The maze was burnt? Good work...years ago!

[Marr-bles™]

A simple vial held tight in his hands. A simple pair of goggles lay upon his head and a pair of ripped gloved covered those hands that created such destruction years ago. He was everything that someone feared so many years ago and after a decade of hiding, rebuiling his life, learning even more, he has finally graced the old CAssis with his presence.

His foot steps were calm as he made his way to a very sentimental place. A place he remembered so many years ago. A smile crept on his lips as he finally came into veiw of the place he'd set his sights on to see. "Well, there it is... the second place I destroyed... so many years ago. I can't beleive they just didn't tear it down and finish burning the maze. Too bad. The maze really isn't a maze when you can see where your going. I wonder if anyone even visits here anymore?" He questioned himself as he placed a gloved hand on the remaining leaves of the mazes wall. "Kinda weird being back here. They depended on me to destory this maze with fire.. to trap the gifted in teh smoking flames. To kill the cursed gifteds that try to help... I'm glad that I helped the goverment cause they granted me immunity for my help... my services. Too bad most of the govermental people died. Now I"m stuck trying to finish out the war... letting the final battle take place. I will destroy every last gifted that survived and I'm sure that alot of the gifted that survived have families now... Kill a kid.. kill a spouce... kill a parent and they will fall. It all makes sense. What more could be easier?" He walked through the maze able to see where he was going through the many holes that were still there. Blackened edges showed the power that he used. He smiled yet again, giving off a saracastic laugh.

"Well, the fountain. Still working.. maybe not. I think I see some water in there... maybe water from teh rain... collected in the capsule... Wonder what it looks like alite?" He asked himself walking over to the fountain placing his hand in it and the few inches of water that had collected in teh water stood still except the area near his fingers that just broke the surface and he instantly snapped his fingers. Almost as soon as he did that, the water slowly accepted the flames, and it grew, letting the flames engulf the fountain. "That's awsome... That PEOPLE OF CASSIS... IS MY SIGN.. I'm back!" He let a deceitful grin play on his face as he turned to walk out of the maze. Allowing himself to walk slowly to see the smoke that erupted from the fountain. "Surely... someone is going to see that.. think... a fountain? On fire? How strange. Good thing noone remembers me from the war... or they might go ahead and run yellow with their tails between their legs. CAn't wait until I get started.. I wonder if anyone even lives around here anymore?"

His words came softly, almost to calm for his past reputation of being out of control. Ten years really changes a person, but somehow it only made him more calm. More curious as to what to do and how to do it. Looking at the maze, he realized it looked seriously tacky. "Well, I guess I could finishe what I started... but question is why did I stop and not finish this quest to burn the maze?"

He leaned against the strongest part of the maze, and let his mind wonder back to the past. "Lets see... I know there was this one kid. I don't know, maybe 12 years old.. 13 tops... He was standing directly in the corner right here. Yeah... that's right. He had dark skin... and really bright yellow hair. I don't remember how, but .. OH now I do. He hit me with something like a ... type of force... lightning maybe? or something. It shocked the hell out of me. Stupid kid. If I wasn't so young... If I wasn't so much of an amature to the whole.. let's burn down the maze, thing... He would have been another victim. It's a shame really." He said as he quickly took a few steps away from the area he was just in. Unlatching a vial from his belt, he popped the top off and poured the vial liquid on his gloved hand. A few drops fell from the binding and within a second, his fingers met, and flames appeared. "STUPID KID... I'LL FIND YOU IF YOU HAVN'T BEEN KILLED ALREADY!" He screamed out as the flames from his hand shot up. With brute force, the flames shot out from his hand as he forcefully shot his hand out. Flames licked the leaves and started to spread. The Maze was slowly burning and a deep hatred came to Brian's face. "You'll pay for that... because of you, i never got to finish my job. Because of you, I got laughed at when Mann's, came to my rescue and picked me up. I'll see what you say when I knock you off your ass this time... " He said watching the fire burn, now engulfing the half maze. Without another thought, Brian turned and walked out of the maze, turning around at the entrance and admiring his work.

