Sue (Arsonphobia)

"Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is." ---- German Proverb

"It has to be the cloud; it's fundamentally altered our DNA," Sue said as they stepped through the double doors into the last corridor to Ben's room.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Reed replied "We need a massive amount of evidence before making that leap."

"Whoa. Guys, look!" Johnny's voice now, excitement evident in his voice. Reed and Sue both spun, and their eyes widened to see Johnny, still stood there with that ridiculous pink jacket wrapped around his middle, fire flickering from his thumb like a flame from a lit candle. He toddled over to them, movements restricted by the jacket, and as he stopped, clicked his fingers, and then again twice more. The flame went out with each click. He looked at them, grinning madly

"Now picture that, but everywhere," he started, his hands fully exaggerating his claims "It was everywhere. WHAT?" he added, seeing Sue's wide-eyed look and Reed's curiosity. Sue twisted her gaze from her brother to Reed, who looked back meekly.

"The cloud has fundamentally altered our DNA," he admitted.

Johnny cheered behind them as they began their walk again, and Sue risked a glance backwards, happy to not see the flames covering her brother. She did not want to see the flames dancing from his thumb again, in fact, she did not want to picture the flames everywhere, as he had so insisted. However the images, the memories, assaulted her mind, causing her to shiver involuntarily...

A cry of awe went up as another firework whistled up into the sky, and exploded in a flash of multicoloured sparks. Johnny shrieked in delight, clapping his hands and jumping up and down. Sue reached over and clutched his hand, tugging at it until he looked at her

"Stay by me, Johnny," she ordered him "Don't get lost."

"He's perfectly safe with us, Susie," Mary laughed, she was wrapped up in Franklin's arms, cheek rosy with the cold and her eyes bright with almost as much excitement as Johnny had. "Laura and Tara are over by the burger van, why don't you go and play with them?" the girl hesitated, torn between watching over her brother or playing with her friends, but their father was handing Johnny a sparkler, the five year old grinning as he gripped the sparkler in one gloved hand.

"Okay, mummy," she said, giving Johnny a smile before skipping off. Mary watched her go, and then turned her attention back to her youngest, who had skipped forwards, closer to the large bonfire he was being so frequently enchanted by, the small wand flickering through the air as he laughed at the light trailing behind it.

A loud shout from across the bonfire caught her attention, and Mary looked up to see a group of teenagers laughing and pushing each other. One made a dare to another, and something was hurled from a hand towards the fire.

It was only as it made it's way into the heart of the bonfire that Mary recognised it for a beer can.

"Johnny!" she screamed, pulled from her husband's arms and stepping forwards. Another firework screamed up into the air, and the explosion was echoed by one from the fire as the can exploded, sending boiling beer and burning embers flying at the crowd.

There was a moment's silence, only the crackle of flames and the remains of the firework heard, and then several screams set up. The loudest and most pained of those from the little five year old who had been stood closest to the fire at the time, whose clothes had quickly been dosed in flames.

"Johnny!" Mary screamed again, her voice mingling with a shriller cry from the boy's sister, and the woman ran forwards, only to be grabbed by Franklin's strong arms. Another man jumped forwards, blanket held in his arms, and bundled the screaming child into his arms before rolling him on the ground. The flames were doused quickly, leaving a sobbing child wrapped within the blanket. Mary was released from her husband's arms, and she fell to her knees beside her son, not daring to touch him. Sue kicked free from the man who had restrained her from running to her burning brother, and she stopped beside her mother, tears running down her face in quiet streams.

"Mommy?" she quavered

"Oh Johnny," Mary whispered, ignoring her daughter "I'm sorry, mommy's so sorry."

"Mary?" Franklin was beside them now, gathering his sobbing daughter into a hug "An ambulance is on its way. And a police car," he turned his attention to his daughter now, seeing that his wife was still ignoring him, and hugged the girl close "He'll be alright Susie. He'll be okay."