Flame Thrower by By: Leah Crowe (early readers TXT) 📖

We all agreed that a movie would be best. Guys don’t like looking at clothes and I’m not too fond of looking at the hottest new video game. I love to play them but for some reason, shopping for them bores the heck out of me!
“Ok then let’s all meet at the theater by the mall in two hours. Everyone game?” Mags asked. I heard a chorus of yes’s and we all hung up. I started to pick out an outfit that wasn’t just thrown on. Right now, my brain was working and so I wanted to look good for once. I found a yellow, billowy shirt with a low neckline and shimmied into some black skinny jeans. I laced up my rocker boots and did my hair and make-up. When I looked in the mirror, I was happy with what I saw and looked at the clock. It was about time to leave so I grabbed my purse, told my mom where I was going, and went out the door. I hoped I wasn’t late for the bus headed in town. I saw Mark walk out of his house and he joined me. We made it just in time. We found a seat at the back.
“How are you doing?” Mark asked.
“I’m good. What movie are we going to see?” I said.
“I have no clue at all! I’m not picky though and you know that!” he said and we both laughed, remembering the time at his house. The bus stopped in front of the mall and we walked across the street. Mags, Pete, and David were already there, waiting for us.
“Hey!” Mags called and rushed over to me. We hugged then she high-fived Mark.
“Y’all ready? So what movie should we see?” David said, looking at previews on the wall out front.
“Ohmygosh! They have Scream 4!!!” Pete squealed and I thought, wow, what a chick move Pete. Mags laughed.
“How are we going to get in? Pose as 18 year olds?” she asked.
“How about we buy tickets to something else at the same price and then sneak in?” Pete said; now back to his serious self. Usually, he was the one who didn’t show much emotion so his little outburst really came as a shocker to those of us who knew him!
“I’m in for anything. I’m really not picky.” Mark said.
“Ok let’s do it!” Mags said, already looking for a movie at the same price.
“We can see more if we go in.” I said.
“Yeah good idea, let’s go!” Mags said, motioning with her hand for everyone to follow her. Of course, they did. I was sure Mags was going to be the first woman president; she was such a leader! Everybody just seemed to want to do what she wanted! It was 10% creepy and 90% totally helpful!
“Hm, let’s get tickets for Rio then go to Scream. It’s across the hall and they are about the same price so we aren’t stealing.” Pete speculated.
“Ya, man that’s perfect; Mags you buy the tickets and make sure to get tons of popcorn with butter!” David said.
“Ok whatever. Men are so useless.” Mags said rolling her eyes and I giggled. She walked off to set our plan into motion and I stood there, feeling kind of useless. Mark came up from behind me and enveloped me in a bear hug. David turned to see and said,
“OH! He got you Trish!” I rolled my eyes and pushed Mark off me. Mark looked at David and he shut up right then. Mags came back with sodas, a large bowl of popcorn with extra butter, and waved tickets in Pete’s face.
“Let’s go everyone!” She said, passing out the tickets and giving the popcorn to David, who would probably eat it all before the movie started. He looked really happy. Go figure. We handed the guy at front our tickets and he ripped it in half and gave us the stub. One by one, we walked past him and I tried not to laugh. We walked toward our movie then walked over to Scream 4, laughing and talking about how we owned the movie people and how great this whole thing was.


Two hours later, we snuck out of Scream and walked past the ticket collector, looking behind us to make sure the cops or FBI weren’t following us! Looking at each other’s faces, we all burst out laughing. Pete looked like he was in a trance.
“I love those movies…” he said, rather dopey looking. I was really starting to wonder about his health! This was definitely not like him. Oh well, I guess a movie can do weird things to men. I looked down at my watch and gasped.
“Ohmygosh guys I almost forgot that I have something today and I really need to go. Now!” I said, racing out of the theater. My friends were following behind me. I turned around, hugged Mags, high-fived the guys and grabbed Mark’s hand. Suddenly, a shiver went up my body, the little tattoo on my hand exploded and I froze!


