Things we lost to the flame

Things we'll never see again

The fire blazed, rocketing smoke into the sky and casting an ominous orange glow on the neighbourhood below. A crowd had amassed, desperate to see what was going on in there. As there were shadows being cast from within. Silhouettes of people who didn’t seem to care whether they were to die, or to suffer a terrible fate.

The sounds of wood breaking and splintering under the stress of the fire and the fight echoed outside.

Something died this night. Something that had lived forever. Something that would never be regained at all.

All that we've amassed

Sits before us, shattered into ash

“I trusted you!” the man threw another punch. He missed and instead knocked out another support beam.

His opponent — a woman a bit younger than him but not by much — Evaded all the debris falling around them as she threw out her own strikes. Most of them hit their target, but she also struck the building around them.

“You were my friend!” he grunted as he caught one of the punches she threw at him.

He strained, clenching his teeth, as he caught another punch and struggled to hold her hands away from him. But he wasn’t able to notice the knee that came up from nowhere as she hit him in the groin.

The wind was knocked out of him as he struggled for air.

“A friend? That’s the first mistake you made. You are the cause of my Mother’s death. If you weren’t there, she wouldn’t have gone back in for you, and she would still be here with me. You don’t know what it’s really like to lose someone close to you. You’re just a pretender,” she sneered.

These are the things, the things we lost

The things we lost in the fire, fire, fire

These are the things, the things we lost

The things we lost in the fire, fire, fire

“You think I lost no one?” he staggered up and wiped off some blood that was starting to drip from his nose. “You killed my girlfriend. And she did nothing wrong.”

In a burst of speed, he packed a strong punch into her. She was sent flying out of the building and into the street where the spectators scattered in fear. The man grabbed one of the support beams and leapt out of the building as well, bringing the wooden beam down on his enemy before she could react.

Flaming debris was everywhere now. It lit up the place against the pitch black sky. Even the universe was mad right now at the actions that had taken place.

He began to pummel her repeatedly with his fists. Each strike laced with anger. Until she had enough and threw him off her.

He wasn’t deterred though. He picked up a truck next to him and threw it at her. Before it even hit her, it started to be torn apart into shreds of metal which she used to lift herself up. Mechanical tentacles and spikes headed everywhere trying to grab the man as he sped around. He was too fast for them. Every time they landed, he was nowhere around. Always disappearing into a blur of colour.

We sat and made a list

Of all the things that we have

Down the backs of table tops

“What can I get you? The usual?” Harrison asked as I came in.

“Yeah, make it stronger this time though. I don’t want to remember anything right now. At least not until I have to go to the hearing later this week,” I rubbed my eyes.

“Look on the bright side”— He poured some alcohol into a large glass — “You won’t be hearing from her again. She’s going to be in for a long time.”

I took the drink before answering.

“I’ve heard rumours that she won’t even be getting that long of a sentence. Just a couple of years. So is the way of the villain. I hate them, I hate her. She took everything from me,” I slammed my hand onto the bar cracking the glass in my hand. A sharp pain coursed through me as the glass bit me.

“That’s a nasty cut. You should stop doing that,” he offered as he took out another glass.

“Don’t worry, you can just add it to my tab,” I ignored him.

“Yeah, like always. You know, with all the money you filter in here, you should be running the place already,” he chuckled.

“I don’t care who runs this place. As long as I get my Scotch, I’m happy,” I drank all of the scotch in the glass before setting it down this time.

“Shouldn’t you be out there saving people? That’s supposed to be your job. You’re part of the Enhanced Forces.”

“Why should I save those ungrateful mother fuckers? They should be able to take care of themselves. I’m done doing that. Look at where it got me!” Harrison pulled the glass away from me before I had a chance to throw it across the room.

I buried my head in my arms and stayed like that for a while as the music soothed me. There weren’t as many people as there usually were. Maybe because I was out day drinking during a weekday. I didn’t care. At least there wouldn’t be many there to see my outbursts.

“I know that it isn’t my place to ask these sorts of questions, but… Why did she do this? I thought that she liked you and wanted you to be happy even if it wasn’t with her. So why did she kill your girlfriend?”

“You’re right, It isn’t your place to ask this,” I glared at him. “I think I’ll find some other bar to drink at.”

Ticket stubs and your diaries I read them all one day

When loneliness came and you were away

Oh they told me nothing new,

But I love to read the words you used

...I met someone special today. He helped me fight the boredom as my sister went through the clothing aisle. God, I’ve missed having someone to talk to. I never realized it until now. But it really is great having…

It hurts reading through this, but it was the only way I could keep a part of her alive in me. It's been a few months since her death, and I still hurt deeply. Every morning waking up expecting her to be right there beside me. Only to be let down. A cold spot where she used to sleep. I torture myself, but it was all I could do.

