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Awoken by the loud thump of his bedroom door. The matchstick twins bursting in singing 'Happy Birthday', horridly out of tune. Rose holding the Wollies Chocolate mudcake decorated on top with his favourite sugary sweet, marshmallows.

"Wait here a second whilst I grab the matches" Poppy yells as she runs out the room in search, leaving Rose holding the cake whilst sitting across from Alton on his bed.

"Alt you look like shit. Are you feeling ok?" Considering his high temperature yesterday.

"I'm fine" Voice sounding croaky. A heavy acid burn ripping down his throat.

"Are you sure? You don't look fine" Rose repeated her worry.

Getting annoyed with her nagging "Then stop looking!" He growled. Feeling an intense heat wanting to be released from his lungs. Struggling to breathe.

Fear rose in Rose's eyes, "Alton, take a slow deep breath"  Panic in her voice

"Take a deep breath? It feels like there's a fucking volcano ready to irrupt in my throat!" His fear increased as he felt a small ball of hot fire growing in his lungs, launching towards his throat. As he exhaled sharply, a tiny ball of fire came spiralling out towards Rose.

"Guys I can't find the matches" Poppy opening the bedroom door "Oh! You already found them."

Rose sat frozen opposite him mouth gaping open staring at the cake in her arms with the candles lit with fire. Even the marshmallow lightly toasted. Her shocked eyes found Alton's'.

"Well go on Alton, make a wish!" Rose said with a plastered-on smile.

Alton was confused, Poppy was oblivious, and Rose was pretending it didn't happen. Catching Rose's eyes, she mouthed 'later'. Thankful she didn't run out the door screaming, he however wanted to run out the door screaming.
With a slightly smokey breath he blew out the candles, too in shock to make a wish.

"No need to look petrified Alton, it's a chocolate store bought, so you won't get food poisoning" giggled Poppy as she cut a slice, lifting it to Alton's mouth. His mind went a blank looking into her eyes. Opening his mouth, taking a bite from the cake. As he did his lips brushed her finger tips. Messy chocolate coating his mouth. Poppy's eyes flickering to his lips as his tongue swiped his lips clean. Alton could feel the heat return to his body and settling in back in his chest. A fire, the same as a moment ago.

"Ah, Poppy don't you have Saturday study club, you should probably leave now or you'll be late" Rose caught on, not wanting her sister to see a repeat of Alton's fire breathing. The last thing he would want was for Poppy think him a freak or even worse accidentally setting her ablaze. Rose practically dragged her sister out of the apartment.

Sprinting to the bathroom running cold water into the bath. Not bothering to strip out of his clothes, submerging his overheated body into the depth on cold water. Calming his body down. Lifting his head out the water to gulp in much needed air. Rose stalking into the bathroom with her hands on her hips "What the hell just happened Alt, you owe me an explanation after covering your ass!" Breathing out, " This better be a prank"

"I - I have no - no idea." Stuttering trying to come up for an explanation. Eyebrows creasing in confusion. Rose kneeled next to the bath her hand coming checking his forehead.

"Shit! Alton your burning hot!" She almost screams, quickly retracting hear hand as if her skin was burnt.

Searching his eyes, she abruptly left the bathroom coming back clutching a compact mirror and holding it up to his face.

"Don't freak out" Rose's voice quivered. Looking into the mirror a pair of dark black soulless eyes reflected back at him. Watching his eyes roll back, plunging back into the bath, he succumbed into darkness.

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"You're becoming a victim to the darkness, stop passing out!" snapped Rose pacing the bathroom floor, anxiously biting on her fingernails.

"How long have I been passed out?" Alton slowly getting out of the bathtub. The cold water now warm splashed on the tiled floor.

"Fifteen minutes maybe more. Your dad called to wish you a happy birthday. I texted back on your phone saying you're out watching a movie. How are you not freaking the fuck out Alton? Your eyes are fucking black! And you breathe fire, FIRE!" Frantically waving her hands around like a mad woman.

"Calm down Rose, I think you're doing the freaking out on my behalf" Shaking his head, water droplet flicking off.

While walking into his bedroom, pulling off his wet shirt noticing how it was a little too tight to come off. Looking in his wardrobe mirror noticing his body was hot, and not just the temperature. It's like his body had matured overnight, well-defined abs, arms thicker with stronger muscles, and his black eyes. Even his face had slightly changed, jawline slightly more prominent. Lifting the elastic band of his pants, even bigger there too. Grinning at his reflection.

Changing into a dry pair of pants, noticing the leftover birthday cake still on his bed, stomach grumbling. 'All that passing out must've made my body hungry' he thought digging into the cake. With a wide grin, 'My birthday couldn't get any better, big dick and chocolate cake.'

"Holy mother of God! Alt what the fuck happened to you overnight?" Rose entering the room holding a fire extinguisher, checking out his now toned chest. "Are you eating?"

"Mmhm" Mumbling incoherently stuffing the cake into his mouth.

"How could be eating at a time like this?"

"I was hungry" Shrugging his shoulders. Rose huffs as she opening the bedroom window, climbing out on to the back-alley emergency staircase.

"Come on, I want to see more of that fire" Lifting up the fire extinguisher. She was serious.

Rose standing five metres away from Alton on the rooftop, fire extinguisher pointed directly at him. She was ready. Alton on the hand was not. Having no clue how to ignite the fame.

"Close your eye Alt. Imagine a surge on warmth igniting your lungs." Rose helping guide him. Watching his eyes close. "Inhale deeply, it's getting warmer" Licking his lips as he followed her command. Astonished, as she witnessed his chest glowed like a light. Alton still shirtless, his skin shined in warmth. "A surge of fire traveling, yearning to be released." The light in his chest expanding, roaming, wanting out. "And exhale, Let the fire out!"

Releasing a ball of fire, no bigger than his fist. Burn marks scorched the ground as the fire ball travelled. Rose aimed the nozzle and released the white foam, the fire dissipated. "FUCKING LEGENDARY" Rose yelled in amazement whilst jumping around like a lunatic. Alton quirking a smile at her antics.

So went the rest of the day. Rose and Alton on the rooftop eating food and breathing fire. Starting to get the hang of it after a few disasters of him disintegrating a few pot plants. In his defence the plants looked suspiciously illegal. The green thumb being Jarrah Mabo, from apartment four. Fresh out of high school from Darwin, Jarrah was reknown across Melbourne for his indigenous graffiti. The back alleys covered with his urban art.

Exhausted, his breath smelling like a chain smoker. The pair holding onto the railing of the rooftop, legs dangling as they watched the orange sunset.

"Rose, what does this mean? This isn't normal." Concerned on what was happening to him.

"You've never been normal Alt." He could always rely on Rose's snarky attitude to lighten the mood. "Maybe you're the devil reincarnated."

"Oh, I almost forgot", Rose digging into her pockets, "Happy Birthday!" Retrieving a small black pouch handing it over to Alton.

Tipping the contents onto his palm. A black leather necklace with a silver pendent. Dangling the pendant closer to his eyes, a small silver tag with the inscription 'Marshmallow Dork'.

"I thought I should get you something nice for your sweet sixteenth."

"Thanks Rose, I love it." Giving her a smile placing the leather around his neck.

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