“Oh cool! I got points!” Sofia pumped her fist.

Isaac let a long breath out. He felt relief. Both from the fact that the spires’ notification wasn’t a new Quest and from the relief in his chest. He hadn’t had the opportunity to let out his flames like that in a long time. They had built up. Like shaking a jug of soda or something.

He could’ve really describe it properly.

All he knew was that the anger, the rage didn’t seem as strong anymore. He felt more like he used to be, like his true self.

Sadly, that wouldn’t last.

The fires within would grow again.

“We need to go. That would’ve drawn attention.”

“What about the loot?”

Isaac looked around at the burned and burning coyote corpses. “Sorry, Sofia, but from my experience animals don’t carry gold coins or cool things. All you’ll get is weird tasting meat, messed up skin and fucked up organs. This isn’t like those games of yours.”

“Yeah, yeah… okay, fine, let’s go.”

Sofia stomped all the way up the embankment.

Isaac followed closely.

They walked along the interstate ready to dart into the brush on the side of the road at the first sign of pursuit, human or monster.

Isaac looked back often. Watching for headlights, listening for the sound of an engine. The soldiers had a handful of vehicles they had been able to get working.

He counted on their fear of the night to deter immediate pursuit.

Ideally, he and Sofia would be deep in the city by the time the sun rose.

That was the difference between Isaac and everyone else in town. He had faced the monsters. He knew he could handle them.

Several hours of nervous silence found them close to the outer edges of the city. Just a few more miles to go.

That’s when Isaac heard it on the wind. The deep rumbling of a truck engine. He looked back, but couldn’t see any headlights.

There was a roadside farm a few hundred yards ahead.

“Sofia, we’re running to the farm.”

“What? Why? What if there are monsters?”

“Won’t be.” Isaac knew this because he had killed the monsters and something called a secret boss a few weeks back. The concept of which had escaped him at the time. He still didn’t understand fully, but bottom line, the farm technically belonged to him according to the spires’ notification and supposedly that meant monsters couldn’t show up anymore. He had checked it repeatedly and that had turned out to be truth. So far.

They reached the farm and ducked into a barn just in time.

The roar of the truck’s engine drew close with frightening speed.

Isaac really didn’t want to have to kill another human being. Even if they were assholes and jerks, the soldiers were just doing their jobs.

He and Sofia held their breaths as they waited for the truck to drive past them.

That didn’t happen.

The truck slowed.

They heard its wheels crunch over the sandy gravel on the road into the farm.

“What’re we going to do?” Sofia whispered.

“You hide.” Isaac quietly took his pack off and emptied his person of everything he had on him. Even his boots and socks.

He was clad only in hiking pants and a t-shirt when he ran out the back of the barn and circled to the other side of the truck. He wanted to draw their attention away from his sister.

Isaac stepped out with his hands out wide and open. “Don’t shoot. I’m unarmed.”

The soldiers swung their guns and lanterns around.

Isaac blinked into the light. The glare didn’t bother him much. The fire within him was much brighter.

“We all know that’s bullshit,” Cade said. “You ain’t ever without your weapons.”

Isaac was shocked to see the hulking young man step out of the truck. He looked like a kid, who had long outgrown their motorized toy car, but didn’t want to give it up to their younger brother.

The truck’s suspension groaned in relief as Cade landed heavily on the ground.

Isaac wasn’t happy to notice that more of Cade’s crew stepped out of the two vehicles. Three of them, plus the five soldiers made a total of nine.

They all looked at Isaac with murder in their eyes.

“The fuck do you think you’re doing, man. I thought you were alright. A little lame, but definitely not stupid,” Cade continued. “My old man had plans for you. Was gonna set you up with the good life. Get those meds for your dad. Get you and your family the good meat. You had to fuck it up by running.” Cade gestured and one of his bootlickers took two sacks out of the back of the truck and brought them over. “So, where’s that fine ass sister of yours?”

Isaac’s gaze bore into Cade’s beady eyes. The fire in his chest flared hotter. It took an effort to keep the lid on it.

Cade was, quite literally, playing with fire and like an overgrown child he kept moving closer and closer to it each time he opened his mouth.

“Look, bro… I don’t get it. You guys were gonna be set up nice. Basically, as good as you can get it. All you had to do was stay in line with my old man and all your sister had to do was have a fun night with us,” Cade grinned.

The rest of his crew leered.

“No big deal,” Cade said.

“Rape is a big deal,” Isaac said flatly. It took all his self control to keep the fires at bay. A year of strict effort, meditation and every other trick he could think of to control the fire and not let it burn freely teetered on the brink.

“I don’t do that shit. Everyone’s got a choice.”

“Starvation isn’t a choice.”

“Just capitalism, bro. They got something we want and we’ve got something they want. Supply and demand,” Cade shrugged. “This is America. Ain’t no commie shit allowed.” He laughed. “Man, you’re dumb if you think my old man’s ever gonna be cool with giving stuff out to useless people. It’s like those wolves, guard dogs and sheep he’s always told me about.”

