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Prologue
"Frank!" The yell was muffled, but could still be heard. "Frank! There's no one left - Let's get out of here!" Flames licked at the yellow-clad beings. Sweat trickling down their necks. They looked like some alien creature with their breathing masks and fire-proofed clothing. Francine AKA "Frank" glanced over to Mark, jerking her head up and down in a short nod. Their footsteps hurried towards the exit. Fire licking at their heels. An ominous creaking sound filled their ears and looking up they saw the roof rushing towards their heads. Without even thinking about it, Frank shoved Mark out the nearest window, the glass had already exploded from the heat. She couldn't even scream as the burning wood hit her. Air was forced out of her lungs, her mask got knocked loose and inferno-like air burned her lungs, her eyes felt like they were on fire. Cooling foam, used to kill the flames of a chemical fire, rained upon her. Someone pulled her free from the burning wreckage. Words were said, but she couldn't hear them. Nothing could be seen. No sound came from her throat.... It was a welcome thing when she finally passed out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No sound, no light, there was nothing, nothing but a void. Frank sat by the window, she knew this because she could feel the air on her face and the warm of the sun on her skin, but she couldn't see it, couldn't hear the birds, couldn't even talk about it. There was just - nothing. *Just going to sit there and feel sorry for yourself, Francine?* The voice was that of a man, strong and self-assured. More importantly, the voice was right there in her head. Her throat tried to bring up the words to ask who he was, but there was nothing except a grunt. *Calm down, just think your words, I'll hear them.* Frank wished she could see so she could stare at this strange visitor. *Who are you?* *A friend of your father's.* *My father's been dead for years.* Frank "snapped" back. It was easier this time then the first, the words coming more naturally now. *Never the less, I am his friend - and now I'm your's. There's so much to learn, Francine.* Frank made a grunting noise that could only be interpreted as a "Hrumph!" *Yeah, like what?* *I've already begun - By the time I'm thru, Frank, you'll have a whole new way to see, to hear, to speak. I'll even teach you to fight. Just trust me.* *Why should I? I don't even know your name.* *It's James.* His hand took her's and something akin to an electrical shock passed thru the young woman. Briefly Frank saw the image of a tall, dark haired man with dusky-brown skin shaking the hand of a woman sitting in a chair. The woman's blond hair was just starting to grow back in and there were bandages over her eyes and ears. Slowly healing burns covered the exposed skin. Along with it came the feeling she could trust this James. *So, do you trust me now?* *Yes.* *Good, then let's get started.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One Year Later - *Shuffle, pivot - Good. Now let me up.* Even though she couldn't see it, Frank knew James was grinning from the "sound" of his mental voice. In a year he had taught Frank to "see," to "hear," and to even "speak." Along with it he had started to teach her Aikido. Frank grinned back, wiping the sweat from her forehead. *So what now?* *Now, we watch tv.* *TV? Why?* Frank walked to her favorite chair, plopping down in it. The dark green eyes looked blankly at the screen. The pupils were almost non-existent. Some freak effect brought on by her training. The eyes healed, looking normal, except for two tiny pupils that were no bigger then the head of a pin. The burns were completely gone. Yet nothing inside healed. Her larynx was still unable to help her form words, her eardrums still busted and the ear canal still filled with scar tissue from the intense heat, her eyes still unable to see. *Because of this.* James flipped on the news, letting Frank see it thru his eyes. The reporter stood in front of a burned out building. "This is the third fire set by the arsonist who calls himself Esoteric this month. As with the others the fire started in the foreman's office. This one differs in the fact that instead of a vegetable cannery, this was a car manufacturer...." The reporter droned on, but Frank had shut her out. *Big deal,* Frank stood up. *What do you want for lunch?* *Francine, I've not been teaching you all this time so you can just putter around and make me lunch. It's time you paid me back for all this training.* James' voice was firm, dictating there was no saying no without the words actually coming from his mind. *I don't fight fires anymore,* Frank spat out venomously *I run from them like a scared little girl.* It was true - she couldn't even use a gas stove. James had to replace it with an electric one. Suddenly James grabbed her hand. Something warm flickered against her palm. *The things I've taught you may not have restored what you lost, but Frank, you've learned things you didn't even know you were learning.