~Chapter 5~
Mark grabbed my hand and pulled me but I wouldn’t move. Mags gasped and Pete ran to help. David just stood there, looking stupid. Pete started to change. He was taller and his tan darkened. If I was entirely conscious, I would’ve gasped, but since I was a bit tangled up, Mags filled that role for me. Mark looked at Pete.
“You really shouldn’t have done that man. What are we going to do about Mags and Dave?”
“Just enter their mind, Mark, and I’ll handle Trish.” Pete said.
“NO! I am the stronger one here and I should do this. You get them under control.” Pete looked at me with concern and then turned to fill the task at hand. I was losing conciseness of my surroundings but things I couldn’t understand were flashing in front of my retinas. There was a woman. She was cold-looking but very beautiful. It showed her as a baby, but she grew up fast and now stood up, a full adult of maybe 23 or so. She looked ageless and powerful. She had white hair and icy blue eyes. They began to melt and turn the color of a sea during a storm. She started to raise her arms, and ice grew up from the ground. She formed them into horses and they charged into a group of buff, tan men, knocking them all over. She laughed and began to form the horses into other shapes. They became sharp swords and started flying through the air, straight at the men. All were killed. Then, out of the ashes, rose a girl…me! I began to spin and chant and a giant dragon of fire flew behind me! I climbed on him and he blew fire, trying to melt the woman! Then, I began to shake violently and I returned to the present. I saw Pete standing there, two feet taller and heaving fire from his hands! The fire had created a chain from his palms to Mags and David! I screamed for him to stop, but he just looked at me and smiled! Mark grabbed me and shook me, hard.
“What the heck just happened Trisha!” he said, looking me in the eyes.
“I don’t really know. There was this woman, who was beautiful but cold looking. I saw when she was born and in seconds she was a grown woman! Then, she raised her hands and ice came out of the ground! She formed them into horses and they knocked over these tan dudes, then they turned into swords, killing the men. Ok and here’s the weird part. I rose out from the ashes and had this huge dragon thing behind me and it blew fire and tried to melt the woman. Then, you started shaking me! Marcus, am I going crazy?” I pleaded with him. Pete turned to me and Mark turned pale. He whispered,
“Do you think she’s the one controlling the army?” Pete nodded.
“She must’ve seen the future.” Mark said,
“Her powers are growing, even with the binding spell. She needs to leave, now.”
“I agree. It’s time to take her to camp.” Pete said. I looked at Marcus, totally confused. He sighed.
“I’ll explain on the way but right now you need to pack. We’re going on a trip.” I smacked him!
“What are you going on about, Mark! I am not going anywhere and I am sick of all this secrecy! Don’t think I can’t hear you when you mutter under your breath! You are a complete lunatic! A trip?! What’s that code for, huh?! I’m going nowhere with you!” I said, and all the anger that I didn’t even know I had begun to spill out. I felt empowered and had the urge to strangle Marcus. He was nice but he always seemed off, and with all that had happened to me since I’d met him, it annoyed me. My vision turned red and flames danced around the corners. My hands suddenly burst into flames and, might I add, they were huge! Marcus’ eyes turned as big as saucers. I probably would’ve freaked out by now, but with all that had happened to me, I was just amused at Mark’s face. Pete yelped and the flames from his hands started to falter. I felt something warm behind me. I didn’t pay it much mind until it growled. I turned and there, standing behind me, was a dragon and somehow, I knew he was mine. I smiled and turned to face Marcus. His hand went to his mouth and I smirked.
“So, how about you explain why there is a dragon behind me and why all this weird stuff is happening to me, starting with the pale guy on the first day of school.” I said and I found that when I flicked my hand, the flames went away, but the fire dragon stayed by my side. I climbed up his back; don’t ask how I knew it was a boy…I just did. Mark gulped.
“Yup Pete, this is definitely her.” He said and he tried to smile, “I’m glad she’s going to be on our side. Beware, ice scum.” Pete regained his composure and began pointing flames at Mags and David again. I started to feel kind of woozy and when I looked down, the dragon was no longer there! I was falling! Mark ran up and caught me!
“Geez Trisha! You’re going to give me a headache!” he said, trying to smile, “You keep scaring me! Well, I’m pretty sure you don’t need much convincing. You’re not normal, Trish and you need to come with us or the next time someone pisses you off, you’re going to burn them, literally. I’ll take you home and make up some excuse for you to come with us to a special camp for people like you.”


I wasn't normal. I wanted to be but I wasn't. I was still trying to figure out what had happened to me back there as I sat in a car, driving out of town. Mark had told my mom that the school was doing this transfer school type thing and that I wouldn't be back for a while. Strangely enough, my mom just nodded her head, looking kind of fogged up and had moved out of my way so I could go upstairs and pack. I had quickly thrown my things in a duffle and walked out with Mark, feeling a little groggy myself. I didn't really think at the time and now that I was, it was