This diary was all I could salvage from the charred remains of my old home.

He makes me happy. I love him so much. Everything that we’ve done has been mostly for my enjoyment. Going to the movies, dinner, random gifts. Even going as far as to make time to take me on road trips.

I just found out that he’s part of the Enhanced Special Forces. I’m not sure what this means for our future. I’d be afraid of what this could mean for me, but I’ve always felt safe next to him. I feel like nothing can stop me. Nothing can hurt me. That’s how he makes me feel. Before and after learning about this.

The guilt hit. She thought she was safe with me? I couldn’t even do that for her. I wasn’t able to keep her safe.

Tears just started rolling down my face. My throat turned into a knot making it hard for me to swallow. My nose burned. I failed her. I failed the one job I had. To keep her safe and loved. I screwed up by letting her into my life. If she had never met me, then maybe she would still be alive. Maybe? No. She would definitely be alive.

These are the things, the things we lost

The things we lost in the fire, fire, fire

These are the things, the things we lost

The things we lost in the fire, fire, fire

I was the match and you were the rock

Maybe we started this fire

We sat apart and watched

My old home was burnt to the ground. Landowners purchased it and started building on it. It felt like a betrayal to her. To not keep it undisturbed. But, I couldn’t stand the sight of it. It brought on terrible and unwanted memories.

The sounds of the machines backing up and unloading dirt, wood, anything filled the air. Former neighbours came out to their lawns and watched as I walked around. I could tell that they wanted to interact with me, but they were kept away by my contorted glare.

I didn’t want anything to do with anyone.

All we had burned on the pyre

we were born with nothing

And we sure as hell have nothing now

(You said) we were born with nothing

And we sure as hell have nothing now

When I first joined the Enhanced Special Forces project, I had nothing. Only the desire to change the world. Protect it. I was warned that it was a dangerous job and that I was only being chosen because I had no one with me. They advised me to not start any relationships while I was in the job. I laughed it off when I met her though. When I met both of them. We were great friends. They were as well. They enjoyed all the things I could do with my abilities. I didn’t care if I was abusing them, I was making them happy.

If only I knew that her friend would end up with her blood on herself. I could’ve gotten rid of her before any of this could happen.

These are the things, the things we lost

The things we lost in the fire, fire, fire

These are the things, the things we lost

The things we lost in the fire, fire, fire

Do you understand that we will never be the same again

Do you understand that we will never be the same again

The future's in our hands and we will never be the same again

The future's in our hands and we will never be the same again

I couldn’t look at her. Not anymore. Not after all the things she did. I lost everything that day. My respect and compassion for her were one of them. It would be too soon if I ever saw her again. I’d say that I hoped she’d rot in jail. But she was getting a short sentence just as every villain ever did. Though it was a long time coming. The trial was extended for 2 years. For 2 fucking years, nothing was ever done. But today was the final ruling.

She looked at me in the eyes before turning away with a smile on her face. I was disgusted.

These are the things, the things we lost

The things we lost in the fire, fire, fire

These are the things, the things we lost

“...you are hereby sentenced to 4 years in jail. This is my final Ruling, court dismissed.”

The things we lost in the fire, fire, fire

These are the things, the things we lost

“If you could please come with us…” One of my former co-workers appeared in front of me as people started leaving.

“Why? What’s wrong?” I interrupted.

“Just come with us, please. Let’s not make a scene. The boss wants to speak with you,” he insisted.

“You want to take my powers away, don’t you?” I raised an eyebrow.

He said nothing. It was the only answer I needed.

I started to back away, wary of their holstered weapons. Those things could disable the abilities of any person. I know, I’ve worked with them all my life. And I knew exactly how they worked.

“Put, your hands up!” he withdrew it as I was trying to reach behind me. Several others in the crowd also jumped up and pointed their weapons at me.

“Looks like we got ourselves a standoff, boys,” I smirked.

There was no way that I would be torn away from the last thing that completed me.

“PUT YOUR HANDS UP! THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING,” they demanded.

In a burst of speed, I took out my weapon and shot 2 of the officers dead. This was what the justice system was. Corrupt. And I would play no part in it.

The others started shooting at me, but even with their localizers, I was too fast for them. I bettered my abilities past the limit of the ESF. They would never get me.

These are the things we lost in the fire fire fire

Flames they licked the walls

Tenderly they turned to dust all that I adore

“So. Do you want revenge or not?” the man asked from his place in the shadows.

I didn’t care that I didn’t know who he was. All I knew was that I was being offered a chance to avenge the love of my life.

“Where do I begin?”