Incandescent

Chapter 7: The Aroma Mocha Cafe

The jovial woman, standing at the bottom of the stairs, came bounding down the corridor and skidded to a childish stop. She held out her hand for Phoenix to shake, a cheesy grin plastered onto her face.
"Hullo, I'm Jackie. How'd you do?" The blond haired woman took Phoenix's reluctant hand and shook it roughly.
"I'm alright...I guess..." She replied, less cheerful than the short woman. In fact, Phoenix was sure that she was only 5ft tall. Compared to herself, this Jackie lady was at least 5 inches smaller - and Phoenix was 5ft 7 inch. Despite the woman's small stature, her cheerful demeanour was overpowering. Phoenix was actually growing fond of her instantly, no-one never really paid attention to her, so the lovely girl was bringing light to Phoenix's life - just like Maverick.
"Have you met my Rob, yet? He's funny - I'm sure you'll love him." Jackie chirped, another smile widening onto her lips. Phoenix wasn't sure she'd love them just yet, but strongly like them maybe.
"I haven't had the pleasure." Phoenix replied rather meekly. Jackie almost fainted.
"You didn't take him? He wanted to see her too!" Jackie gave Maverick a stern glare.
"I forgot..." He replied, rather exasperated. She gave a wink and then turned on her heel.
"Well now's you're chance, Rick, he's at the Aroma Mocha - waiting for us to meet him. Long day at work apparently." Phoenix hadn't been told about his nickname, somehow she thought he didn't like it.
"Rick?" She asked, a small smile on her lips. Jackie had wandered into the kitchen to collect her purse.
"A nickname - Jackie and Robert think Maverick is....a little far fetched..." He gave a chuckled.
"And Phoenix isn't?" He glanced to her.
Jackie came rushing back in, then noticed that Maverick hadn't shown Phoenix her room.
"Rick? You shown Phoenix her room yet? Or have you just stood in the doorway like you're new to the place too?" She gave a laugh, took the bags he were holding and placed them in the kitchen.
"I'll show you when we get back, if that's okay?" She asked Phoenix, who nodded in reply.
Maverick opened the door and the three set out.

*
As the street full of houses turned into a street full of little shops, the road had started to pile up with people. Different colours were blurred to the eye, as the people ran along, crossing the road to get to shops on the opposite side to them. Phoenix had moved her attention to a lilac painted title board.
Upon the lilac background, the words were "AROMA MOCHA" in italic golden writing. The writing had started to peel off, and an antique vibe came from the whole cafe. As Jackie and Maverick went inside, a sound of a bell tinkering resounded in the vicinity. Phoenix stepped onto the small step outside, opened the door (which had a small wooden sign saying 'OPEN') and was instantly met with an assortment of different flavours. She breathed in, and for once she felt as if her life was taking a turn for the better. Red cheeks radiated with happiness and her green eyes were filled with brightness.
"Over here!" Came the voice of Jackie. Phoenix followed it and her eyes set upon a table with a two-seater sofa on either side of it. They were a luxurious chocolate brown, deep and comfy. Jackie was sat next to another, unmistakably the man they called Robert. He had shortish brown hair, a small quiff and a ginormous, well-shaped beard. Well, it wasn't that big, just a little longer than the usual scruffs you saw on men. The man, Robert, gave a wave. Phoenix smiled and went to take a seat next to Maverick, but she didn't have time to move when-
"Oh I'm so sorry!" Came a frantic voice. Phoenix blinked a few times, sight had failed her for a few moments.
"Sorry...f-for what?" She managed to stammer out. Something hot was spreading on her chest - a wetness soaking her clothes.
"I swear I didn't see you." Came the voice again.
Soon other voices were littering her hearing -

"Fire! Fire! Burn in her flames!"

She struggled. Struggled against restraints there weren't visible.
The people - singing the cursed chant.

"Fire! Fire! Fire! BURN!" Phoenix's eyes shot open. They were stinging as the heat rose around her from the dancing flames.
She saw, now, that she was in a room; a room full of fire. The wall looked like black glass and she could see her reflection in all of them. The fire was writhing around the whole of the room, hissing and spitting at her in a rage. The fire wasn't orange, though, it was a vigorous blue. A blue so bright that it nearly blinded her, as it stroked her skin. The fire seemed to take forms of people, all dancing and crying and struggling.
She could hear the chant getting louder, more vicious.

The words changed.

"FIRE! YOU BURN US! FIRE! FIRE! BURN IN HER FLAMES!" A chorus of tortured voices were screaming as a round. It was deafening. Phoenix cried and tried to run, but the restrictions tightening around her stopped her from moving.

And one figure was appearing, now, the chorus getting much louder. Phoenix screwed her eyes shut and put her hands over her ears.
The screaming grew intense - too intense. Cracking of falling building structures and cries of dying entities were shrouding Phoenix's mind.
It became a point where she doubted she could take anymore and she just wanted it to end.
A high ringing pierced her ears and another scream - her own - erupted, only to be followed by-

"Hello." Came a small, innocent voice. Phoenix was in a sobbing ball of emotions. She cowered away from the voice, but when a small hand gingerly placed itself on her head, she grew the courage to glance at the person.
A small girl, blonde hair in small pigtails, wearing a lovely blue dress. Her eyes were a tropical sea blue and her skin was slightly tanned. She smiled, kindly, to Phoenix.
"My name is Molly-Arva, and you are?" The girl looked at least twelve. She held out her hand and Phoenix took it. The young girl, before pulling her up, spoke again.
"We'll meet again, Phoenix, in another place - but you need to help the lost. Help them."

Phoenix was pulled up and in an instant the Aroma Mocha Cafe came into view, the blonde called Jackie, the bearded guy called Robert and then Maverick all staring down at her. A look of worry was on their faces.
"Are you alright?" Came a different voice. Phoenix looked up, a lilac haired girl biting her fingernails nervously. She was wearing black, as if she was a secret agent from Mission Impossible. Phoenix furrowed her brows and groaned.
"'Scuse me, I need to get through!" Came a boom of a voice. Another person came into view, a man with deep red hair. He smiled down at her, but a raging vibe came from him.
"Sorry about my sister - bit clumsy." He muttered, holding the lilac haired girl with a cold glare. She flickered her eyes away from the scene and rushed out the door. Another ding sounded. The red haired man held out his hand and helped Phoenix to her feet.
Maverick, Jackie and the new man, Robert, huddled around Phoenix and the red haired man held out his hand. In turn each shook it, but he came to Phoenix last.
"How about I get you a coffee? least I could do," he smiled again, whilst leading her to the line, Maverick and the rest going to sit down again, weary of the man.
The red head then looked at Phoenix sharply "by the way, I'm Einar Warfield."