Post by Gabriela Moreau on Jun 30, 2014 15:06:56 GMT -6
The flames that licked the edge of the wastebasket shouldn't have been a problem. The small bin was made of a sturdy metal and the contents had only included a few papers, a couple empty aluminum cans, and a wrapper or two from the cafeteria. It was hardly enough fuel to cause any sort of damage to the student lounge, save for maybe needing to replace the bin. Even the circumstances surrounding the fire's origins were fairly innocent in nature. A young, petite girl with a volatile genetic mutation centered around spontaneous immolation and the manipulation of flame had slipped up and accidentally triggered the combustion. It had been a harmless transgression that would have had most people, especially those who could command fire with merely a thought, shaking their heads as they snuffed the flames with ease. Unfortunately, Gabriela Moreau was not your typical pyrokinetic.
As the faint glow grew to a flickering light Gabriela felt her throat close up. She tried to swallow the lump that had formed but to no avail. She stood, powerless to move as she stared at the wastebasket that sat on the floor just a few feet away. At the first sight of the flame flashing out over the brim she gasped and attempted to scramble away as fast as her feet would allow. In her surprise she slipped and landed hard on her backside. She tried to scoot further from the growing flames but found her progress impeded by a couch that sat far too close to the source of her fear. When licks of reddish-yellow began to flash out over the top, signaling a full-fledged fire Gabriela froze with her back pressed against the couch. Her mouth opened but no sound could escape. In her mind the fire was steadily growing and would soon spread across the floor, creeping toward her like a searing creature hell-bent on wreathing her in the element she'd been cursed to command.
A thin trail of black smoke wafted up from the bin. It was nowhere near enough to set the fire alarms in the student lounge off but the petite girl didn't see reason, not while the flames still danced in her eyes. A faint whimper finally escaped. Her mind screamed at her to get up, to find someone, or simply to run and escape. Her body wouldn't oblige. She was paralyzed. Silent tears began to stream down her cheeks as she stared unblinking at the wastebasket. Oh, God. She pleaded internally, still unable to speak or move. Please make it stop. Just make it stop.
As the faint glow grew to a flickering light Gabriela felt her throat close up. She tried to swallow the lump that had formed but to no avail. She stood, powerless to move as she stared at the wastebasket that sat on the floor just a few feet away. At the first sight of the flame flashing out over the brim she gasped and attempted to scramble away as fast as her feet would allow. In her surprise she slipped and landed hard on her backside. She tried to scoot further from the growing flames but found her progress impeded by a couch that sat far too close to the source of her fear. When licks of reddish-yellow began to flash out over the top, signaling a full-fledged fire Gabriela froze with her back pressed against the couch. Her mouth opened but no sound could escape. In her mind the fire was steadily growing and would soon spread across the floor, creeping toward her like a searing creature hell-bent on wreathing her in the element she'd been cursed to command.
A thin trail of black smoke wafted up from the bin. It was nowhere near enough to set the fire alarms in the student lounge off but the petite girl didn't see reason, not while the flames still danced in her eyes. A faint whimper finally escaped. Her mind screamed at her to get up, to find someone, or simply to run and escape. Her body wouldn't oblige. She was paralyzed. Silent tears began to stream down her cheeks as she stared unblinking at the wastebasket. Oh, God. She pleaded internally, still unable to speak or move. Please make it stop. Just make it stop.