Pamin helps me up and we untangle Tor from the bags. We stand ready, to help Smoke. He is perched on the rail, studying the drop for a moment.
A loud bang jerks Smoke off the rail—he plummets to the pile all twisted, headfirst.
Chapter Forty-Six
“Smoke,” I scream. We crawl over the bags, shoving them out of the way, until we finally reach my brother on the far side of the pile. We help him up. His khakis are blossoming blood at his right buttock, near the leg. He can’t put weight on his right side at all.
“Damn it,” he hisses, his face lighter than usual.
Several more shots ring out. Pamin and Tor support Smoke as we try to run. Smoke cries out in pain.
Gritting my teeth in frustration, I set fire to the tumbled bags of garbage, lighting up the whole lane to try to slow our pursuers.
More will die now, or lose their living, because of me.
I hate my life, my thoughts run as we flee.
We’re limited now to the streets and alleys, no more climbing. Pamin leads us here, there, like racing through a maze.
One alley is blocked off by more soldiers in the distance.
“Fuck, how did they get there?” I ask of no one in particular.
We’re sweating and gagging on the awful stink of all that trash burning.
“This way,” shouts our friend. We duck down another lane but are stopped by several hills of random garbage blocking the road. A dead end, and the soldiers are closing in behind us. “Come on, we have to get over,” he urges.
Pamin and Tor struggle to help Smoke climb. I watch our retreat, shooting flames at anything that will burn behind us, cursing each time I have to shoot the damn fire. My eyes are watering, and I can’t stop them.
Shots rings out and we duck down. The flames rise up like a wall behind us, giving us the time we need. We struggle, ascend, and make our way over the first, smaller hill. The garbage slips and slides underneath us, and it is slow going. Somehow, these mounds remind me of the pyramids. But these are pyramids of garbage, and we have to get up them.
We’re almost to the top of the biggest hill, when Pamin loses his footing. I try to grab him as he slides by, but I miss. He slides all the way down into a narrow ravine between the two piles.
“Fuck!” Tor shouts, trying to hold Smoke up, but they both sink onto the trash. He struggles to get them back on their feet.
Before Pamin can get up, gunfire shoots all around us. We drop back down. Our friend is hidden below.
Soldiers appear in and on the building next to this hill of trash, their M16s trained on us. More come up to the roof and balconies of the red-brick building; more weapons pointing at us through the large windows.
“Damn!” I should have set the building on fire, too. How could I be so stupid?
Soldiers appear in another building, closer to us. Dr. Mara emerges on the lower balcony. Tage is with her, looking scared.
Shit. We have like a million weapons trained on us. A thin, red light targets our chests, all three of us.
In a way, I’m relieved. I don’t want to burn the whole city. But then I look at Tage, her arm held tight in Dr. Mara’s grip. Rage sparks in me, taking over.
“Warfield, Weir, put your hands up. You are under arrest,” Commander Riley shouts from a megaphone.
I assumed he was dead. But maybe I assumed too much. I start to raise my fingers, pointing to the buildings with the soldiers.
“Don’t do it, Ash, they have Tage. You might accidently hit her,” Smoke says. “They’ll shoot us before you get a spark out.”
Damn. Fuck, he’s right. I blink, breathe, gain control.
We three raise our arms into the air.
Chapter Forty-Seven
“I won’t go,” Tor mutters. “I’d rather die here.”
“We have to go,” Smoke says. “They will shoot us, all three of us.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t do it again.” Tor’s face is hard.
“Soldiers, climb down here to this building,” Riley orders, his voice booming over the roaring fire. It looks like all of Garbage City is burning. The black smoke drifts between us like fog.
“No, I will not,” Tor shouts.
Below, Pamin glances at us, then at the buildings full of military. They don’t see him; he keeps very still.
“All for one,” I mutter. Then I shout, “We’re not coming.” We three nod to each other.
“Ashley Warfield, Steve Weir, you do not want to make that choice,” the commander shouts. “If you don’t come down, we will shoot.” Tage puts her hand over her mouth. Dr. Mara places her arm around my girl’s shoulders, like an effing mother. Shielding her away from us.
“We have orders to bring you back, dead or alive.”
“Fuck off,” I shout.
The officer hands the megaphone to Dr. Mara. She keeps a tight hold of Tage’s shoulder with her free hand.
“Ashley, Smoke, Torrent,” Dr. Mara calls, her voice firm. “Listen to me. We will work this out, together. I will be with you.”
I shake my head no. How could she do this to us?
“Fuck you, bitch!” I yell. “We trusted you. I trusted you. Do you know how hard that was for me? Screw you.”
The officer takes back the megaphone. “You have five seconds to comply, or we will shoot.” Anger laces his shout. “Five … four … three … two …”
Everything inside me screams to set them on fire, set everything on fire, to hell with it all. The lava rage wants out. My body trembles, and I close my eyes.
I will kill us all.
Who fucking cares, anyway? This is it: this is the end.
I close my eyes and draw up the rage, filling myself with pure, flowing flame. Warm tears stream down my face as I concentrate the power into my hands.
“I’m sorry, Smoke. I’m so sorry, Tor … you were right about me all along. I am nothing but destruction … desolation.”
The heat takes over my fingers. I ignore the sight of the red-hot laser beam aiming right at my heart.
A deep rumble shifts and moves up through the ground, louder and louder. My feet shift, and I have to regain my balance. I open my eyes in surprise.
Both buildings shiver and tremble a moment, then with a thunderclap they crack and collapse in great clouds of dust and smoke. Soldiers are shouting and yelling, running, bricks and trash pouring everywhere. I don’t see Dr. Mara or Tage.