* Thru James' eyes, Frank saw that the warm flicker was none other then the flame of a lighter licking against her palm. Frank screamed like a wild animal in a trap. Pulling away as she curled into a ball on the floor. She rocked back and forth, keening instead of crying. James' arms went around her. Stroking her until she calmed down. *I'm sorry, Frank - but don't you see? Fire can't hurt you anymore. Please, you're the only one who can stop him....* *Why me?* Frank said as she pulled away, trying to prove how tough she was by refusing to be touched. *Why can't someone who can see do it?* *You said a year ago you trusted me - Trust me now. You are the only one....* The woman stood there, not saying anything, just - rubbing the spot on her palm where the flame had touched. It didn't hurt. No signs of burning that she could feel. Even without James' touching her she could feel that same electrical sensation that she had a year ago. Finally she nodded. *Alright - where do I start?* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Esoteric laughed. Such fools. Look at them scurrying over the burned-out wreckage of that factory. Trying to find clues to whom he was. They were such idiots! All the stupid theories they had. He was not a fired foreman of a factory, nor was he an out of work factory worker. No, he was simply a man who was disgusted with the world. His wife had left him for a man who she said "wasn't a wimp like him." Someone more "aggressive" and "commanding." For a woman of the 1990's, she had the wants of a woman from the 1890's. So instead of staying with her enlightened husband, a man who actually believed women were equal, she had left him for some brute who ordered her around like a slave. And the judge thought this - cretin - would be a better father then him? Bah! Idiots! The lot of them! Well, he'd show her aggressive. What was more aggressive then a man willing to burn the world for his family? Moving away from his hiding spot, Esoteric put away his binoculars. He had chosen his name at random. Flipping open the dictionary and pointing - thankfully it hadn't landed on something silly like "Yak" or "yo-yo." A word that meant knowledge restricted to a small group. In a strange way it fit. For only he knew how to start the fires and get out and only he knew why he was setting the fires. "Dingbats," he muttered as he lit his cigarette. Pulling the deadly fumes into his lungs and letting the equally murderous smoke out his nose. From his pocket he pulled a picture of a woman with blond hair and green eyes from his pocket. "For you, Francine, and our kids." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Were you ever married, Frank?* James sat on the floor, going thru newspapers. The attempt to hack into the police records had proved unsuccessful, so they had to rely on more conventional ways to get information. Frank laughed, though the sound was nothing more then grunts, only someone like James who had been around Frank could tell she was laughing. *No. There was a guy I worked with who wanted to marry me - even had our kids all imagined and everything. I told him no and he freaked, became convinced there was another man. Talked about divorce. I swear he was out of his mind. Why do you ask?* *Because of this.* James rattled the paper. *I heard sometimes wackos leave messages for the police in the classifieds - Listen to this one - "Francine, my blond goddess, I am aggressive now. I burn for you. E." Sound like a head-job to you?* Pausing for a moment, Frank considered this. *Yes, it does.* Putting down the paper, James nodded. *I agree - I think it's time to place an ad of our own.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Esoteric eagerly took up his paper, laughing as he read the newest reports on him. With glee he read and clipped out each report. Saving the scraps in a special bag. Finally, he turned to the classifieds. Every day he looked for a message from her, from his Francine. He remembered how they met - she had walked into the department. So beautiful, so ready to fight fires. His heart had caught on fire at that moment. Burning for her. And she loved him - until she decided he was too passive.... His heart caught in his throat. There - like some beautiful message from God - words he never thought he'd see. "E. I burn for you too, I'm ready to return. Tell me where to meet you. F." Snatching up the phone, Esoteric hit the speed dial for the newspaper. "It's E - I want to place another ad." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The air was cool here and her footsteps echoed, though unheard to her, as she walked thru the building. The smell of fish filled the air, though everything was silent. A holiday, so everyone was home with their families. Reaching out with the powers James had taught her to release Frank "felt" her way around, finding the stairs that led to the offices above. In her hand she clutched a white cane with a red tip. Though in a way she could "see" it always helped her to have the cane. The mirrored sunglasses were to hide her eyes as they tended to frighten people. They'd serve another purpose today though. Reaching out, Frank gently probed the mind of the target. The thoughts were a tempest of words and images. Not unusual for someone not trained to use the basic telepathic ability all humans had. Yet these were much worst, tumbling too fast for even someone with an above-average IQ. Only someone unstable had thoughts like these. Frank couldn't even grasp onto a name. She did, however, see an image of her, and some children that looked a lot like her. Though at first she hadn't really thought so, Frank had become convinced that this was Richard. The man she had turned down. It wasn't a matter of him not being her type, she liked him, but she just didn't date people she worked with. Somehow he took that wrong.... Taking a deep breath, Francine entered the office.