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

giving me a headache trying to figure all this mess out. We had been driving for almost a day when Mark broke the silence that had descended upon Pete and me.
"We are going to eat, take a break, and then keep driving till we reach Orlando. Then, we have a flight to catch." I thought about all that had happened and asked,
"What's really going on? I know I'm not normal but where are we going?"
"I'll tell you later." Mark said without taking his eyes off the road to look back at me. Pete, who was sitting next to him, took out a map and began to study it. I decided to shut up about it all and just see what happened.

We passed town after town until I saw Mickey Mouse's head poking out of the clouds. The traffic was horrible but after a while, we managed to get to the airport. We just barely made our flight. Half an hour later, we were in the air. I managed to snag the window seat and Mark sat beside me. Pete was on the end, closest to the walkway.
"Ok," I said turning to Mark, "Explain all this please. The flight is an overnight one so we have time." He sighed,
"Ok, well do you remember when I told you about the mutant men with ice and fire powers?" I nodded my head. "Well, this is all about that. Um...what I told you is all true. And...Uh...well I have fire powers and so do you."
"Yeah...I guess I noticed that." I said. He replied,
"Well yes so you need to come with us. You're really important actually."
"I am?" I asked.
"Oh yes! You see, you are a little...different from even us. While I have some cool powers, yours are supposed to be even more powerful." His voice sounded wistful. I blinked.
“Uh, ok. Since I just shot flames from my hands, rode a dragon, and watched little innocent Pete do a flame job on the others, I’m going to try and keep an open mind though let me tell you now that this is a little hard to process. Let me get this straight; there are some mutant freaks with polar opposite powers that are in some battle and I have flame powers and I’m more powerful than normal. And I’m supposed to help win this war for people I don’t even know. And another thing; how’d I even GET these powers or whatever?” I finished, catching my breath and feeling like I was a part of X-Men. (Though I really wouldn’t mind working with Wolverine…) Mark nodded throughout my little story and now he spoke,
“Well, Trisha, your dad is…um how do I put this? He’s not your real dad.”
“WHAT?!” I screamed and Mark clapped a hand over my mouth, reminding me that we were in an airplane.
“Yeah, well your dad actually is where we are going so you can meet him if you want.” Mark said softly. I just sat there glassy eyed. My world was unraveling. Thankfully, Mark went quiet while I tried to process all that was happening. I had powers. People were trying to kill me. My dad wasn’t even my real dad. Was my mom real? I didn’t even know anymore. And trust me; a 15 year old girl shouldn’t have to think about these things. I felt as if the world were pressing down on me. The claustrophobia was killing me and I began to sputter and cough till I felt a warm hand rub my back.
“Hey, it’s ok Trish. I’m here to keep you safe.” Mark broke into my thoughts. It all seemed to suddenly fit into place. Mark didn’t seem so odd when given fire powers.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Our base is a couple of islands near the Bahamas. We’ll be going to the Bahamas, and then taking a boat owned by our tribe. Are you afraid of a little water?” Mark asked teasingly, probably hoping to get me to laugh but I merely gave a lopsided grimace.
“I just realized something,” I started, “I never got to say goodbye to Mags or David or my mom or-“I never finished. I just burst into tears. I couldn’t take it anymore. It all was too much. Mark wrapped his arm around my shoulders and let me cry.


~CHAPTER 6~
Several hours later and after a very fitful nap, we landed in the Bahamas. Pete grabbed our stuff while Mark led me outside and hailed a cab. We drove to the docks. The ocean was gorgeous, and that’s saying something considering I’ve spent my whole life growing up next to them. We walked down to the farthest ship. It could hardly be called a ship. More like a dinghy was what I saw. Mark must’ve seen my face because he burst into laughter.
“Sorry milady,” He said with a goofy bow, “Our destination isn’t very far, don’t worry!”
“I just hope we don’t sink before we get there! Are you sure this thing can hold all of us?” I asked, wary.
“Don’t worry! This baby could hold an elephant!” Mark said and I snorted. Yeah right… Carefully, I slowly stepped into the boat. Pete leapt in behind me, causing the boat to rock and I screamed.
“Don’t do that, Pete!” He looked at me, sheepish, and mumbled,
“Sorry about that.” Mark stood, laughing behind us. I harrumphed and he tried to contain his smile, failing miserably. He jumped aboard, more carefully that Pete and we were off. The wind blew my hair back behind me and I felt better than I had in a long time. The only thing that would make this better is a shower…
“Land ahead!” Pete cried and I looked up. Sure enough, there was an island ahead of us. Mark was steering and he pointed the shaft towards it.

