Like a slow-motion movie, the spark from the hunter's gunshot captured my attention. I thought I saw the bullet exit the barrel and head straight toward me. My eyes widened at the expectation of what was about to happen and what I was about to endure.

Within that slow motion second, I braced for impact. And when the bullet met my cheek, I imagined the splatter of blood as the projectile ripped the flesh and split it in two. The impact knocked me back and I stared at the brightening sky.

I imagined the turmoil Lilac must have gone through just before collapsing, the fight and pain Hermit sustained as he squirmed on the floor in visible pain, cradling his arm while blood continued to saturate the poorly applied bandage on his injured shoulder.

I envisioned the fear on the faces of the protesting teens and the trauma they would suffer from the sights they'd seen. But most of all I thought of the many lives that were lost at the beginning of this catastrophe. I couldn't just wish those lives back, I didn't have the power to bring Hermit's wife and daughter into his arms, and I had no control over my parents to make them return.

Some things were out of my power, yet there was one thing I could control.

The thought of dying on the grassy side of the radius brought a fear to the center of my gut. The sadness that accompanied the regret I had for letting down my companions fought for the same space. But worst of all, the anger. The hot, seething, raging anger took over and brought heat to the surface of my skin and to the tips of my extremities.

As my emotions bubbled to the surface all at once, the burning pain emanated from the center of my chest and out of my mouth as a scream. My back arched and every fiber of me exploded with an invisible energy.

My vision expanded as white and bright as a thousand suns. My eardrums rang like bells and a creeping static crackled in the distance. I straightened my back to sit upright as the far away trees parted and continued to do so in my direction.

Massive trees toppled to the side, splitting and parting to make a path for the immense figure moving between them. The top of the inky creature rose far above the tallest of trees and overlooked some of the nearby buildings.

The creatures had to curve their necks like question marks to roam the halls of the asylum, but this one at its current size would double over twice to fit inside the same space.

It wasn't until it emerged from the forest that it became apparent, this beast was not alone. Two typical sized Scorchers accompanied it, slick and slithering at its' sides.

By studying their demeanor and actions, I immediately recognized one of the Scorchers exuded the characteristics of grief and the other fear. Their presence oozed with it. And the colossal one in the center was full of utter rage. Ready to use its curved claws to dig up the very land it stood on if desired.

The ugly scowl on its dripping face told the creature's emotional makeup. Even more so as it swiped some of the trees up from their deep roots and tossed them aside in a rampage.

The hunter attempted to shoot the colossal before deciding to run away, but he was no match for the creature's claws and searing ooze. The two Scorchers swayed their large, dripping heads from side to side, surveying the land and calculating what to devour first.

Hermit lay on the ground in front of me. He didn't attempt to run or move at all. It was as if he gave up the fight and accepting his fate.

The colossal creature's unhinged jaw salivated black stickiness as its hollow gaze focused on Hermit. It moved forward so fast it resembled a leap.

"No!" I rushed forward, standing before Hermit as he looked up at me with no expression. I looked up at the towering monster as it paused before me. Its stench triggered a cough to replace the offensive odor with oxygenated air in my lungs, but instead of expelling air to satisfy the need, I raised my voice. "You will not do this to my friends. You hear me?" My throat burned as I spat my venom, but I didn't allow it to stop me. As the creature swayed before me, as if debating to obey or not, I made it clear, "I brought you into this world and I will take you out." I glared. "You will not hurt me or my friends. Ever."

Its sizzling drips of goop fell and collected in a pool before me. I turned to locate the line of demarcation or the off-colored green grass that lied on the other side of the radius. However, in the morning light, there was nothing but utter blackness that resembled scorched earth as far as the eye could see.

The police cars, news vans, and their equipment were overturned or scattered as if a big wind or large quake knocked them from their original places.

The crowd of people had scattered, some running for cover, others shocked by the sights they had witnessed, many gawking at the looming creatures. The protesters' signs that carried messages of peace and unity littered the ground and were covered in black nectar.

As I stood, taking in the sights, and trying to comprehend what had taken place, the creatures remained at my back like towering guards of the Scalded.

In the distance, the wailing screech of sirens and the chopping of helicopter blades filled the air. They were in route and fast approaching. The first to show were a couple of black helicopters which resembled the ones that hovered over the fires.

The police cruisers were next to come, and while the helicopters circled overhead, it only took a couple of minutes for a few military vehicles to follow. The bulky, intimating machines crushed and splattered the viny new growth as they forced their way through crowds of people and their spillage to rest nearby.

Several officers in identical military uniforms, equipment and weaponry in arms rushed from the vehicles and in a rehearsed manner got into formation, positioning themselves with shields for protection.

One of the officer's yelled an order and fire power burst from their weapons, I dropped to the ground next to Hermit. The large bullets pierced the creatures and exited their liquid bodies to hit the trees behind them, shredding the bark from the trunks.

Suddenly a long and vicious flame burst from one of the men's weapons. The flame did nothing to the creatures, not even catching on their tarlike bodies. The heat of the fire singed the hairs on my arms, and I flinched.

And although the creatures' attention and intent were on the men, they didn't move which struck me as odd until I understood why.

I used the pain from my ripped cheek and singed arm to gather my anger, fear, and grief in a fit of rage, balling my fist and slamming it into the root covered ground. "Now!" I called and pointed to my immediate threat.

The creatures lurched forward, moving around me and Hermit as we lay on the ground out of the way of the spraying ammunitions.

The screams of some of the men echoed in my ear, while explosions and fires broke out in the forest behind us.

The two Scorchers that had stood at the colossal creature's side, now disbursed, attacking and devouring anything that posed a threat. Spewing their hot liquid at the vehicles and the officers trying to hide behind them.

It was when I tried to pull Hermit to stand that I realized I had become weak again. My muscles quivered instead of providing the strength I needed, and my legs threatened to give out under my weight.

"Eat," Hermit ordered through wincing. "You're depleted."

A sliver of sunlight had already peeked over the horizon, causing the roots nearby to turn dry, chalky, and not filling at all. I spat out the remaining gritty pulp in my mouth. "I can't. It's too late." I collapsed next to him, fatigued and defeated.

He sighed, pushing down his exhaustion and pain. "You can. Make it happen. Use your imagination, use your wit, use your creativity. You can do this, Kyla." The pleading in his voice gave me a boost and provided my power.

I stared at the back of the colossal Scorcher, just as it finished spewing its steaming, molten molasses onto an officer and his gun. Almost immediately, its gawking face emerged from its back to shift and move in my direction, claws scraping up the earth as it approached.

I knew what the creature was capable of, remembering the fire and how the roots grew to heal what was left after the fire was doused. I stared up at its ugly, sunken eye sockets, mentally demanding that it feed me as the Scalded often did.

If my theory was correct, because the Scalded provided nourishment and had been created through me, the Scorchers who came from me should provide the same nourishment.

Suddenly the goo that dripped from its body and lubricated its every move began to spout a new growth of roots and vines that scattered until it surrounded me by a couple of feet.

When I dipped to test the new growth, something caught the creature's attention and it left to satisfy its curiosity, leaving me to feed.

I pulled some of the roots from the ground and sniffed the bittersweet scent before shoving a handful into my mouth. The roots were just as good and satisfying as the midnight growth but probably wouldn't last too long under the rising sun.

In no time, Hermit was alongside me, scooping up vines to replenish his energy.

~~~

Share you thoughts, and thanks for voting on each chapter!