[krispey]

Tiny beads of sweat rolled down her temples. Her feet carried her throughout the burning maze at a hasty pace. What the hell? Alana had been goofing, and decided to allow her mind run back to the good old days in highschool.The days when she took dance, and cheerlead. With all of the incredible balance needed for dance, she had finally mastered her handstands. She had decided to revisit those, and so she did. Even from an upside-down point of view, Alana could see that the maze was in terrible shape. The tops and edges of the maze were terribly singed. Holes made a tacky pattern throughout the maze itself. What had happened? Well, it was obvious that a war had taken place, but who, or what could have did so much damage.? Who was that ruthless?

That PEOPLE OF CASSIS... IS MY SIGN.. I'm back!"

Rang in her ears, although the voice was a good distance away. Alana had quickly taken to her feet, her brown eyes scanning the drab area. Who was that? Alana, only being 5'5", could barely see over the maze's top, even when standing on the ball of her foot. "STUPID KID... I'LL FIND YOU IF YOU HAVN'T BEEN KILLED ALREADY!"
Someone was angry... Alana moved throught the maze, and what she deemed, closer to the source. Then, she paused in mid-stride, sniffing the air. A crackling noise filled the air, followed by the smell of burning nature. She stood there, looking around, almost frantically. That is- until red flames began to show above the maze itself, just yards away. Shit! That fire was spreading fast! Alana, on impulse, turned on her heels, and sprinted off to what she thought, the entrance of the once-was maze. Her scarlet hair flew back in the smoke-filled wind. The heat of the spreading fair was nearly un-bearable. It was getting close, but Alana was just a little faster than it. And besides, who wouldn't be hot in nicely-fitting sweat pants?

Finally, the out-of-breath-Alana reached the entrance of the maze. Her hair was darkened by sweat, and stuck to her face. She coughed a couple of times from the inhalation of smoke, before recognizing some imbisle oogling the fire, with a look of satisfaction.

"What the hell?" Alana managed to ask. "You know," she started again, "Little kids shouldn't play with fire!" she shoputed.

[Marr-bles™]

Brian watched intently on the blaze, his eye's almost seemed to be stuck on the sight with the smile that was on his face previously had disappeared. His hand that held the fire started to die out as the liquid was finally absorbed into the flame and the only thing left was a slightly reddened hand. He looked at the dry glove and instantly flexed his fingers. "Well, Wonder what else of the old cassis I can burn down... maybe make trouble... That school is over in that direction. MAybe there's still a few rooms that could use a little ash and soot... maybe... Huh? What's this... " He started to say just as a figure came out of the maze. STrange that someone would be there at that moment, and actually come running out to meet the person that started the blaze. He tilted his head to the side and took a full look at the girl as she started to ask him then shouted at him. Shouting? At Brian? Bad Idea... he could take his own, but he decided to take it in a calm manner. Well, as calm as a psycopath could, eh?

"My dear... This is about to become hell ... you think that's hot, just you wait." He told her seeing the hair sticking to her face from the sweat. "Well, my dear... if I wasn't so into trying to make sure that the maze burns down properly this time, I'd actually have time to see what you were even doing in there. Doesn't matter to me. Are you a gifted or are you human?" He asked waiting to see if this would be his first victim of the start of the new war. One that he wished that the goverment would win this time. He was sure that with the war last time. Many lives were lost, causing breakups and splitting of groups and friends. Surely... now that they were divided they would fall and crack. He let the smile appear on his lips again as he started to circle the girl.

"You know I might have some time now... the maze is almost finished burning... so I guess... What were you doingin the maze? It's suppose to be abandoned... broken... and unused. Surely you have no business being here... but Please tell me. YOur name?" He let his voice shift to a deeper version of his voice as he got close to her ear.

[krispey]

"Hah," Alana began, "If I have no bussiness being here, then you certianly don't" Her finger ran through her dampened scarlet tresses, removing the sticky strands from her forehead. "And besides, I'm a grown woman," she said flatly,
"I can do as I please."
Alana cast a sarcastic smile. She didn't like being interrogated, as though she were in the wrong. Especially not by some stranger. She then turned her back on the stranger, the burning flames reflecting off of her own brown eyes, hands resting on her hips. Alana didn't bother to turn back.

"This is about to become Hell, aye?"