What’s happening?
Pamin lowers his hands. His eyes shine as he scrambles up to us. He and Tor grab Smoke, and we dodge down the far side of this giant pyramid of garbage.
“Did you see that? I did it. I crumbled the buildings,” Pamin stutters as we slide down and duck into a building. “I’m like you guys!”
Two figures run toward us from another part of the building. Tor raises his hands and makes an ice slick beneath them. They tumble and slide all the way, slowing to a stop at our feet.
It’s Dr. Mara and Tage. Tor helps them up.
“I saw that. Who are you, young man?” Dr. Mara asks, her eyes bright as she releases Tage. She jumps in to help hold Smoke, giving him a tight hug. He’s in too much in pain to say anything, but his hand snakes out as his fingers clutch Tage’s arm.
“Wait a minute,” I yell. “How do we know you won’t turn us in again?”
“I didn’t turn you in the first time, Ashley. My office was bugged, and I didn’t know it. I got wind that Riley was making an off the books trip to Egypt, and then I knew he knew about you. He connected the dots about our sessions and figured it was me who helped you escape. I had to go along with him so I could see you safe.”
“I don’t trust you,” Tor says.
“Me neither,” Smoke ads.
“Whether you do or don’t, I’m the only option you have left.” Dr. Mara takes a step back. “My guess is that your money is almost out and now with the US military breathing down your necks, you can’t get out of the city.” She turns to our friend and asks again, “Who are you?
”
Tor connects eyes with me, then Smoke. “This is Pamin, and we’ve been staying with him and his family in Garbage City,” Tor explains. Dr. Mara looks grave.
“Oh no, was it your house they first went into?” Pamin nods, his worry back again.
“I’m so sorry, Pamin,” Dr. Mara says. “It’s gone; there was a woman and two kids, but they died in the fire. I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sure it’s the wrong house,” Pamin answers, almost robotically. But he closes his mouth tight, like a sealed tomb. He takes over from Tage to support Smoke.
We make our way out the back of the building; we hear soldiers still pursuing us.
“We can’t stay here.” Dr. Mara scans the area, looking for a way out.
Pamin directs us down another alley and another. We limp along as fast as we can.
We near the tall, outside cave wall where the churches are carved out. We run alongside the rocks away from the thousands of seats sloping down into the cave sanctuary.
Pamin rushes us. Smoke is sweating, the bloodstain getting bigger and bigger, trickling down his pant leg.
Shouts and gunfire erupt behind us.
We round a corner and squeeze between two tall boulders. Down, under a pile of loose garbage, Pamin leads us into a small opening. We slide, crawl, and scratch our way into the dark cave.
Once we’re all inside, I summon a small palm of fire to give us light.
Pamin turns back to the tiny entrance. He lifts his hands. They tremble a moment. Then rumbling comes up through the rock, and stones fall and tumble, covering the entrance.
We are sealed in.
Pamin crumbles to the floor.
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Flame GUARDIAN.
I am fire. I am pain. I am death.
My name is Ashley Warfield, a child of the foster system. I’ve bounced around town to town, home by home. I don’t trust anyone except for my twin brother and my BFF. The jury’s still out on the hot guy who shares my abilities.
Just before my 18th birthday, I’m charged with arson after failing to keep my newfound talents in check. Then I’m shipped off to juvie with my only option being to join the army - I need discipline, control, and obedience. Then it’s to Special Ops so I can become the hero I’m meant to be. Or is it the bad guy?
Because of my special powers, the government wants to keep those like me under wraps, but I know enough that others will want to use me for their cause. To top it off, someone is after me, and I need to figure out who that is and if they have anything to do with my parents death. Because I know I didn’t start our house fire those 14 years ago either.
I am the FLAME GUARDIAN.
Continue the journey in EARTH GUARDIAN!!
Acknowledgements
First of all, I’d like to thank my beta readers: Genevieve, Tiea, and Jena. This is my first whirl into a four-book series. You help me choose words and scenarios that molds the elements.
To my wonderful Development Editor, Melissa Craven. Thank you for squeezing me in on my tight schedule.
Hilary, you are the very best Copy Editor!!
Heather, you make such beautiful covers for this series. I love this one so much!! Thank you!!
Six Queens: Rhonda and Hilary … you girls are my jam!! You help me remain focused and picked up my slack so I could do another rapid release. Let’s reign together!!
To the Six Queens ARC Team. Thank you for reading and reviewing in time for my release day!
Thank you to my wonderful hubby. Who I know doesn’t fully understand all the book lingo. But you bear with me until the end of the final product. Without you and your support, none of these stories would come to life.
About the Author
USA TODAY bestseller, Amazon bestselling, and award-winning young adult author, Kristin D. Van Risseghem grew up in a small town along the Mississippi River. Currently, she lives in Minnesota with her husband and a Calico cat, named Daizy, and a Pomsky named Elsie.
If you love furbabies, Kristin also writes as K. D. Van Risseghem of picture books. She has a 10-book series about Elsie the Pomsky.
Kristin also loves attending book clubs, going shopping, and hanging out with friends. She has come to realize that she absolutely has an addiction to purses and shoes. They are her weakness and probably has way too many of both.
In the summer months, Kristin can usually be found lounging on her boat, drinking an ice cold something. Being an avid reader of YA and Women’s Literature stories, she still finds time to read a ton of books in-between writing. And in the winter months, her main goal is to stay warm from the Minnesota cold!
Kristin’s books are published by Kasian Publishing LLC.
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