Hiding among the brush and trees in broad daylight proved difficult. Daytime use to be the time I felt the safest in the Scalded. However, things were different now. We had to tiptoe through the forest back toward the barricade near the abandoned school, staying clear of the hunters who lurked nearby.

We tried to stay away from buildings, as Hermit was probably right. Those buildings would be the first place anyone would look if they were searching for heartbeats. That was what Lilac and I had done. The only thing found among the rubble were the sad secrets of the Scalded.

We came upon the bank of the radius, about fifty feet before the old, abandoned school and its red brick facade. Where to my dismay, Valerie and Noel were not there. I don't know why they would be after the things they've witnessed, but I hoped they would have showed up.

We stood behind and hid amongst the sporadically grown trees, thankful that the area wasn't occupied with police cars, news station vans, and random people.

Behind us in the distance an explosion sounded and shook the ground beneath our feet. Lilac and I both turned, startled. On the opposite side of the radius a plume of white smoke billowed up over the tops of the trees.

"What the hell...?" slipped from my lips. "What did they do?"

"I have no idea what that was." Lilac comforted me by rubbing my shoulder gently. "Thank goodness that was nowhere near us or the hospital."

"Yeah, it could've been worse." I feigned relief, but my nerves stirred. What were they doing and how will it affect the Scalded? Maybe worrying was valid because one thing was for sure, whoever they were they were becoming more brave, bold, and confident.

"Maybe the explosion came from the military Hermit spoke about?" Lilac ducked behind the tree next to me. "You think that was them, setting up explosives?"

I watched the plume of black smoke rise in the distant. "They wouldn't do that with those hunters running around in here."

"Maybe they don't know they are here," Lilac suggested. "After all, those barriers been posted around the Scalded since the beginning, warning people not to enter. Rules mean nothing to them."

"Or maybe it's the hunters finally making due on their threat."

We continued to toss around ideas, keeping our eyes and ears pealed for any intruders. Time seemed to pass so slow when wanting it to speed up. I assumed that as soon as night fell, more people would come out to gawk, expecting the creatures to come out at that time. Would I have to be on guard for the remainder of my days?

Finally, commotion near the school caught our attention. I looked up to see Valerie and Noel. They were dressed in warm clothes this time, but their hair and wide eyes were their distinct features.

I stepped out from behind my hiding place and waved my arms to get their attention.

"Look!" Valerie pointed at us. "There they are." They rushed forward to meet us on the on the other side of the scorched line. Dry yellowing grass crunched beneath their shoes as they approached. "Oh, my gosh. I thought you guys were toast."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"A lot of people are disobeying city orders and coming here." Noel didn't take his brown eyes from the pluming smoke. "They declared it a hazardous zone."

"But some people just won't listen," Valerie said, not realizing the irony of her words.

"Some people? You mean the hunters?" I glanced back toward the dense, billowing smoke that seemed to have increased in volume.

"You mean the Conleys." She huffed in annoyance. "They're hell bent on hunting down the creature that took their brother."

"Isn't that dangerous?" Noel shook his head.

Valerie nodded. "They don't seem to care. They're more than happy to put themselves in harm's way for revenge or 'justice' as they call it. It's the only thing they care about. The only thing they talk about."

Noel shook his head again and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Those guys are always trying to push someone out of their comfort zone. Intimidating them with their guns and their promises to keep out crime and such. Now they took it upon themselves to rid the city of this place. Morons. If they had brains, they would let the cops do their jobs instead of taking matters in their own hands."

"Wannabe heroes," Valerie added and scoffed.

Overjoyed by their lack of fear, I took a deep breath. "I'm glad you guys came back.

"I'm actually relieved you guys are ok." A frown twisted Valerie's lips. "It's not fair. You guys shouldn't have to fear for your life."

My heart swelled. "Thank you."

"Plus," she went on. "I have no idea what they're planning to do though. Authorities are being super secretive."