Lani asked almost nonchalantly, "I don't care to know how, but why would you want to cause more havock in a place that just now recently overcame a great war?" Her neck craned to the side, head turned, allowing her eyes to meet his face,
"Are you that twisted and demented?" her head turned back towards the fire, her hand fluttering up to the silver cross that dangled from her necklace. "And I'm like you, and every one else in this city- a gifted," she said, almost reluctantly...Her head shook, eyes fallin to study the crushed blades of grass surrounding her bare feet. It was a shame that she had been with her powers for this long, and still despised them. Well, despised the heart-ache they had caused her.

"And as for my name, " she began, not bothering to face him, "Alana, and yours?"

[Marr-bles™]

"Well, my dear... you may be a grown woman, but you still look like a kid to me.. and beleive me, i'm no kid... but playing with fire is what i do. It's what I live for! Besides, I have all the rights to this place... and I only wish that you could remember why. But I bet you were to young to remember the war, weren't you? Shame... cause I really hoped that everyone that experienced it would be some kind of mental patient by now." Brian started to say to her as the flames started to die down near him as the flames continued to travel along the maze, anything that was green was now burn, turning to soot and ash. He stomped on a peice of burning leave, extinguishing the flame and ash was below his foot. "Ha..Well, soon enough this maze won't exsist and everyone will remember me now."

Brian tilted his head slightly hearing she was a gifted. The one person that he was looking forward to meeting and extinguishing like the flames that burned infront of him. He walked near her, running a hand on her shoulder to the other shoulder and put his lips near her ear. "Demented? I am not... goverment, i used to be. Gifted you are... and I'm about to carry out my promise.. by getting rid of you."

He quickly moved back to avoid any unnessisary contact from her, not knowing her powers yet, but he knew he could defeat her in any way. His deepened voice called out to her as he reached for the vial on his side and popped open the top and poured the contents on his gloved hands. "My name.. is Brian. Remember that when someone asks you who did all this... that is if you live!" Instantly, he snapped his finger and his hand turned to a flame.

[krispey]

"I still look like a kid to you," she asked, in an uniterested tone, "Funny, because I was thinking the same about you." Her voice was smooth and brisky, or husky as some might say, though it still held that wonderful feminine tone to it. Still, she didn't bother to turn and face him. Hah, he had the right to this place, aye? "I guess you suppose you have the right to other's lives as well, no?" She asked, already knowing the answer. "And no, I was only seventeen when the war took place and ended."

But face it, my dear, you're not as important nor special to anyone, that you oh so desperately hope to be."

Her eyes shifted to the side as his fingers ran across the width of her shoulders. Just as contact seased, she turned,eyeing him, clearly unphased. "Getting rid of me? Hah. I'm not the type to come off as arrogant, and over-confident, for that is the down-fall of many. But I can say that 'getting rid of me' won't be as easy as you deem." Her eyes flickered, and only for a second, to the flames that appeared in his hand. So, he was a pyro. Pyro-maniac. Well, with her powers, she figured that he wouldn't really have the upper hand in this battle.

Even if he did, she would still fight it out until the end.

[Marr-bles™]

Brian laughed slightly to her words. getting rid of me won't be as easy as you deem. The words echoed in his head. Gee, she thinks she can beat me... what does she have to her advantage? What is she a water person or something... Well, we'll create a lot of steam if we do, but I will eventually dry her up, or burn her to death. Can't wait to see what her power is, cause the sooner the better!

"So, what could you beat me with... do you play with water or something?" He laughed as he watched the flamed in his hand. He was waiting for the moment to take the first swing and end this thing without a fight. "You know... YOu could join me in my advancment over the gifteds. Help me fight.. and you'll live just like the goverment let me do. I actually had a very safe life after the war. I went into hiding but they never even tried to find me, cause they grant me immunity. OH, Didn't you know... I havn't told you yet.. Gee, I guess I keep talking to much. I'm the one who started to burn the maze SOOO many years ago, but it was unfortunate that I was so young and wasn't aware of my opponents, thus I didn't get to finish, but NOw that I've finished what I started, I can finish everything else that I started... and that would be to kill the gifteds!" He said and immediatly threw the fireball at Alana.

