Project Frostbite

Chapter 6

Jekyll scowled and placed his interlaced fingers on his crossed knees.

"I must admit, you gave us quite the slip for all those years. I must say you have grown since the last time I saw you. And now you not only turn yourself in, but you bring a new Potential as well." He replied coolly. Jekyll's entire posture radiated confidence.

"I am never going back there, you rat." Firestorm hissed. I matched her steps as she backed away. Dagger watched us quietly as Firestorm pulled me down. "I'm going to distract them. I want you to run down the hallway, and go into my bedroom two doors on the right. Climb out the window and wait for me in the alley. I'll be right behind you." She instructed.

"What are you going to do?" I whispered. Firestorm smirked, and at that point in time, I remembered what she really was. A killer.

"I've always wanted to go out with a bang." I straightened and watched the girl turn back to face Jekyll and Dagger. As I thought this, a random thought came to mind.

Where the hell do they come up with these names?

"Tryston, go." The words uttered so quietly I nearly missed them, Firestorm moved to stand in front of me, and I saw Dagger pull a gun out of the back of her pants. My gun. Suddenly I didn't feel so well. "Tryston, get the hell out of here." Firestorm instructed more firmly, an octave lower than a whisper as she pulled out her own gun. I obeyed her this time, but before I left I barely heard her mutter something to herself. "This money better be worth it."

Despite our situation, I couldn't help but smile as I disappeared into the hallway and ran, ducking instinctively when a bullet whizzed into the plaster behind me. Gunfire erupted, and I followed Firestorm's directions, turning into the barely furnished bedroom that looked like it had never been lived in, and headed straight to the window. Thank God we were only on the first floor.

As I was climbing out, I heard something begin playing, and vaguely realized the song Light 'Em Up by Fall Out Boy emanating from the lounge. Suddenly Firestorm barreled into the room, a force to be reckoned with as she pushed me out of the window, leaping to follow me. She pushed me forward, urging me down the alley.

"Hurry! It's nearly reached the chorus!" As soon as Firestorm yelled the warning, she turned and tackled me to the ground, holding me down as the final word of the chorus played.

I'm on fire.

At that sentence, like the defining sound of a gavel hitting the sound block during court, the entire bottom of the building exploded, and our backs were blasted with the wave of blistering heat that erupted from the apartment I had stood in no less than ten minutes ago. Were Jekyll and Dagger still in there? Were they dead? I couldn't help but wonder what had happened after I'd left. Firestorm didn't seem to have any injuries.

Firestorm quickly helped me up, and began walking toward the end of the alleyway, dragging me along until I found my footing and managed to match her pace. I looked down at myself; I was covered head to toe in soot and dust, and Firestorm had not fared much better. Where'd the water come from? As we walked, she shoved something into my hands. She'd grabbed my bag. I couldn't help but sneak glances at her, still unable to believe she was only my age as we walked. But was she?

"How old are you?" I asked randomly, and immediately clamped my mouth shut, flaming red at the stupid question when I felt her eyes on me. I saw Firestorm hiding back a smirk, obviously enjoying my discomfort. "Sorry. Forget I asked."

"I'm eighteen and a half. I turn nineteen on the 13th November." She answered, and I looked at her in surprise. She was only a year and a day younger than me. Ignoring me, we exited the alleyway, and I found myself drawing my hood up in answer to the questioning stares we got from the crowds that we merged ourselves into.