CHAPTER SEVEN
of fire ladies & saving lives

"The most dangerous
animal in the world is a
silent
smiling
woman"
- anonymous 

"DAD LOVES HOPE MORE THAN US." LIZZIE said to her sister as they walk towards another one of their classes. 

Josie rolled her eyes. "You're being melodramatic, okay? He's missing one game." 

"First a game and then our weddings" -but what if Hope is in the wedding-- "This game is an opportunity. We can show him how seriously we are taking this by making sure that our secret stays protected out there on the field. Today, we will lose even more epically than we normally do." Lizzie said confidently. 

"Win by losing. That's the spirit." Josie said, smiling

"There's is someone we need to recruit to our Island of Misfit Toys. Tall, hot, and handsome." 

Josie frowned. "Rafael?" 

"I am totally thinking tight end." Lizzie said, looking up at the ceiling.

"I just saw him. Yeah, sorry, Raf's not gonna be at the game. He hopped the Hope train out of town. Just like Katelyn and your dad." Penelope appeared out of nowhere again, smirking. She walked away while Josie and Lizzie looked at each other. 

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The four pull up to the side of the road in the old black SUV before they all hop out. Hope and Katelyn take the lead as the two boys walk behind them into the forest. Hope had tracked Landon to this location once again. 

"I don't know why he's still out here. He has a whole day's lead on us. He could be anywhere." Hope said. 

"Maybe 'cause he doesn't have a reason to run." Rafael pointed out. 

"Logic that would be perfectly believable if he hadn't, you know, ran." Hope scoffed. 

"Wait Shh! You hear that? Someone's here." Alaric shushed them. Katelyn frowned and listened closely, hearing a twig snap. Alaric took off in the other direction they were going in and the three quickly followed. They caught up to Dr. Saltzman to find a girl with darker skin, long black hair, and brown eyes. She had grime and black stuff on her face with clothes looking like she was from the nineteenth century. She was frightened as she stood up from where she was leaning against the tree. 

Katelyn's eyes widened as she went pale.

"Alaric." She tried getting his attention. 

He stepped forward, ignoring her as the girl took two steps back. "I- It's okay. I- I'm not gonna hurt you." Alaric told the girl softly, walking closer.

"Alaric." Katelyn tried again. 

"Were you on the bus? Can you tell us what happened?" Alaric asked the girl with burned hands and clothes. Grim and smoke covered her face as her eyes were wide. She looked between the four, her eyes lingering on Katelyn the longest. 

"Is she a survivor?" Hope asked. 

"Guys." Katelyn said, but they ignored her. 

"Uh, smells like it. She reeks of smoke." Rafael replied to Hope's question making Katelyn throw her hands in the air. 

"I think she's in shock." Alaric said. "Look, I need to get her to the police so she can get some medical attention. Uh, why don't you three go ahead? Don't engage. We don't know how dangerous Landon is." Alaric said. 

Katelyn opened her mouth to say something but Rafael spoke before. "He's not dangerous." 

"I said don't engage." Alaric told Rafael sternly before turning back to the girl.

"Come on." Hope told Rafael and Katelyn, starting to walk back the way they came.

"I'll come with you, Alaric." Katelyn said and the three looked at her. "Raf, I'll be fine. Go with Hope and find Landon but don't engage, okay?" The werewolf reluctantly nodded and the other two left. 

Alaric turned towards the girl, putting his hand out. "I need to go get some help. If you want to follow us." He said to the girl who took his hand. 

Katelyn followed close behind the two of them. She knew what this girl was. She's ran into her before. She's killed her before. They walked through the forest as Alaric took out his phone and dialed a number. The girl grabbed it as he put it up to his ear. She looked at it like it was the craziest thing in the world. 

Alaric looked at Katelyn before back at the girl, pulling the tribrid behind him. "Do you need to make a phone call?" He asked the girl. The girl stuffed the phone in her pocket and Alaric pointed to it. "Wait, wait, that's mine. Can I have that..." She took his watch too. "Hey. That-that- that's my watch." 