I cleared my throat, hoping not to sound too desperate. "I was hoping you can convince them not to harm us or this place. Maybe spread the word that we're in here and that we're friendly. I can't leave. You saw what happened when I tried. And even if I could, they wouldn't listen."

Noel's concern made his forehead crinkle. "If we tell everyone why you can't leave this place, I don't think that will make them understand. I mean, explaining how your veins turn black and you stop breathing is a little freaky." He let out an uneasy chuckle.

"Besides, I already told my social media followers," Valerie confessed. "Most of them either think it's a prank or think it's too weird to get involved. But some of the kids I used to go to school with actually want to meet you guys. They want to see you in person." She glanced back and forth between me and Lilac with alluring almond shaped eyes, awaiting our response.

"You treat us like animals in a zoo to gawk at." Lilac took offense. It was apparent in his tone. "What about seeking help don't you understand?"

She huffed, disappointed with his answer. "No, you're not animals and we want to help, but first you gotta convince them that you're real and you're good people. With all the news going around about demons and killer creatures, it's a bit hard to convince people like us to speak out about saving this place."

"As a matter of fact, "Noel put up a finger to interrupt, "I'm not sure that's something even we should get involved in. It's super dangerous."

I glared, taking a step forward. "Well, why did you come back then? To watch the Scalded burn?"

"The Scalded?" Valerie dipped her eyebrows.

"Isn't that what some of you call it?" I looked around at the vines and trees behind us. "This all came about because of the Scorchers." I was about to go on, but Lilac placed his hand on my back to urge me to stop.

"The Scorchers?" Noel's thick eyebrows dipped. "What are those?"

"The creatures," I said in annoyance.

"Kyla—" Lilac urged, shaking his head.

"The creatures that roam this place," I went on, ignoring Lilac's subtle warning. "They'll scald anything and everything they touch. They will melt you alive."

Valerie and Noel's eyes widened in fear. The stillness in the air became unnerving, and the smell of burning debris from the plume of smoke lingered around us.

"Kyla, what are you doing?" Lilac shook his head to discourage me from continuing.

"If they're not going to help us, maybe they should just go and never come back." I pointed toward the old, rundown school and glared at Valerie and Noel. "Go home."

Noel backed away from the radius, but Valerie held interest in her expression. "Did the Scorchers kill Rachel Maddox? Melted her alive?"

"You didn't see the footage?" I asked, skeptical.

"What footage?" Valerie narrowed her eyes.

If Hermit had been right about the woman having a clip of the creature, then authorities must not have shared that info publicly. "Why should I tell you anything?" I stared on, annoyance heating my cheeks.

"Let's go, Valerie," Noel called.

"No." Valerie stood her ground, not moving an inch. "I want to know. What happened to her? Do you know?"

"Of course, I know." My chest rose and fell rapidly. The sudden interrogation made me uneasy and placed me in guilt mode.

"Kyla?" Lilac nudged my shoulder.

I ignored him. "It was an accident. It wasn't meant to happen."

"What are you saying?" Concern swept across her face. "I mean, I want to help you. I don't think you deserve to be hunted down or threatened or anything like that. That's horrible, but I just need to understand what I'm getting myself into."

"There is nothing to understand." Lilac waved a dismissive hand. "She said what happened."

"But how do you know it was an accident?" She looked back and forth at me and Lilac and then her eyes widened. "Were you involved?"

The fear heightened in Lilac's eyes. "Kyla, you do not have to answer that."

Valerie shook her head slowly. "I'm all about standing up for what's right, but how can I put my life on the line if I have no idea what I'm putting my life on the line for? I need to know what's going on. And if you have the answers, please tell me." Her eyes held great concern. "Please."

I huffed, looking down at my feet and at the overgrown vines that cushioned me. "I can't leave this place because if I do I die. And if I die, the creatures break out. Me being here is the only thing keeping them from stalking the city."

"You?" Valerie put her hand to her heart. "How are they linked to you?"

"My emotions." I gulped. "I think. I mean, all this is a guess but it's a very educated guess, one I wouldn't risk anyone's life to test."

