ELEMENTALS

FIRE

The alley was dim and the passersby paid her no mind as her knees gave out. Her body was shaking as she allowed herself to slide and sit right down the ground. She really thought she can control it now but each time she's overwhelmed by strong emotions, it just surges out of her.

She can't even remember what exactly ticked her off...

What is wrong with me?...

Her phone buzzed in her pocket as a single tear rolled down her cheek. She was thankful for the buzzing distraction since the growing dread, confusion and agitation in her chest was about to get all over the place, making her feel that familiar heat flowing through her once again.

She can't burn down another place. Again.

Fishing her phone out of her pocket, she tapped and slid the green button on the screen and answered. Despite still feeling agitated, she felt a slight calm at the chirpy voice on the other line.

"Hey Dinah! Where you at girl?"

She shut her eyes, sighed and counted ten backwards before answering.

"Dinah?" The chirpy voice said on the other line.

"Hey Riley... What's up?"

"Well, Auggie's been complaining about everything as usual, Seth's being philosophical about the life of bugs, Regina is being sassy while Ava has been whining about curlers and tiaras. I'm not sure how Maya is doing with the other kids and our annoying matron is taking forever in that conference thingy. We already raided the pantry like bandits and I ran out of popcorn to feed these children to shut them up and now they're driving me insane... So, where you at gal pal? Where is the actual food for us?"

Dinah opened her eyes and looked at her empty hand. A brand new rush of overwhelming guilt coursed through her chest and that familiar heat began to take course in her veins once again. Gritting her teeth, pushing back down the sudden energy that she feels crawling right under her skin, she answered as calm as she could.

"I'll be back in the orphanage soon, Riley. Just a small delay in getting my paycheck in the gift shop. I'm on my way to the grocery now..."

"Better hurry up, it's getting wild with these little apes here - Ava! That's flat iron for clothes not hair!! You don't - ... Okay Dinah please just hurry up, it's chaos here and you're the only one these nutjobs listen to,"

The call ended at that.

Still processing everything that has transpired in the last half hour, Dinah forced herself back to her feet. Making sure she didn't burn her hard earned money that she's about to use for groceries, she started walking towards another store. After all, she's still responsible for burning the kitchen last time with all the food in it and it only serves right to spend her paycheck to at least buy the other kids something to eat.

For the last six years of her young life, she tried her best to understand why she has this curse. Because of all people, Dinah cannot see the reason why.

Why she's the only one who can touch fire without burning her own flesh. Why she's the only one who can spark a flame and unable to put it out. Why she's the only one who can set someone's hair on fire just by glaring at it after they pissed her off. For the past six years since she was twelve, she has burned many things into dark piles of ashes.