The skies of Baldier were thick with black smoke that rose from nearly every building. The people’s sobs and screams came together like the moans of a tormented choir, the thunderous sound so great that I couldn’t simply filter out the noise. The stench of rust, burnt flesh, and soot filled my lungs, making me retch after each breath.
The scene was like a nightmare. Baldier was already a lost cause and whatever beast had wrought the destruction was nowhere to be found.
Purple flames leapt from one building to the next, reducing them to ash in a matter of minutes. What wasn’t burning, crumbled in the wind and scattered on the breeze like sand. The broadcast tower was gone and smoldering rubble lay in piles around the city. Streets were blocked by debris, bodies, and flame—I didn’t see any good way to evacuate survivors.
“Inevitable. Each attack left them more and more vulnerable, the residents should’ve seen this coming. They should’ve left long ago.” Pyro said flippantly placing a hand on my back as if he were trying to comfort me.
I looked at him, hoping he wasn’t serious. I knew he was, but I wanted to believe he wasn’t that cold. How could he be? Everyone loved him… but he sounded ready to abandon these people to the flames.
“We aren’t just going to leave them are we?”
Pyro nodded. “We are… what else would we do?”
“Save as many as we can! How can you even think of letting a whole city burn to the ground.”
“I’ve a mind to burn the rest down myself. Think of the press? What will people think when they learn that Pyro The Great, and his top hero candidate, came to save the city but could only manage saving a few dozen people? It would ruin my name.”
I drew back in shock at his words. I should’ve held my tongue, but I couldn't, words flew out before I even knew what I was saying. “And what will they say when they learn you came only to watch them burn?”
Pyro’s lips slipped into an easy smile. “They won’t. Who will tell them? The broadcast tower is gone. No one in or around the city can send or receive any sort of communication so after today, the only people who will know exactly what happened here are you and me.”
I couldn’t stomach his suggestion. Fear, unease, disgust, and disappointment burst up from the pit of my stomach, flew out of my mouth, and covered him in bile.
For an instant, his skin turned to flame, burning the fluid away. Then he looked at me with such disdain that it sent shivers through my bones. “You’re still learning, so I’ll forgive your naïvety, but one day you’ll make decisions just like this, for the good of SAFE.”
I shook my head, backing away from him as he reached for me.
“Kyla—”
Another attack alert sounded, then two more, then three. All six of the outermost cities were under attack.
“—what the fuck is going on?” Pyro focused on his comm for a moment, probably telling the other heroes where to go, then turned his gaze back to me. “We’ll finish this discussion later, but for now you need to head back to Sky Haven.”
I nodded, feeling relieved that I wouldn’t be going with him. The last thing I wanted was to see another city abandoned.
We both took off in different directions, but I didn’t return to Sky City. When I was sure he’d gotten a sufficient distance away, I circled back and flew low through the streets of Baldier. There was nothing I could do to stop the city burning down, but I could save as many innocents as possible.
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Following the loudest cries for help, I found a group of people trapped inside a mall. Parts of the building had collapsed and half of it was on fire.
The people were stuck in a food court—some still trapped under tables and debris. The roof had collapsed above them, crushing some,and trapping others.
Slimy globs of pressed flesh oozed around the edges of fallen concrete slabs. Severed limbs and bleeding torsos were all I saw at first. Some still lived, but I knew moving them would only accelerate their death.
“Yes, keep going! Lift, I’m almost free!” A man shouted as small stones clattered.
Looking to my left, I noticed two men on the outer rim of the food court. One doing his best to lift a slab of concrete while the other scooted backwards, dragging his probably broken leg out from beneath the rock. The man lifting groaned with each small stone that fell from above and bounced off the slab he was lifting.
“I’m free! Thank you.” The man on the ground looked up at his rescuer, then his joy turned to horror as another, much larger, chunk of stone slid free.
Confused, the rescuer stared down at the man, offering a hand up.
“No, no ple—” The lame man’s words ended with a wet crunch.
At least he had a moment to acknowledge his death, the other man was crushed alongside him, though he didn’t seem aware of the danger, even as it slammed into his down turned head.
I winced and turned away… if I’d been closer, maybe I could’ve saved them. If I’d noticed them sooner I could’ve—no, it was already too late and more would die if I didn’t get focused.
“Help! Someone, please help.”
A man under a table seemed easy enough to rescue. A giant slab of concrete had fallen atop the table and broken into several huge pieces that covered the table like a fractured stone tent. The weight of the rock was too much for the table, and it’s single metal leg would give out soon.
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Hastily, I rushed over and lifted the largest chunk of rock. After the man crawled out, I set it back down and the tables crumbled under its weight.
“Thank you… thank you…” he said, grabbing my hand with tears in his eyes. “…my son have you seen my son?”
I shook my head.
“Please, you have to find him.” The man pleaded.
I scanned the area, but didn’t see any other sign of life, or any indication of a boy to rescue.
“He was right behind me, I thought he’d make it, but when the roof fell…” his words choked in his throat.
I checked the area again, starting right around the table and working out in a circle. It didn’t take long. Amidst the rubble I found a small shoe that had once been turquoise. The foot was still inside, but it was only loosely connected to the rest of a half crushed body.
The boy couldn’t have been older than six. He was dead, not from the collapse, he’d bleed out from his severed legs. He must have tripped or fallen on his way, and a slab of stone fell on his legs while other, smaller rocks pelted his small body. He had the good sense to protect his head, but help couldn’t have come quickly enough to save him.
I debated sparing the father this sight, but he must’ve noticed my moment of hesitation.
