Chapter V

Somewhere else...








   "She won't last," A figure said. "She can't come to me in time,"
   Another figure bowed. "I am sorry, Miss. Shall I send a sign?"
   The figure shook her head sadly. "The marking is advancing. I doubt she'll make it.


Ally






   I opened my eyes, sunlight coming in. I blinked a couple of times. I realized I was in a small room, on a mattress. To my side was a flower blossom shaped in glass, with a tree sapling of gold in the middle, dangling a pearl. It was filled with water.
  I reached out to drink it, but the door swung open. It was Will.
  "No! Don't drink that!" He suddenly acted like we were in slow motion.
  I turned bright red, then furious. "HOW ON EARTH DID YOU KNOW THAT I WAS GONNA DRINK THIS?!?!"
  Will stopped, and looked down. "Me and Keesa were gonna make sure you were ok.... there's a window in your room, ya know?" He waved his hands. "This is the hospital part of my house. Pretty rich for 12, huh?"
   I didn't say anything. "You live here by yourself?"
   Will nodded happily. "Yep! Pretty sweet for a youngster!" He stuck his tongue out at me as Keesa walked in.
   She glared at Will. "GET OUTTA HERE!"
   Will did his innocent face... but then I noticed something weird. His eyes weren't regular eyes... he looked like he was in a manga! I turned my head. So did Keesa!
   "Uh," I mumbled. "Please excuse me."
   I jumped out of the bed and calmly walked outside. Once I was out of sight, I darted into the bathroom, looking at the mirror.
   My skin was more slender, and my hair looked so silky and smooth. My eyes were big and purple, just like in an anime or manga. I looked so unrealistic... this couldn't be happening!
   I walked outside of the room. Keesa was standing there. "What's wrong?"
   "I'm sorry," I nodded. "When you're in here, you become more different than my world." I gave out a chuckle. Suddenly, my palms were holding fire.
   "Ack!" I exclaimed.
   Will came into the scene. Him and Keesa exchanged glances.
   "Will's gonna show you something," Keesa said. "It's an attempt to help your curse."
   Will grabbed my wrist with his hand and dragged me across the floor. He stopped at two large metal doors.
   "Ow," I softly said. Then I stood up, dusting myself off. "What's in there?"
   "Ancestors have passed it down generation to generation. We haven't found any use for it, but it could help control you." Will answered.
   I tilted my head, and Will pushed the doors open. There stood a glass case, hanging a necklace. "Whoa," I said.
   The necklace was plain and silver. But on it, was a decent ruby. A flame was moving rapidly inside the gem. It was so creepy, yet cool.
   "Why couldn't I drink the water from the glass sapling?" I suddenly asked. "That was peculiar."
   "It's nothing." Will replied, almost immediately. Then he pressed a flashing green button, and the case opened. Keesa came in with a tray of unicorn tea, and placed it down. Then, she took the necklace and handed it to me.
   "What does this necklace do?" I asked, flinging it around my neck. Then, I saw the visions of the phoenix and the fiery blossoms. I covered my head with my arms, trying to make it go away. As it ended, I suddenly knew what it does.
   "The fire of my heart." I said. "It controls the fire of my heart."
   "Correct," Keesa nodded, and we all took a cup of the unicorn tea.
   "What happened to the Kage?" I asked, after taking a sip.
   "Chef scared them away with a rocket launcher." Keesa said.
   I kept being bugged by the glass tree, and the visions. "And it's still odd how I can't drink the water from that antique."
   Keesa sighed. Then she took my arm. "Where's your mark?"
   I showed her my palm. Then, my heart stopped. The mark: (❂) had turned more complex, that looked like this: (✑❂) overlapping each other. It was beginning to look all creepy.
   "The necklace can harness your fire power, and will hopefully give us more time." Keesa explained. "And the water is pure. Since you are becoming like fire, you cannot drink pure water."
   "What about freshwater?"
   "That's fine, because it isn't pure." Keesa answered.
   I looked down at my unicorn tea, then my mark. I sighed. I wish mom and dad were here. I wish I never had to do this thing! I wish I was back at that place, except the hobo wasn't there. I wish that I could go back to that mysterious little house, and try to attempt to see it on the inside!
   "It's fine," Keesa told me. "It's fine. Soon this will all be over."
   "Thanks," I said, and Will huffed.
   "Inside the car." He ordered.