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Esoteric looked up as she entered - frowning at the site of the cane and the glasses. "Francine!" No reaction. "Frank? What...." He approached, the gas can in his hand sloshing around. There was no response. Nothing. Reaching out, he took off the mirrored glasses, looking at his image in them before finally looking up to meet her eyes. Eyes, that could not see. "Oh Frank - Francine, what did he do to you?" Unable to look at those sightless eyes he put the glasses back on. Gently he took her hand. Finally, a response from her. "I can't let you live like this, Francine, I love you too much." Swiftly, the hand with the can came up, smacking against her head. Frank went down. Before she could get back up Esoteric began to splash the gas around the room. Bits of newspaper everywhere. The match flared briefly. As it made it's way towards the floor, Esoteric was out the door. Running even as the room burst into flame. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Heat, smoke - Francine should've known. Her nose had told her even before she entered the office of Esoteric's plans. She could smell the gas, the newsprint of the papers. Panic bubbled in her wordless throat. Her mind flashing back to another fire - the one that cost her her sight, hearing, and voice. Only leaving her with her sense of smell and the untapped powers of her mind. God, how had she not seen this? She had been inside Richard's - correction, make that Esoteric's - mind. Seeing thru his eyes. Though she couldn't separate his thoughts she picked up some here and there. After refusing to date him Esoteric made this fantasy world where she had been his wife and mother of his children, not a co-worker. She had left him for another man. He looked the same as she remembered, even reflected in her mirrored sunglasses, seeing this image thru his eyes. Burly, receding blond hair, blue eyes. He had been so withdrawn, even when they fought fires together, he waited for someone else to lead him. Fire - Dang - how could she forget? Shaking off the pain in her head from where the gas can had hit her, Frank dragged herself to the door. Blindly groping thru the heat and flames. Her body impervious thanks to James' teaching. Still, panic ate at her mind, insisting she curl up and scream, cry - and just die. The flames licked at her, burning her clothing, frying her hair, but not harming her skin. Frank felt herself falling, tumbling down the stairs, carrying the flames with her. Once on the floor of the factory she kept rolling, until the flames were dead. As she stood the flame-proof suit she wore under her clothes gleamed. It was a deep ebony colored metal that somehow remained cool despite the flames. Frank moved easily in the skin-tight outfit. Mentally she reached out, seeing thru Esoteric's eyes. He was outside and far away. No time to get to him now. Instead Frank felt around with her mind. Reaching out until she felt what she wanted. Water gushed from the pipes in the office. Busting thru the burning walls. So much water that it rushed out the door and finally to the stairs and floor. Quenching the flames. Or so she thought. The explosion knocked her off her feet. Throwing her forward into a wall. Air escaped her lungs with a whoosh as she made impact. Frank weakly pushed herself up, gasping for breath. Heat burned the hairs off the back of her neck. Her mind locked up and all she could do was stand there, trying to scream from her voiceless throat. A pair of arms went around her middle, lifting her up and carrying her. *It's okay, Frank,* James said as he rushed her out of the building. *I'm here....* *About time - next time I'll wait in the car!* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *It's not your fault, Frank, you said yourself that his thoughts were too erratic.* James handed her the glass of ice tea. Lifting the glass to her lips, Frank took a sip. Making a face. *I hate lemons.* She put the glass to the side and ran a hand over what was left of her blond hair. The rest, unlike her unburnable skin, having been burned off. The nearly pupilless green eyes were red from the fire and smoke and there was a large bruise on the top of her head where she had been hit by the gas can. James took the glass away and returned with one flavored with sugar and mint, no lemon. *Alright, we need a new plan of action.* Frank sipped, thinking, *He thinks I'm dead. That he killed me. I'm sure of that. He also thinks we have kids somewhere. A boy and a girl, about ten and six. I suppose his next move will be to try and find our imaginary family.... Ever want to be a father, James?* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Oh Francine, I bet that cretin beat you - that's why you couldn't see me, or hear me - not even speak to me. See, you should've stayed with me. I never would've hurt you. Ever." Esoteric sighed, putting away the picture in his wallet of a blond woman with two blond children, a boy and a girl. In his madness he didn't see that this woman wasn't Frank. It was just the picture that came with the wallet. "Our children are with him - aren't they? Well, I'll find them and save them...." Picking up the newspaper, Esoteric began to search. Yes, there it was. The burning of the fish cannery. No mention of a body though.... Well, maybe they hadn't found her yet, or thought to look for anyone other then the security guards. There was really no reason too, but Esoteric still turned to the classifieds. His eyes scanning.... Lighting upon an ad that nearly made him scream with rage. "Francine, come home. Your brats have ripped my favorite shirt. Meet me at Mack's Place. J." "You! You can't call our children brats! No!" Esoteric ripped the paper to pieces, flinging them everywhere. Hatred filling him. "Frank can't meet you, "J" - But you will meet someone.... and you'll burn for what you've done. Yes, you'll burn...." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *I feel stupid in this outfit.* James "whined" as he looked at himself in the mirror. He was dressed as a stereotypical biker. Complete with a greasy bandana for his hair. Frank made a sound that was akin to laughter as she looked at James thru his eyes. *It's the image of this "husband" of mine I picked up in Esoteric's mind. Course, he was a little taller and had these almost maroon-colored eyes.* James stuck his tongue out at the mirror - as that was the only way Francine would see it. Then scratched the irritating five-o-clock shadow that he had to leave on. *This guy is completely nuts. Is everything so stereotyped for him?* *I remember when we worked together - he'd tell these awful jokes that really were insulting. But he was so quiet and shy most of the time that we ignored it and laughed just to make him feel good. So yeah, I think so.* Reaching out, Frank rolled a box of cigarettes into his sleeve. *Don't smoke any of these things. Last thing I want to do is try to get you to quit these.* *I'm not an idiot, Frankie -* This earned James a smack upside the head. Francine didn't mind being called Frank or Francine, but she absolutely hated the nick-name "Frankie." Pushing James towards the door, Frank replied, *Just move your leather-clad butt out the door. We've a psycho to meet.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mack's Place was one of those dives one thought only existed in bad police movies and comic books. Pure chaos reined supreme there. How it even stayed in open was a mystery that all the gods in the heavens couldn't solve. It certainly wasn't because of the rat that was chomping happily on stale beer nuts. Nor the broken stools and tables. Defiantly not because of the charming personality of the bartender. James looked at the fellow behind the bar. He was a very - large fellow - who had gotten a spider devouring a young woman tattooed to his bald head. The other tattoos he had were something that couldn't be described. "I've wandered into a bad action movie set," James thought to himself, barely keeping from vomiting when he saw the tender hock a green wad into the glass to "clean" it with. Somehow, somewhere, someone was bribing the health department - and probably every other department as well. Or threatening them with death - which wouldn't be too hard to find in this place. "Waddya want?" Ye gods! Even the tender's vocabulary and manners were stereotypical! Where did they find this guy? Tough Morons Are Us? "I'll have a beer - in a clean glass." James stared the guy down and watched him, making sure he got the clean glass. He paid for the beer in advanced, took one sip, and decided the taps must've not been cleaned in a year. Maybe five. So he pushed it to the side, deciding to for-go getting one in a bottle and instead just looked around for the man Frank has described. Reaching out with the powers he had talk Frank to release, James felt around for Esoteric's mind. Nothing. Everyone else's minds interfered. A din of drunken and high thoughts that went from everything from murderous to just plain silly. *Kill her, kill him, kill her, kill him.....* *I'm going to beat him to a bloody pulp....* *You know, Mike's got a cute b....* *The wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round, ‘round and ‘round....* Shutting the din out with disgust, James sighed. He'd have to rely on his normal senses. Trying to look thru these men's and women's eyes didn't help - most were too stoned or drunk to see straight. Having come here to numb their minds from the stresses of every day life. So there was nothing to do except sit here and wait for Esoteric to make his move. James sighed and wished Frank had been able to come in with him. At least she'd be able to focus in on his mind, having touched it before. But she was waiting outside. Since Esoteric thought she was dead it was decided it would be best if she didn't come in. Screams filled the air and at first James thought it was a fight. Until he saw flames bursting from the bathroom. Jumping off his stool, James picked it up and threw it thru the nearest window and began to haul out people too drunk to save themselves. Throwing them thru the shattered window. A few cuts would be better then any burns. When Frank came in he didn't know, but the blind woman was dragging out a particularly heavy woman who had passed out hours ago. By now almost everyone was out on the street. The rest were just sober enough - from the fear - to escape. James grabbed the woman's feet and helped Frank get her out. *Esoteric?