“Thanks.”

*

She sat there, just staring at her fries. So much of what happened to her was a complete mystery. Not just to others, but to herself as well. She stared at her fries, and started to cry. The heat in her eyes spread to her plate, and she watched her fries as they began to sizzle. She was sobbing uncontrollably now. People in the food court stared at her. She could feel their stares without looking. They all saw her cry, but no one did anything.

Her tray lit on fire, the plastic of her table and chair melting, succumbing to heat. Her sobs were big gulps of air followed by exaggerated exclamations. Gulp, exclaim. Gulp, exclaim. She could hear the other food court customers around her screaming. They saw the fire, and they did nothing. She could hear them panicking as the fire spread up her arms, and onto the tables surrounding her. The fire continued to spread, and the panic continued to mount.

*

He was told what had happened. She'd started this fire and died doing it. You could have never known by looking at her. What he saw was a girl with rich hair and fair cheeks lying in a bed of melted plastic. A girl dozing, soon to awaken.

He was too wracked to cry. He just stared at the body, cursing himself, cursing others, cursing her.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. Without looking, he knew it was her hand, the very hand he held in his own. Without looking, he knew it was her voice. The same voice coming from lips that were to never open again.

“Shhhhh...”

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This story is the first of seven, and part of a week long duel. One story a day, with a 100 word story on Sunday, at a cost of one pre-1975 dime per derelict story, payable to the opponent. My opponent is Gabe.