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Soul Fires Flame
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
*honk* *honk* *Beep*
The sounds of the busy city woke Andromeda up. The sun had been in the sky for a while. She glanced over at the time, 10:52. She always thought the way humans kept track of time was so fascinating. She put on her disguise. She became a 16-year-old girl and she went to her location. The council planned for her to meet her task at the YMCA. The school he goes to owns the Y, they play there during recess and after school. She headed there. It was a long walk down the street she lives on and then a right.
She looked up at the huge building the big glass doors had a sign on them. Open to the public ages 16 and younger.
“Cool.” She whispered under her breath as she pulled open the door.
Inside it smelled like socks and pee mixed with floor cleaner. She walked up to the long counter and said, “My mom dropped me off, I was late to my school bus, and she said to stay here until my dad gets off work.”
“Okay, sweetie. Head in there and I will come to get you when your dad arrives. Your name is?” the desk lady asked. The desk lady was a pretty human with curly red hair.
“My name is Suzie, Suzie McPherson,” Andromeda stated. She was trying so hard not to sound like she had memorized this.
“All right, you’re all set!”
Andromeda entered the huge room it was a giant basketball court but only one of the 6 hoops was being used for basketball. Every corner had a different activity. It smelled more like burnt rubber in this room because of all the shoes screeching along the surface. She checked the time on the big flat-screen Tv above the doors to the school hallway. It was 11:20 now. She knew that at 11:25 her task would be done with lunch and come in for recess. Her heart banged against her ribcage repeatedly. It was almost all she could hear. She was so anxious.
She walked over to the kids playing jump rope, this was his favorite thing to do.
“Hey! You must be new I’m Marcus. Hop in when you’re ready!” Marcus and his friend began to move the rope.
“Hi! I’m Suzie!” She exclaimed as she started jumping.
She started doing the fancy footwork she learned from her friend Peri. Before she knew it the time had passed, and the doors flew open. Around 30 children ran in all of them finding their friends and jumping with joy. Then she saw him. Anthony.
Anthony ran over and joined his friends. He joined Andromeda.
“Hey everyone!…” His eyes met hers.
“Who’s the new girl?” He asked still looking at her.
“Her name is Suzie. Right?” Marcus asked and looked over at Andromeda.
“Yeah, I’m Suzie. What’s your name?”
“I’m Anthony, can I take a turn?” He gestured over to the jump ropes.
Andromeda took a few steps out of the way and said, “Of course let’s see your moves!” She gestured at the ropes.
Anthony jumped in. His footwork was more impressive than hers. Which isn’t really a compliment because she wasn’t in her original form.
“Let’s do it together, Suzie,” Anthony said. His words cut right through her daydream of her and peri dancing around light ropes in the bubble hills of home.
“Okay.” She began moving her hands with the ropes preparing for the perfect moment to jump in. Then BAM they were doing it. Jumping in sync.
She could hear his heartbeat. The council told her about this, but she wasn’t prepared for it to sound so beautiful and hypnotizing. Marcus and the girl turning the rope stopped. It was their turn. As Andromeda known to the kids as Suzie was turning the rope, she asked Anthony a question. One she needed the answer to.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” She blurted.
“I… Uh… Well, my mom asks me that every day but I don’t really have an answer. Nothing seems special to me. All I’m really good at is helping my friends.” Anthony answered.
“How about you? Have you figured it out yet?” Anthony asked her.
There was no training for this. She had no answer she made one up.
“I want to be one of those motivational speakers. I talk a lot, maybe people will listen.” Andromeda replied with a shout because the other kids in the building were getting rowdy.
The doors to the school flew open again. 3 teachers came in and blew their whistle, “Recess is over! Time to go back to class!”
“Awwwwww,” Every child replied.
“Bye guys, see you tomorrow,” Anthony shouted as he ran to line up in front of his teacher.
Andromeda said bye to everyone. She went through the doors and walked straight out. The timing worked in her favor because the red-haired desk lady was on the phone. The fewer questions people asked Andromeda the better. She’d be home soon anyway. She’d successfully met her task, Anthony. It was a good day, good progress. She was lost in thoughts during her long walk home. The smell of coffee drew her in.