* James asked. *Yes, I almost had him, but I felt that I was needed inside more. He started it in the men's room and escaped out the window.* With a growl, James led Frank back to their car, looking to escape before the police stopped them to ask questions. Or before she was recognized by any former co-workers. *Okay, this is getting serious. Now it's not just empty factories. People could've died! We've got to stop him!* *No duh, James, but first we have to catch him!* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The paper crumpled in Esoteric's hands. Not one person dead! Not one! Especially not that wife-stealing villain! No, everyone got out. They all escaped! He had set the fire when he saw HIM enter. The one that took Francine from him. Slipping into the bathroom, he entered a stall and filled it with newspapers. Then covered them in gas. So drunk were the patrons that no one had noticed the huge duffle bag he carried. But this wasn't enough. He knew that this wouldn't burn well, so he had snuck back out and bought several bottles of whiskey from the tender. He went back into the bathroom, thankfully still empty, and poured the flammable liquor over the floors, splashing it on the walls, making sure anything that might possible burn had at least a drop on it. People entered, but were too drunk to take notice of him. They did their thing and left. He then climbed to the window that led into the alley. Striking a match and letting it drop just before jumping out. It was pure luck that a gas pipe leading to a water heater happened to be behind one of the bathroom walls. It was because of the tender's stupidity that the pipe happened to have a leak and the wall was broken right there - from a customer punching the wall in a drunken rage. So when the fire started.... well, it was all done and over with now. Still, HE was still alive! HE still had the children! Oh little Michael and Janey - his poor babies. What that monster might do to them.... It couldn't be thought of. It was time - Picking up the phone he called the paper. This time he'd meet this jerk face to face. And this time, he WOULD burn! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Remember, the point of Aikido is not to work against your opponent -* *But with your "partner" - I know, I know. James, shouldn't we be looking for Esoteric?* Frank's mental voice was impatient, like a small child wanting candy - now. Grasping her upper arm, James began to pull her, replying as she brought him down and put him into an elbow lock, *We will, but I thought a work out might help you think clearer. Ouch - enough already, do that anymore and you'll dislocate my shoulder!* He winced as Frank tweaked his shoulder a bit more before letting him up. *I still think my plan would've been better,* Frank said as she gulped down a bottle of water. James rubbed a towel over his face, groaning. *I'm not involving innocent children. I don't care if you do think he wouldn't hurt them. I'm not taking any chances.* Grabbing up the newspaper, he began to page thru it. *Bingo. Another ad from E. "Monster. You took my Francine from me, now she's taken from you. I want my children. E." So where shall we arrange to meet him?* *The police department would be good. The local looney bin would be better.* *Funny, Frank -* James shook his head and picked up the phone. *I think Old Time Carnival would be better.* *Great - we'll battle him in the hall of mirrors.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Old Time Carnival had been out of business for years. The old woman who owned the land refused to sell it though. She didn't want a bunch of apartments or a mall built on her father's land. Many times she had tried to reopen the park, and every time she failed. Some said it was because she had no money. Others said it was because the people who wanted to buy the land bribed enough people to keep the carnival closed forever. Whatever it was, the place was not going to operate anytime soon. *I feel like an idiot!* Frank complained from her hiding spot. *Why did I let you talk me into this?* *Because you want to stop him as much as I do.* James scratched his hairy chin. *You're not the only one that looks stupid. The dummies in place?* A grunt was the only affirmation Francine gave. She didn't sign up for this to be a hero, but she really had no choice. No one but her could stop Esoteric. Suddenly, she froze. *I can feel him - he's here....* Speak of the devil and he has a bad habit of showing up. There he was now, standing in front of them. In one hand was a lighter, in the other a bottle of gas with a rag sticking from the top. Frank listened thru James' ears and watched thru his eyes, waiting for her cue. "Where are the children?" His voice was horse, ragged. Gas fumes having roughened it. "They're right over there," James pointed towards the dead ferris wheel where Frank had placed to child-size dummies. It was far enough away that the features couldn't be made out. Or the fact they weren't moving. "Where's my wife?" "Dead. You monster. She was better off dead - after what you did to her. She couldn't speak, couldn't see, couldn't hear! Now you'll join her in death! Though you'll be going to a far different place!" Bringing up the lighter, he started to flick it. That was her cue. Flicking the switch behind her, Frank allowed the old spotlight - that amazingly still worked - to hit her from behind. It lit her white dress and the "gold halo" she had made for the top of her head. Thank God she had talked James out of the wings. *Richard - no!