About ten minutes later, we were beached. Mark cut the small motor and hopped off onto the sand. I tried to stand, but my legs were all shaky and I fell back on my butt. Feeling rather stupid, I shook my legs and tried again. This time I succeeded in exiting the boat and I smiled. It was then that I began to look around. It was beautiful! Palm trees littered the beach and there was even a mountain in the distance! There were houses on stilts further up shore and some people were walking down to us shouting hellos. They all looked related. Same buff, rugged appearance and killer tan, as if they had been out under the sun every day of their life!
“Mark!” One called, “So this is the one?”
“Yup,” he replied with a nod in my direction, “This is Trish! She’s here to kick some ice people butt!” He pumped his fist and I gulped. Oh dear. This whole situation had trouble written all over it. And I still didn’t entirely know what was going on! I stood awkwardly on the sand with my legs crossed, a sign of embarrassment.
“Um…Hey? Trish; that’s me. So, uh, where exactly are we? Yeah, yeah I heard the whole ‘near the Bahamas’ thing but what island is this?” I said turning mainly to Mark.
“This is a private island owned by my grandfather; the leader of our tribe. We call it Koatsu. It’s our main hub.” He replied with a huge grin. He looked so comfortable here, I couldn’t help but notice. “Here,” he said taking my arm, “I’ll show you around the place.” I gulped and let him lead me around to countless buildings and people. They all gave me that reverent, awe-filled stare. It made a shiver crawl down my back. These people expected so much of me. I hardly knew the half of it. There was one thing I could grasp though, and it was that I wasn’t normal and these people weren’t either. The thought made me relax a little. I wasn’t the only one, alone in this. To top it off, Mark was just like me. I cracked a grin at that, and he started staring at me funny.
“What, do I have something on my face?” He said, and he started scrubbing his head with his hands. I burst out laughing.
“Sorry, I was just thinking.” I said softly, “Can I see my dad? My real dad, I mean.” Mark stopped in his tracks and I heard him inhale.
“Are you sure that’s such a good idea? I mean, you just got here. I should show you to where you’ll be standing. I really think—“He began to ramble on but I cut him off.
“I want to see my real father. I’m tired of wondering. I want answers from him. Please, Mark just take me to my dad.” I begged him. Why did my dad leave? Why’d he leave me with those fake people who called themselves my parents? Why did I have these weird powers? My head was swirling with these questions that I had no answers to. I was getting sick of the powerless feeling. It was time to confront the man who left me. Mark hung his head and sighed.
“Fine, if it’s what you really want.” And with that, Mark began to walk again. He stopped in front of a large shabby building that looked as if it had been used way too much. “This is the hospital.” He said and I just stared at him. The place looked pretty nasty. I mean, really, use some bleach please. Wasn’t this where people were supposed to get HEALED? Seemed to me they would just get worse. Mark walked in, not even acknowledging the grime and dilapidation. I followed behind rather dazed. He walked to the front desk and asked a small portly lady if a man named Paul Hartlet was in. The woman’s face dropped.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “but there can be no visitors right now. Paul Hartlet was just moved to the Emergency Room. An ice team raided one of the more distant island bases and he was sent to help. The ice tribe wiped nearly all of them out. Paul was badly injured and he isn’t expected to live the night.”

~CHAPTER 7~
“WHAT?! No ma’am you don’t understand this man is apparently my father and I have to talk to him!” I screamed. This so wasn’t happening! I find my dad, only to discover that he’s dying! No, no, NO! The nurse looked at me with a mixture of pity and boredom. I wanted to slap her at that moment. I was getting tired of waiting…
“Look lady, I just recently found out my father was alive. Now he’s a few feet away and I am going to talk to him. Please move aside or I will force my way through.” I said with barely contained annoyance. She looked shocked.
“Well, I guess a few minutes couldn’t hurt...” She said slowly, as if thinking it through. It was all I needed to hear. I pushed past her and down the hall and then stopped because I had no idea where the ER room was! Dragging the nurse and Mark with me, I charged back down the hall towards the man who was my father.

The nurse creaked open the door into a tiny, plain white room. In the center was one of those uncomfortable looking hospital beds. Lying on it was the ghost of a strong man. His arms were ropey with muscle and he had a strong jaw, but his skin was pale and sallow and his chest rose and fell in staggering bursts. At the sound of the door opening, he slowly dragged his eyes open, as if the effort wore him out. He