"Alaric..." Katelyn said as he rushed after the woman. Alaric grabbed her arm and Katelyn rushed forward as the girl whacked his arm away and her eyes turned orange. "That's what I've been trying to tell you three! She's a dragon!" Katelyn shouted, grabbing his arm and taking off in a sprint as the girl blew fire out of her mouth.

Alaric pulled Katelyn to him and put his hand over her mouth, hiding behind a tree. Alaric leaned over slightly and looked around the tree. They both breathed out a sigh of relief when they didn't see her anymore. 

Katelyn took out her phone and gave it to Alaric who dialed a number and put it up to his ear. Alaric talked to Dorian for a few minutes while Katelyn kept watch. 

"Are you sure it isn't a pyromancer?" Dorian asked. 

"Katelyn says it's a dragon." Alaric replied. 

"I thought you didn't trust her." Dorian said. Katelyn scoffed slightly.

"Yeah, well, she saved my life so. Anyway, she smelled like she was dipped in an ashtray, Dorian. She breathes fire instead of words. A dragon sounds about right." Alaric rubbed his forehead. "And now there is one wandering around outside Route 29." 

"All right, I'm on it. I'll call you back when I figure out how you restrain her without getting barbecued." 

Alaric closed his eyes, sighing. "She stole my phone. This is Katelyn's so do me a favor and save this number. How are the girls doing?" He asked. This made Katelyn turn towards him and pay attention to the conversation. 

"Oh, they're-they're killing it." Dorian chuckled. "By not killing it." 

Alaric fist pumped. "Great. I will be in touch." He ended the call and gave Katelyn back her phone. "Let's go find Hope before she tries to incinerate Landon. I have a feeling neither of them followed orders." 

Katelyn nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised." 

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Katelyn and Alaric rushed down the steps. "There's a fire-breathing woman running through the woods." Alaric and Katelyn said at the same time. Hope looks over at Landon in shock while the boy looks relieved. 

"What did I say? I told you." Alaric said to Katelyn who shrugged. He looked at Rafael and Hope. "Did I or did I not say 'don't engage'?" 

"He's only dangerous if crappy apologies can kill." Hope said. 

"Looks can be deceiving." Katelyn said. "Like the bloody woman that just tried to burn Alaric and I alive!" She hissed. "See, this is why we listen to the girl who was taken by witches at the age of one!" She ran a hand through her hair and groaned. 

"Now our bus refugee, turns out she's a dragon or a pyromancer--" 

"Dragon--" 

"We're still figuring it out!" Alaric cut off Katelyn. 

"Wait, wh-what's a pyromancer?" Landon asked. 

"A fire-breathing witch, Landon." Hope replied. Rafael chuckles and she ignores him. "Ric, Katelyn, she wants the knife." 

Katelyn pointed at her. "Yes! Yes, she does." 

"Okay, well, where is it?" Alaric asked, looking between the three. Hope and Rafael look at Landon. 

"I- I lost it in the woods. I was running around in circles all night trying to find a place to hide." Landon said. 

"Okay, okay. Well, let's, uh, find it before she does, huh?" Alaric asked the teenagers. Katelyn goes out first followed by Alaric, Hope, Landon, then Rafael. Katelyn grabs Alaric's arm to stop him as she hears growling. 

Alaric puts the kids behind him as the girl walks up in front of them. 

"Look, remember me?" Katelyn asked, waving her hand. The girl looked at her and snarled. "Yeah, yeah you do. Great. Look, we don't mean any trouble. I'm not here to kill you again or anything, alright?" 

She sticks out her hand, palm facing up. Katelyn looks at Landon. "What does she want?" Rafael asked. 

"Maybe she wants the knife you said you don't have." Hope replied, looking at Landon. 

The girls' eyes turned orange. "Back inside the cellar! Go, go, go!" Alaric said and they rushed in, Katelyn slamming the doors closed behind them. The doors catch fire as they all rushed down to the bottom. 

"Where the hell is it?" Hope demanded, glaring at Landon. 

AN: double upload!! because i waited so long to upload. :) don't forget to vote if you liked it!