The Panic

Matthew was deathly still, his curly hair sliding across his face as he held his gun out. An air of severity fell across the room like a heavy blanket. The two men were locked into a deadly standoff. No one dared to move or even breathe.

Victor could feel the sweat soaking through Umbra's shirt as he trembled against his chest. Images of Matthew's  possible grisly demise wouldn't leave his mind. Umbra's quick gasps for breath and darting eyes told Victor he wasn't the only one expecting the worst. Umbra's muscles were tense from holding himself back from the fight.

“I can't stand this!” one of the robbers shouted.

Bang!

Matthew staggered backwards, clutching the bleeding hole in his shoulder.

“Baby!” Umbra barked, leaping to his feet. In a flash, Umbra summoned his sword, cleaving off the arm of the man Matthew had been in in standoff with. His gun clattered to the floor, along with the rest of his arm.

Before Victor’s eyes, chaos broke out.

Victor hugged his knees tighter to his chest as his fathers fought back to back, a flurry of shining steel and fists. Umbra moved with a flair of elegance, swinging his curved blade in fluid, seamlessly arcs. Matthew had dropped his gun, slugging at anything that came near them with his good arm. Blood was blossoming through the creamy fabric of his coat, but that didn't seem to deter him.

“Get out if you can,” Matthew screamed over his shoulder at the shuddering crowd behind him, “We've got this!”

A mass of frightened people rushed out of the bank, leaving all but one. The woman that had been shot was slumped against the wall, watching the melee with cold blue eyes.

Matthew and a woman were in a brutal conflict, pushing and shoving each other. Matthew fought to keep her hands, which held a knife, at a distance, while she struggled to slit his throat. Matthew's face drained of color when she struck the wound on his shoulder, and he dropped to his knees, directly in front of Victor.

Victor squeaked, his trembling growing more violent. Matthew writhed in agony just inches away, while his opponent loomed over him with a knife. Umbra was occupied with two attackers, frantically dodging their merciless strikes. There was no way Umbra could save Matthew.

It was up to Victor.

Emotion burned in Victor’s chest, replacing the mindless fear that had been consuming him. Victor grit his teeth, rage sparking a light in his wide eyes. They shot his dad. He was in pain. He couldn't just sit there and let his father die.

Victor pulled off his mittens as he shakily came to his feet, black clumps of hair obscuring his face. His breath was uneven as blue sparks ignited on his fingers.

“What?” the woman growled, “Are you done crying?”

Victor lifted his head, showing her the blue light bleeding from his eyes.

“W-What the-” A blast of spirit fire cut off her sentence.

Like a valve being released, magic poured from Victor’s body, cold fire spreading through the room. Screams of terror erupted from the robbers as they realized the deadly newcomer to the fight.

Euphoria rushed through Victor’s blood. The cold chills his fire left on his skin was invigorating. The circle of flames around him burned brighter, reaching the ceiling.

As the last of the robbers fled the bank, Victor laid a hand on Matthew’s non-wounded shoulder, his magic closing the both of them in a destructive barrier.

Matthew turned his head, staring past Victor and focusing on the raging inferno around them. Fear flashed in his eyes.

Victor’s smile fell, and his high was over. Shoulders slumping, he looked around him, stomach churning. The temperature had plummeted, and Victor could see his breath.

Panic flooded over him as he realized he couldn't quell the blaze. With every gasp for air, the fire seemed to swell, feeding off his fear.

His powers were out of control.

Author's Note-