Isaac had become familiar with the concept thanks to the amount of time he had to spend with the soldiers over the past year. He always thought it was stupid. Those three animals were all different species. Humans weren’t. The analogy fell apart pretty quickly if you actually thought about it for more than a few seconds.

“Ain’t no room for useless takers in our new society.”

“Then you’ve got no problem with me and my sister leaving,” Isaac ventured hopefully.

Cade dashed that hope. “No chance, bro. You’re too useful to just let go. As for your sister, well she’s gonna be taught her proper place.”

“That doesn’t work for us,” Isaac said flatly. “This is your last chance. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Cade laughed. Loud and disdainful. “Bro, I don’t know why my old man thinks you’re such hot shit, but that little fire dart spell you’ve got isn’t gonna do more than singe me a little.” He flexed a massive bicep bigger than a soccer ball. “C’mon then. Take your shot. But, I got to warn you,” he opened one sack and poured the contents out, “you’ll just end up like your folks and then we get some quality time with your sister.”

Isaac’s father and mother stared up at him from the dirt. He didn’t look at them beyond that first terrible glance. He didn’t want to remember them like this. He would remember them as they were when he had said good bye earlier.

Isaac stared at Cade.

The fire called to him. He almost answered.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“You’ll end up like your folks if you keep being difficult.”

“You lied,” Isaac said flatly.

“What?”

“You said that my dad would get his meds if I played along.”

“Huh… yeah, guess so. Maybe, I was just trying to get you to come back so I wouldn’t have to kill you like this other traitor.” Cade upended the second sack.

Another head tumbled out and rolled out into the lantern light.

The features were mangled, heavily beaten. The long, blond hair was what made him recognizable to Isaac.

Jordan stared up at Isaac.

“All three of them decided to be difficult, so they had to get hurt,” Cade said lightly.

“You’re sick,” Isaac said softly. “And you’re a liar. My parent’s were already dead when you found them. So, like the ghoulish bastards that you are you cut of their heads to what? Mess with me? I know they passed away quietly, peacefully. As for, Jordan… why? What’d he do to you?”

“Your butt buddy was giving away supplies to those that didn’t earn them.”

“Fuck you! Those were his supplies to give. Isn’t this America? He had every right to give what was his away if he wanted!” Isaac snapped.

The temperature around him began to rise noticeably. The air shimmered. Steam started to waft off him in the cool night air.

“Whatever,” Cade said. “Don’t matter. I’m the strongest one there is, so I do what I want! I get what I want! Enough of this shit!”

Cade raised a meaty hand.

Gunfire shattered the silence.

Isaac’s body fell back as dozens of bullets struck his body.

Sofia screamed as she rushed out of her hiding place. She took everyone by surprise. No one made a move to stop her as she rushed to Isaac’s still form on the ground.

“Stupid bitch,” Cade spit.

“Goddamn queers, bro,” one of his crew shook his head.

“Showed them what’s up,” another meathead said.

“Alright, this bullshit has ruined enough of my buzz. If we get back quick then we can still have some fun. Right, Sofia?” Cade leered.

“I’m gonna burn you up,” Sofia spat. Tears streaked her eyes as she fumbled in her pocket before she pulled out a lighter.

“I’ve got something right here to heat you up,” Cade made a rude gesture toward his crotch.

Sofia flicked the lighter. The spark became a small flame. She pushed her hand at the flame and it grew into a bright stream that lit up the darkness.

“Oh shit!” Cade yelled as he fell back and frantically slapped at flames covering the front of his pants. “Fucking bitch! Somebody get her!”

Sofia held the lighter up like a torch against on overwhelming darkness as the massive, hulking forms of Cade’s crew slowly spread out to surround her.

“Stay back!” Sofia cried out desperately. “Just leave us alone!”

Something plinked on the ground next to her.

She looked down. She was in shock. Her hand moved with a mind of it’s own as she picked up the small metal object.

A bullet.

It glowed red with heat, Sofia felt it as a comforting warmth. Normal human fingers would’ve been surely burned.

She looked at Isaac’s body with hope in her heart.

She hadn’t noticed that his body was actually getting warmer, hotter. It was like standing in front of a roaring fire.

There was no blood around the bullet holes in his shirt. There was light. Right before Sofia’s eyes the other bullets started popping out.

She caught a quick glimpse before Isaac’s shirt burst into flames. The bullet holes were filled with flames.

Cade’s crew stumbled back in surprise.

“Get behind me,” Isaac said as he climbed to his feet.

Flames sprouted from all over his body, even his hair. His clothes burned away.

Sofia scrambled back. She could hold a burning charcoal, but this was too much.

“You had your chance.” Isaac’s words were somehow clear over the raging fire emanating from his body.

“What the hell is this?” Cade shrank back along with all his cronies.

“Bro, I don’t know. Ain’t no spells like this!” a meathead gasped.

“Shoot the fucker!” Cade pointed frantically.

The soldiers opened up.

Isaac flinched, but the flames around him were so hot that the bullets dissolved into nothing before they got to his body.

Was it even still his body?