Her jaw hung open and for a few short minutes and we stared at each other without saying another word. She scanned me with her eyes, and I can tell she was calculating, the cogs turning in her head. "Are you the creature everyone's talking about?"

"Me?" I pressed my hand to my heart sincerely. "No."

"But you control them?" She rubbed her temple with her fingertips.

"No," I shrugged. "When I feel a certain emotion, they come. Then after that they take on a life of their own. And so far, it seems like they're very destructive."

"So. How do you control them?"

"I can't. I don't."

"Well, if you control your emotions then you can control them, right?" She looked back at Noel to encourage him to return to the conversation and agree with her.

He only mimicked me and shrugged.

She nodded, convinced. "If you control the way you feel and really tune into those emotions maybe you can control the creatures and keep them from destroying and terrorizing." She made sense, technically, but it was much easier said than done. "Can you make them come out now?" Valerie's face twisted with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

Noel finally rushed forward. "What the hell are you doing, Vee? You want her to bring those things to us? She's already admitted she can't control them, they have a mind of their own, and they melt people. What are we doing?"

"Let's be honest. That's what we came for, isn't it," she argued. "Isn't that what everyone comes for?"

"Noel's right. It's foolish." I stood my ground. "I told you I can't control them. They come when they come, and they do whatever they please."

Valerie nodded, finally accepting my refusal. "But they can't leave this ... the Scalded, right?"

I looked down at the edge of the ring. "I don't think so. They haven't yet."

She visibly shuddered. "Imagine that, Noel. Ghastly creatures stampeding all over the city, melting people." She brought her hand to her throat as if it pained her to even speak the words. "That would be a devastating nightmare."

"I can't leave, or I'll die," I repeated what I said to Hermit, staring straight into her eyes so she could understand the seriousness. "And if I die, they roam free, turning your nightmare into reality."

The two looked at each other with wide eyes. Finally, Valerie pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket and aimed its camera lens in our direction. "Tell them who you are, Kyla. Show them you're just like us and don't deserve to have this place, your home, be demolished."

"I—don't know what to say." I looked at the camera and back towards Lilac for some direction.

"Tell them who you are," Noel echoed.

"Yes," Valerie prompted. "Use your voice."

I lengthened my spine and quickly ran my hands through my poofy curls atop my head. "Um," I started, immediately disappointed in my lack of confidence.

"For example," Valerie cleared her throat. "I'm Valerie Kim. I've lived in the city all my life after my parents migrated from the east. I have an adorable friend named Noel who I met in middle school and we've been friends ever since. We like to discuss politics and debate social philosophies, and we thrive on activism." She forced a smile. "Now you."

"Ok," I started. "I'm Kyla Shepard. And this is my friend Lilac Pauper. We've lived within the radius since the beginning. I was a long-term patient of Knoques Hospital, under the care of Dr. Johnson. I used to enjoy pepperoni pizza, singing, and writing fiction to help me past the time. Now, all I want is to live in peace.

"This place is very mysterious, but it provides me and my friend all that we need to survive. The only thing we ask is to be left alone. We all can live peacefully, side by side, if we just respect each other's space." I paused, at a loss for words.

"Good." Valerie smiled and stuffed the phone back in her pocket. "I'll post that to my profile as soon as I get home."

Noel nodded. "It's cool you used to like writing. I read a lot of poetry. You know, Robert Frost, Emily Dickenson. Looks like maybe I should get into some Poe now too, huh?" He chuckled.

I flashed a quick and uneasy smile. He discovered something we had in common. I liked that. Maybe we weren't so different, however, "I stopped reading and writing a long time ago. I have a very active imagination that often gets me in trouble."

"Ah." He laughed nervously.

From a distance, another loud explosion startled us. I quickly swung on my heels to see another plume of smoke rise from the tree line. The sound of police sirens rang through the area, urging a fearful Valerie and Noel further away from the edge.

~~~

What are the explosions? 

You think they will destroy the Scalded?