[krispey]

Alana burst out with a brick of laughter, "Water, water?!? Are you serious? Of courseI'll need water afterwards, but nooo, It's probably a power you have never seen a gifted with." She could barely believe that she was actually proud of her power...Everyday she cursed herself for having them...Did she really want to fight this guy? Over something that she was never really proud of to begin with? Was it worth it? Would it bring her closer to her powers if she did win?That's all she really needed right now was to get close to her powers. She needed to-
With such quick reflexes, Alana coasted out of the way of the rather large fireball. "So, if I were to join you, what would have to happen," she asked nonchalantly. She knew it was going to take more than a fireball to make her releash her powers.
She wanted to keep him waiting. "What would I have to do?" She asked. Her arm was now extened out infront of her. Her brown eyes occasionally flickered back to her hand. A thick, grey secreation began oozing out of her pores. Her biceps became noticabley larger, taking on a rounded shap to their exterior. They shortly became covered with the ooze as well.

Now, from her finger-tips, to her shoulders, and around the width and length of her torso, was covered in a rock hard exo-skeleton. A smile crept across her face. "Now seriously,what would I have to do?" She asked, nearly impatient.

[Marr-bles™]

"Well, Beleive me.. there isn't a power that I've not come in contact with before... if you remember what I just said.. I fought with the gifteds and the one thing I learned is not to be surprised with powers. There always different, not one alike. Weakness are one thing though. Something I was good with back then but I'll have to try it out again. Weakness will always take down an opponent." He stated after watching the girl move out of the way of the fireball that he had just thrown. She's good at dodging, but I wonder how good she'll do with a physical attack... I wonder if she likes the heat? Maybe if she got to close to teh fire, that beautiful skin of her's would melt...Ahh... what is that... His thoughts, interrupted by the site in front of him with something oozing out of her skin. WAs his thoughts that into being put into action. He stiffled a laugh as he watched the girls power take place.

"If you join me... We fight the power people. Take them down and kill them... so they will never be allowed to live again. Goverment officials hated gifteds. Unfair advantages and uncontroled powers were something they didnt' like. That's one out of many reasons they tried to kill them so many years ago." He took a step to the side and watched her powers finally form. "Kill all the gifteds so, that we are the only ones left. They'll grant you immunity if I ever see them again. AND i'm sure I will in the near future, once they hear that I'm back and starting the war all over again."

He took in the sight of the girl. Rock exterior but he was sure her interior was still as soft as her skin was. Weakness... Water I bet... as much as she says she'll need water, she won't have any idea how much water she'll be needing. MAking a rock hot, then dropping it in water... Wonder what could happen? And what would happen if one of my vials just so happens to drop on her.... and a fire starts... It would be like boiling her... but if she joins me in my quest to take down everyone else... I just might let her live. I'd hate to kill someone with such power, but I will if I have to. He felt the moisture still on his hands and struck his fingers together again, creating flames. Not as big as they were the first time, but it still let the heat be felt in Alana's direction. "Now, are you going to help me.. or do you wanna fight me? Either way, I'm goign to win!"

[krispey]

What he wants is a fight...What I'll give him is...Nothing? Alana stood there, her rock coated arms at her side. What should I do? Well, There's no time to think...This guy is clearly a trouble started, if not more, and wants his answer...If I want to dodge this battle, all I have to do is side with him...For now...I mean, there is a such thing called back-dooring. There's way more gifteds her than him, and if I can get most of them to side with me.... "You've got youself a deal mister," Alana stated with a twisted grin on her face. She was going to save herself the sweat, and save some lives at the same time. But she quickly shook the thought ouyt of her head. People like him; especially with the government backing him up, weren't that easy to get over on...They had an eye out for sneaky people. But hey, it was worth a shot. Whether Alana went down in history, or up in flames, she knew that she will have made a difference.

[Marr-bles™]

Brian watched her closely looking at her exterior facial expressions. How is it that this girl couldn't answer so fast, maybe she was plotting to run or maybe she would actually join him in his quest to destroy the rest of the gifteds. He would hate to be the only gifted left in the world. Someone to be with would have been nice.