* The lighter dropped from numb fingers. The bottle of gas soon following. Glass and gas spraying everywhere as it fell. "Francine....?" *Yes, Richard - Richard, I beg of you, for our children, don't let them witness this madness.... You've killed me, but at least spare them the knowledge you did so.* This performance was worthy of an Oscar. Frank had wanted to just confront Esoteric and let him know they were never married. James had convinced her this wasn't a good idea. She let the light blind Esoteric for a moment as she removed the phony halo and lowered herself to the ground. Hoping the bright light in the eyes would be enough to keep him from noticing she was still alive and well. "Oh Francine - of course, of course...." He started forward, then paused, his eyes readjusting themselves. "No.... the hair - the eyes.... You didn't die!" With a scream he rushed forward. Pivoting to the side, Frank did as she had been taught. She cooperated with her enemy. Using his own moves against him. She brought him down only to see thru James' eyes as he rolled to his feet. James attempted to rush him from the back, only to be brought down by kick to the groin. There was no more sight now except for the view of the sky. Frank switched over to Esoteric's mind. Hatred boiled thru there. She couldn't focus on his thoughts and instead just looked thru his eyes. Letting him pull her as he grabbed her arm. She shuffled, grabbed his hand, and brought him down with a pivot. Then it was just a shuffle and cross-step to put him into an elbow lock. He screamed as she turned and attempted to twist his shoulder from it's socket. Only he bit her leg, bringing her down as she let go of his arm. She hadn't been able to wear the armor under the dress as it showed thru. Blood trickled down her ankle. Yet she was still inside Esoteric's head. He was heading for the "children." Limping along, Frank followed. James, having finally recovered, ran behind her. Esoteric reached the dummies first. A scream of rage tearing from him as he saw they weren't real. He tore them from the seat, ripping them to pieces. "Where are my children?! WHERE?!" *We never had any children, Richard,* Francine said. *We never even dated! I turned you down, remember? Don't you remember anything of reality? I said I didn't date co-workers....* "That isn't true! We were married!" Esoteric raged. "We had two beautiful children - see! See!" He pulled out the wallet - and saw for the first time that the picture wasn't of Francine. "No - no!" He threw the wallet at her and from his pocket pulled out a small box of matches. Turning, he began to run. *Great - the Hall Of Mirrors - I'm not just a telepath, I'm a psychic!* Frank said as she followed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was all a lie. All the dreams. All the beauty. It was just a fantasy. Reality came crashing down on him and it wasn't pretty. Esoteric had been prepared though. Hours earlier he had come by and placed his supplies. Now in the hall of broken mirrors he began to scatter the newspaper scraps, throw about the gasoline. He saw himself in the spider-webbed glass of a mirror, his image as distorted as his mind had been all this time.... *Richard! Don't!* Frank screamed into his mind as he brought the match towards the striking area. Launching herself at him just as the match started to burn. They fell and so did the match. Flames lit their tumble to the floor. Broken glass reflecting it over and over. James skidded to a stop as he saw them. Francine couldn't see, but she could feel. The heat let her know what was happening. Panic bubbled up inside her, but she didn't let it get the best of her. Instead she grabbed Esoteric's head and rammed it towards the floor. Feeling him slump.... Standing, she threw him over her shoulder. *James!* *I'm right here.* James grabbed her elbow and pulled her out. The building burning behind her.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Epilogue "The fire took all night to put out. Police found the arsonist known as Esoteric - former fire fighter Richard Jeeves - unconscious at the scene of the crime. He has confessed to everything including the recent fire at Mack's Place that nearly claimed human lives...." Frank flipped off the tv. *Enough, James, it's nearly two in the morning. Time for bed.* Nodding, James stood and headed for his room. *Yes, I know. Besides, we need to be well rested for tomorrow night.* *Why?* Frank asked, cracking her neck. *Because it seems that there's been this rash of bank robberies....* Sighing, Frank went to her own room and slammed the door. She'd do it, she knew. But tonight she just didn't want to hear about it. She wanted to sleep!
~~The End~~
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