It was the same coffee shop from yesterday. The one she was placed at when the council gave her all the information about her mission. She had only gotten through the addresses when she went home yesterday. So today she decided to finish reading. Her missions folder also had a disguise. She was the only one who could read it. In everyone else’s eyes, it looked like a thick fiction novel instead of a file.
She walked up to the counter and ordered a large mocha coffee. Then she went over and sat down at her table. It was a round table made of wood with two black industrial-looking chairs. It was the corner table. She always felt more secure in the corner she could see the whole room. She pulled out her “book” and began reading more about Anthony and what kind of inspiration he is going to need to light his flame.
“Here is that large coffee mocha for you!” The barista said with a smile.
“Thank you!” Andromeda said as the barista walked away. She took one sip and went back to reading.
Anthony’s flame is partially lit. He knows his spark he just isn’t sure how to use it. He is in doubt. This is where your mission comes in. You are tasked with helping him realize helping people is the basis of his future purpose.
Basis of his future purpose? She pondered wondering what golden purpose involved helping people. There were so many it seemed vague. Was the council always like this? Is every file just vague? They left her with the hard work. As usual. The pressure of being the strongest soul fire and being alone in a human city just bothered her. It was like she hadn’t taken deep breaths in years. She closed the file and took a sip from her mocha coffee. The city wasn’t too bad she thought. She was staring out the window up into a tree. Little squirrels nestled in the top and birds flying in and out of the tree. It was fall time and the leaves were just starting to turn. Yellow, Orange, a few Red but still clinging to the tree.
“Hey, what are the chances you’re here again!” The skinny man interrupted her thoughts again.
“Slim, but here I am!” Andromeda forced herself to sound excited. It was something she trained herself on often.
“Mind if I sit?” He gestured to the other seat his coffee cup in hand.
“Not at all.” At first, it was a lie but then it became true.
He sat and began talking about why he comes to this coffee shop every day. It was the one his father went to every morning during his days as a businessman. They also exchanged names. The skinny man’s name was Sam. Sam wasn’t really a man at all. He was 17, but he looked much older though considering he was carrying a briefcase. Andromeda could tell he really admired his father.
“So, tell me about you. Are you following in anyone’s footsteps?” He asked, realizing he was talking a lot about his father.
Andromeda just let the words spill out naturally. Something dangerous for a being of her status.
“No, I’m kind of the first in my family to do what I’m doing. You see most of my family they’re gentler and caring, sympathetic, I guess. I’m more of a no-nonsense you can do anything kind of person.” Andromeda said.
What she spoke was true. Her entire family consisted of maroon soul fires. Except for her grandpa. He was a golden soul fire. She’d never met him, so she didn’t feel she was following in his steps. Plus, her flame was the strongest of any soul fire ever. There were no footsteps to follow only ones to make.
“Wow, I bet you’ll be a kick-ass fitness coach or motivational speaker. You’ve got the attitude!” Sam replied.
It was getting late and andromeda still had the kitty in her apartment.
“Coffee’s done,” Andromeda said shaking her cup.
“Mine too,” Sam replied.
“What are the chances you’ll be here tomorrow?” Sam asked andromeda, almost starry-eyed.
“Slim,” Andromeda replied with a flirtatious yet “don’t count on it” kind of smile.
They walked toward the coffee shop doors, he opened them for her.
“Thankyou”
“No problem, Suzie,” Sam said and walked out the doors and down the busy street.
Andromeda did the same. Conveniently they were going in opposite directions because Andromeda needed time to think. Tomorrow she would see Anthony again and the council would expect her to gather at least some new information. As she was walking, she was pondering with ideas though. This helped her relax because she could make a game plan for tomorrow. She pondered on those words “helping people is the basis of his future purpose”. She felt like that was so vague. How was she supposed to figure it out and help him discover it? As soon as the thought became irritatingly overwhelming, she was “home”. Not a real home but a temporary home. The only place she could be her true form in this city.
Hobbling down the brick stairs, she entered her temporary home. The stray cat came to greet her this time rubbing its fur on her ankle. Cats and dogs were the only earthly creatures who could see her flame. Cats and dogs are originally from her home, but her kind knew humans needed them more. Almost all of them have maroon flames except for the occasional grey. Andromeda took off her disguise. It was getting so uncomfortable. Her light radiated throughout the room. She layed in her human bed and thought about all that was to come. She had a task, Anthony, and she was going to find his purpose…
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