“You found something.” He shouted as he stumbled over rocks and broken rebar.
I held up a hand to stop him, then knelt down and picked up the bloodied shoe. Immediately his eyes overflowed with tears. His legs lost their strength and his words lost all meaning as he wailed.
I wanted to take him to safety, but it felt cruel denying him time to mourn. He scrambled toward the boy’s body, turning him over and pressing his face against the boy’s—a small face, twisted in eternal agony. The image seared into my mind and confirmed for me that I’d done the right thing.
Whatever Pyro thought, whatever this man would say, it didn’t matter. People needed help and heroes were supposed to be there to help them.
I placed a hand on his shoulder before a chorus of shrieks drew my attention to a slab of concrete hanging down to the floor but still connected to the ceiling by steel bars. The noise came from behind but, but I couldn’t see what was going on.
“I’ll be right back.” I said to the grieving man. Unsurprisingly he didn’t acknowledge me.
I flew around the hanging concrete, for fear that breaking it or any attempt to move or destroy it might result in someone’s death.
Behind the stone, a group of people were huddled together inside a kitchen. Standing not far from them was a beast cloaked in black shadow. Shadows spread out from its body, masking its form to some degree, but sunlight from the massive opening in the roof prevented darkness fully claiming the space.
The beast, a wrinkled thing with a cat-like appearance, hovered in the darkness ready to devour the people until it noticed me.
“Still sending children to do a grown man’s job. I guess Pyro doesn’t give a shit about his empire after all.”
The words came from the beast, I was sure of it. But that couldn’t be right because beasts can’t talk.
My thoughts raced through every possibility, but none made sense. Tossing logic aside for the moment, I snapped back, “I’m no child, and I’ve no fear of you.” As I spoke, bright orange flames flickered to life around me, pushing back the creeping shadows.
“What a nice little flame,” the shadow stalker said with whimsy. “We could use some candles where I’m from, hardly any light there…”
I shook my head. “This is getting weird. The hell do you want? Are you the one who caused all this destruction?”
“oh heavens no! This mess is the work of a brutish lout we call Liam. You may know him better as the black dragon.”
“Pyro killed the black dragon!”
It laughed. The sound grated in my ears like an annoying hum I couldn’t get rid of. In response to my question, the creature replied, "Liam is very much alive, and Pyro… well, he isn’t here to defend himself so I’ll not defame him."
While I spoke with the beast, the people in the kitchen fled. I did my best to keep its attention, but I was sure the creature noticed and allowed their escape anyway.
“This Liam, where’s he headed? What’s his goal?” I demanded.
“That’s such a boring topic, little ember…” out of the darkness, the creature crept. Unlike the shadow beast I’d faced before, this stalker has no fear of my flames. He strode right up to them looked me in the eyes. “…have you ever wondered which is stronger—the all consuming hunger of fire, or the never ending well of darkness. Surely these two great powers can’t be equals.”
“No, light always devours darkness!”
Again, the beast laughed. “You think like a child and yet claim not to be one. Light devours naught dear girl. No, the brighter you light, the darker shadows it will cast. Light can never exist without darkness, but the same can’t be said in the reverse.” He smiled as he stuck his paw inside a plume of my fire.
After holding his paw in the blaze, he pulled it back unscathed. His dark and wrinkled flesh remained in tact without even a blister. I wasn’t sure how he did it, but it must’ve been some sort of trick. He was trying to shake my confidence. That’s what I told myself at least.
“You’re wrong! The flame I wield is the fire of justice and it will definitely consume your malicious darkness. It has before.”
My flames wavered with my voice, betraying my uncertainty, but I didn’t back down.
“Then show me.” The beast smiled, then everything went black.
I wasn’t unconscious, I knew that. Nothing had happened that could’ve knocked me out and I could still feel the flow of spirit energy, the warmth of my flame, and fur like a feline rubbing itself on my legs.
I heard it’s pure. Stones clattered as it walked around me. Then another large slab fell from the roof with a rumbling thump that shook the whole floor. Yet I couldn’t see any of it. I couldn’t even see the motes of energy floating through the air. Only a dense black that blocked everything.
“You seem lost, blinded in the night. Was everything you said before just talk? Or is your intent to give me a false sense of confidence?”
I didn’t answer with words, but by strengthening my fire.
“Ohh, I’m terrified—trembling even,” he said pausing briefly to snicker, then said, “Ah, but be careful, wouldn’t want to cook any innocents now would you?”
I clicked my tongue and bit my lip. He was right. If I focused, I could hear several heartbeats nearby. I could likely overpower him if I stopped limiting myself, but accidentally blowing up a mountain had shown me the consequences of carelessness. I didn’t want to hurt the people I was here to protect, so I had to find another way.
Suddenly, the darkness began to thin. Like a veil being drawn across a window, it receded and revealed the world outside. My vision returned and I saw the beast crouching low.
"You’re still only a child," it sighed, "there’s no sport in this." The beast said, only it was no longer a beast. Before me stood a lone man in black wraps and a rune carved mask. His dark hair was short, spiky, and barely visible over the rim of his mask. As he walked backward, shadows enveloped him. “Grow up soon little spark…" waggling his finger, he added, “…and don’t disappoint me. Next time, it’s to the death.”
His words lingered after his body vanished. The space felt different somehow and after a few moments all traces of his dark magic faded. He was gone, but I still felt uneasy, like he might return any moment.
“Starla! It’s Starla,” a woman called. She was crouched next to a pile of rocks inside the kitchen. Beside her another woman added, “Please… can you help us?”