Custom Angelic Jollin
Night was always her favorite time. Silence, at least for the most part. The metal of the compound groaned periodically to break it, though Arete had grown used to it by now. She’d been living here for years, since before the compound was even a thought. Since before they all had to live underground.
The group here was filled with living creatures unlike any others, including herself. Gifted. At least that’s what they’d dubbed themselves. The public wasn’t so kind, throwing words like ‘mutants’ and ‘freaks’ around in spite of the many helpful deeds her kind had done. It didn’t matter. They were different and the general public didn’t like it. And because of that, they had to hide away, trying to make a difference by helping others like them. Others that had ’gifts’.
Arete’s differences were the fuel for her own nightmares and the whole reason she was here in the first place. Sitting in the dark, her gaze went to her hands, summoning the tiniest of flames in the palm of her hand. The flame flickered harmlessly, its light bouncing shadows off the walls. Folding her damaged wings against her scarred back, the memories came rushing back like a raging fire consuming all around it.
”Momma! Pleeeease push me!” Six years old, Arete had not a care in the world.
”Honey, it’s time to--”
”Please!?”
When her mother smiled softly, Arete knew she’d won. “One more time, then it’s time to start dinner. Your father will be home shortly.”
The summer sun sunk closer to the horizon, a gentle breeze combing through the trees, rustling the leaves. Fall was just around the corner which meant back to school for Arete. Even at six years old, she knew that meant less play time and wanted to soak up every last second of it.
Sailing towards the sky as her mother gave her the push on the swing as promised, Arete soared higher and higher. Giggles from both of them echoed off the walls of their home. It was a perfect moment.
The squeal of tires had the pair of them turning their heads towards the driveway. It was Arete’s father that came tearing into the drive, fleeing from the vehicle before it had even stopped.
”Get inside!”
Neither questioned him. Arete fled with her mother pulling her by the arm, slamming the door behind once they’d all made it inside.
”Into the basement! Now!”
Again, neither questioned why. They just went, running down the wooden steps into the dank darkness of the basement. The musty smell would normally gag them, but Arete’s heart was racing as fast as her mind and the scent didn’t even register.
Squealing sounds again as more vehicles came to the house. Door slamming. Then talking, but it was muffled.
BANG! The sound of something heavy hitting the floor above made Arete jump into her mother’s arms, the two holding onto one another tightly.
”Please, don’t!” Arete could hear her father’s muffled voice pleading with someone.
”There ain’t no room for freaks like you,” a strange voice boomed, cutting off her father’s plea.
”But, my family-”
”They’re gonna burn, just like you.”
The words made Arete’s blood freeze. Burn?
Liquid spilled across the floor above, leaking between the cracks and raining down on Arete and her mother. It was such a strange, potent smell that burned her nose from the inside. What is it?
In a flash, orange and red light filled the upstairs followed by the screams of her father.
”Momma!”
The light grew brighter and brighter as Arete and her mother huddled in the corner of the basement, bodies shivering in fear. Smoke sank in from above, choking them slowly. The heat from the fire above started to warm the basement, the thick smoke obscuring what little could be seen.
”Arete, honey. I-I need you to be brave ok?” Voice shaking, Arete's mother held her by the shoulders, staring into her eyes.
”Momma, no!” Tears streaked her face, knowing well what her mother was going to do. “Don’t leave!”
”I have to. I have to help your father. Stay here and stay safe.”
”No! Momma, please don’t!” Arete grappled for her mother, but already she was running up the stairs and disappearing through the door. The roar of the fire grew deafeningly loud, shutting out all sounds except the cries and screams of her parents.
Hugging her knees to her chest, the flames were crawling down the stairs now. The heat dried her tears before they could fall down her cheeks, singeing the edges of her clothing. The screams weakened and then were gone.
Turning into the corner of the basement to shield her face, Arete sobbed uncontrollably. There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide.The fire was here now, licking her skin, burning her, making her cry. Hurting her.
”No!” She shouted in pain, flinching from the flames. “Go away! Go away! GO AWAY!”
Silent. Dark. Alone. Moving her gaze around to look behind her, the charred basement was no longer glowing with all-consuming fire. All that was left was the skeleton of her childhood home.
A dark figure moved towards her, her body tensing with what little energy she had left. “It’s alright now,” it said. “I’m here to rescue you… take you away from here…”
Without the energy to fight, the figure scooped her up like a ragdoll. Passing up what remained of the steps was a blur, but seeing the two smoldering forms on the floor sobered Arete for a brief moment. Even at six years old, she knew what it all meant. And the world went black.
A sharp knock came at the door.
”Hey, Arete?”
The sudden noise broke Arete from her reverie, snuffing out the flame in her palm. Looking up at the door as it swung open, she glanced at male that had spoken as he peeked just inside the door.
”Yeah?”
”Fel wants us. He found another one.”
Nodding absently, the male walked off without another word, leaving Arete to gather herself. Somehow they had managed to find her in that basement... and somehow she'd managed to make the fire go away. She never new she had powers before that day, and if only she had been able to do it sooner...
Drawing in a slow breath, she wiped the remaining memories from the front of her mind. No use in dwelling… not right now. There were others that needed help; others like her. Others that were lost and needed a family, guidance… somewhere to call home.
Credits
♥️ Profile art by 
Paris
♥️ Coding and story by Celestial
♥️ Background found here
♥️ Font from DaFont