You've got yourself a deal, Mister... The words rang in his head when he heard her say them. Was she being truthful? Few people during the war always tried to join to save themselves. Some held true to their words, but others didn't. He tilted his head slightly walking over to the fair girl, his eye's scanning her features as she spoke. "Something in your eye's tell the truth, but there also telling me that you don't trust me. I can't blame you... a guy just so happens to destroy what's left of an attack years ago, offers to join... death coming soon... What can I expect?" He asked her and walked behind her placing a hand on each of her shoulders and placing his face near her ear. "I'm empressed. You barely flinched, but yet you stand up to me. I think that we could be friends... for now. Tell me, Friend, Have you ever fought against other gifteds in a game of life and death?" He asked taking his face off her shoulder and walking back in front of her, folding his arms up with a sneaky grin on his face.

[krispey]

As she watched Brian move around her, she allowed the stone to liquify down to a secreation, then back into her skin. Her skin was now ashen pale, but it didn't itch as bad as it usually would have. As his hands graced her skin once more, she reached her hands back, placing them on his own. Her head went back to the side of his, her lips now at his ear. "No friend, I don't trust you just yet, but that doesn't nessacarilly mean that I won't keep my word." She watched as her manuvered around tof ace her once more. There was a slight grin upon her face. "And no, I haven't, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to." She ran her fingers through her damnped scarlet tresses, her brown eyes strictly upon Brian. She wanted his reactions. She wanted to see how he'd react to someone who wasn't afraid at all.

[Marr-bles™]

Brian stood still for the moment that she was near his ear and for a moment, he could feel a shiver down his back as she did so. She was brave... really brave! He smiled micheiviously as he replied to her. "Well, Friend, Trust me or not, I don't care. Just let you know that I have the power to over come you, you know that. I will do everything to bring back the power to the goverment. Sure, I'd love to have such a beautiful woman help me out. I mean, everyone should fear the power of a woman... The fear you could instill in someone's head just by glancing at them, but..." He paused a moment before walking near her again, his eye's directly watched her eye's. Looking to see what she would do. "Help me or not, just to let you know... I'm going to let you go anyway, just for the simple fact that I want you to spread the word that the goverment official bend on taking over has come back... hear me?" He said as he quickly kissed her on the cheek and started to walk away, only glancing back once to see the reactions on HER face.

[krispey]

A smile trickled across Alana's features as his lips graced the side of her face. Awh. How sweet....For a self-procliamed psyco pyro maniac, he was really sweet. Hmm...Maybe I get under his skin just anit more than others...In a good way of course...Perhaps I can- "You-we don't have to do this, you know? It's not too late to change your mind. It's not too late to allow us gifteds to live in peace and serenity for a while...." She took a breath, as though she were contemplating something..."You know, wh6y is it that you'd kill your own kind just toget ahead?" Alana shrugged, "It's just a thought..."She truley wondered how he would react to that question. She wondered if someone had ever been as upfront with him as she had; Someone that didn't know him, that is.

[Marr-bles™]

Brian looked at her when she questioned him. We dont have to do this, you know. It's not too late to change your mind. It's not too late to allow us gifteds to live in peace and serenity for a while.... The sentence was one that only a coward would say. Someone that was afraid to do something. Brian took a few steps back toward her, unable to just leave her so soon. Why would he leave her just yet? Something about her, seemed to make him want to stay, but he knew he couldn't. If he was going to start his reign of terror on the town, he couldn't waste any more time. It was already ten years later.

"My dear... Why would I want to? I made a pack with the goverment so many years ago, to do this... and when everything got bad, I ran. I'm not running this time. I was told to do this. It's been ten years... Everyone has had their time to be serene... calm... Now things need to heat up just a bit. And I'm just the guy to do it!" He snapped his fingers as flames shot out, but stopped immediatly after. "DAmn... Out of juice... Well, Good thing I've got more." He stated as a matter-of-factly. He looked at her a moment, and with a glimpse in his eye, he walked over to her, going behind her and placed his arm arond her waist. Sure, if she didn't like it, she'd fight it. If she didn't fight it, he knew that there was something there that he knew he would like. Only time would tell, as he whispered in her ear.

"Are you afraid to fight? If so, my princess, I could protect you?"