Isaac didn’t know. The feeling was indescribable. It was so freeing to release the flames. He no longer struggled to contain the heat, the anger, the rage.

He felt more like himself for the first time in a long time. His mind was clear.

“I stood without threat and you shot me. I just wanted to leave with my sister.” The flames built into an inferno. The people turned and ran as the heat sucked the oxygen out of the air.

The remaining rounds in the soldier’s magazines cooked off and exploded from the intense heat.

They tried to run, but a curtain of flames sprang to life in their paths.

“You don’t get to run, you bastards!” Sofia stood a dozen feet behind Isaac. She held her hands out in front of her and a sheen of sweat coated her furrowed brow. The sleeves of her jacket were on fire, but it didn’t bother her.

Isaac shot a stream of fire out from each flaming hand. He swept them across Cade’s crew and the soldiers as if he was hosing down the lawn.

The men burned.

Gigantic muscles didn’t protect them.

Cade ripped the truck’s door off and used it to shield himself. He roared and charged.

Isaac shifted the streams to the door.

Cade’s skin blistered and sizzled as the intense heat turned the door’s metal red hot and spilled out around it.

Cade slammed into Isaac and sent him flying back a dozen feet.

Isaac didn’t feel the impact. His physical sensations were all wrong.

“Fuck you! You ain’t shit!” Cade roared. His skin was blackened, charred. One eye was running in rivulets down his cracked and bloody cheek. He threw the door at Isaac.

It sliced right through.

Isaac felt uncomfortable as he lost the sensations from his lower half for a split-second. It came back just as quickly and he was left wondering if he had just imagined it.

“What are you?” Cade stared in shock.

Isaac looked down at his body. He couldn’t see it through the roaring flames. He raised a fiery hand and aimed it at Cade.

“Wait?” Cade held up his hands. “I’m sorry, man. I won’t touch your sister. I won’t touch anyone again. I’ll tell my old man to take it easy one you. You won’t have to join the army.”

Isaac raised his other arm.

“You kill me and you screw everyone! The monsters are only gonna get stronger! You need my potion! You need it to stand a chance!”

Cade was ranting, begging.

Isaac lowered his arms a fraction. He recognized a sliver of truth in Cade’s words.

The flames around him suddenly jumped the fifty feet to Cade. They were out of his control.

“Rapist piece of shit!” Sofia snarled. Her hands pointed at Cade.

Cade’s last plea was drowned out as an inferno erupted with him at the center.

It happened frighteningly quick.

When Sofia could no longer maintain her control the flames died down to reveal a charred corpse, much diminished from Cade’s massive size.

Isaac scanned the area before he too extinguished his fire. It was surprisingly easy. He just willed it to stop and it listened. He stood naked in the cold night air that didn’t affect him.

“Oww!” Isaac looked down at his feet. The sand and gravel had turned into small pieces of glass.

“I’m going to get your clothes.” Sofia made a face. “Gross.”

Isaac looked around while he waited. He counted nine corpses. There was no going back. He had purposefully taken lives. Bad men, but did that make a difference?

“Here,” Sofia handed him his pack while keeping her gaze averted.

“Now what?” Isaac asked while he clothed himself.

“Huh? We keep going,” Sofia said.

“What about the people in town? They’re basically defenseless without Cade’s potion. The soldiers aren’t enough.”

“So, fuck them. They killed Jordan and cut mo—” A horrified look dawned on Sofia’s face. “Oh my god! Mom and Dad!”

Isaac remembered. “Don’t look.” He raised a hand and burned his parent’s and Jordan’s heads to ash.

“Isaac! Why?” Sofia wailed.

His sister had fresh tears in her eyes. Isaac was surprised when none came to his.

Perhaps the fires within had burned them out?

“They’re already gone. You don’t want your last memory of them to be— to be that. Remember them as they lived, as Mom laughed when Dad told his stupid jokes, as they held you when you broke your arm jumping from that tree.”

The ash drifted up into the dark night sky.

Isaac watched them. He imagined that his parents approved. They could drift away up into the sky together.

He thought of Jordan. A good person, just trying to do right by others and paying the ultimate price because the wrong kind of people were in charge.

Isaac pulled Sofia into a tight embrace. She cried on his shoulder.

“We’re going back,” Isaac said softly.

“Why though? That town was never home. Everyone always looked down on us for being different. They didn’t like our parents cause they a— were black. They didn’t like us cause we were adopted and half-breed mongrels.” There was a perhaps, unsurprising amount of venom in Sofia’s words.

“I know,” Isaac said. “But we have to be better. It’s how we were raised. It’s the best way I can think to live up to Mom and Dad. They raised us to be better. Mom and Dad deserve better. Jordan deserves better.”

Sofia sniffled. “Fine, but if they don’t want us then we turn around and leave after we take care of Mom, Dad and Jordan’s bodies.”

“Okay.”

“If the soldiers try to fight us then they have to die.”

Isaac took a deep breath. “We give them a choice.”

“But if they refus—”

“Then they die.”

The heat in Isaac’s chest surged with excitement. For the first time he didn’t feel ashamed of it.