Lilac looked to Hermit as he stood behind us in the dark room. "So, you knew this entire time?"

"Was it that difficult to figure out?" He scoffed. "I mean, look at you. You look like someone who came from a fairytale."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Lilac grinned. "Although, I am confused. I feel like I lived an entire lifetime. I have memories, history, wants, and needs."

"And those things are true." Hermit nodded. "What you two aren't realizing is that emotions are powerful. They are the catalyst of change and chaos. This is what we've learned working with Kyla." He looked to me. "Imagination gives form and emotion brings that form to life."

I scratched my chin, trying to understand. "Am I the only one like this? That could do these things?"

"No, there's so many creative individuals out there. And they also possess and attribute emotion to their creations. The difference between you and them are your beliefs. When you believe something, it's no longer a matter of its real or not. Just believing—and not just belief but knowing—is manifesting."

"Wow." I looked to Lilac and his perfect form before me. "My belief is that strong?"

Hermit lifted his palms as if presenting the world around us. "What do you think this is?"

"So, if I create it can I take it away?" I waited for an answer as if Hermit knew. So far it seemed he did.

"Now that is the question." He shrugged. "From my experience, believing is seeing. And we all saw what your imaginings can do." He gave an all-knowing look to Lilac before looking back at me. "It's an amazing gift you have. And trust me, anyone in their right mind would do anything to obtain that gift. So, it's up to you to decide how you're gonna use it."

I nearly scoffed. "Gift? You call this a gift? It's more like a curse."

"Well..." Lilac smacked his lips. "I take offense to that."

"You know what I'm getting at." I looked beyond the two and outside the windows at the black forest. "People died. That innocent woman is dead because of my gift."

"You just have to learn to tame it." Hermit walked to the broken window and peered out. "Like any wild animal, it takes time and practice. But even you can teach an ancient wooly mammoth to roll, lie and sit."

"You said it was impossible, that I couldn't tame the creatures," I reminded him.

"Have you ever heard of tough love? Reverse psychology?" He glanced back at me from his spot in front of the window. "Sometimes people need others to doubt them in order to prove them wrong."

I nodded, understanding. Although a bit of me was unsure of his apparent confidence in my abilities, I understood what he was saying.

Hermit groaned and grabbed his abdominals. "I need to get something in me. My stomach is so empty it's twisting itself into knots."

"The sun will be out before we know it." I raised my sights to find the bright moon through the window. "Now's your chance."

Hermit headed for the door, nodding. "You two stay here—"

"I'm coming with you," Lilac said before Hermit could finish his sentence. "I need nourishment too." He looked to me, questions in his eyes. "Why is that, considering my situation?"

I shook my head and shrugged. "All I know is you're a lot like me, and you remind me so much of the some of the people I've had in my life. The girls at Knoques, my favorite nurse, it's like you're an amalgamation of all of us."

He scratched his temple. "Strange. Why am I not upset finding out the truth?" He stared at the dirty tile in contemplation. "You'd think I would be upset, sad or angry, but the realization doesn't seem to affect me. I'm just glad to be by your side again."

Hermit raised a finger to interrupt. "Maybe you knew the truth but suppressed it, like Kyla did with her story."

"Is there anything else I suppressed?" I looked to Hermit who, as my former doctor, seemed to have answers to many of our questions. Surely, he would know more, especially things I had forgotten or was never aware of.

The look on his face said so much even if he didn't.

Deciding not to stay alone in the hospital during the time where hunters and explosions were frequent and rampant, we made our way to the edge of the radius.

The moon was still high when we arrived. I was successful at convincing Hermit to try the vines in the area in front of the old, evacuated school. Immediately, without a second thought we each fell to our knees, pulling and grabbing at handfuls of the roots. We filled our palms with juicy nourishment before filling our mouths.

The crunching of the vegetation being ripped from the earth filled the air not only our ravaging but from my left, drawing me in. What caused the sound?

I silently made my way toward the sound, peering from behind a tree my eyes took in the sights of several young men and women down on their knees, covered in black nectar from head to toe. The ink-like liquid dripped from the chins as they seemed transfixed on doing nothing more than consuming and relieving their hunger.

And among the city kids were Noel and Valerie.

The animalistic way they scratched at the ground made me question if I looked as fervent to them when eating. Eyes fixed, hands moving a mile a minute, jaws chewing and chomping with no attention given to the mess dripping from their lips.

For a minute I wondered, am I an animal? A creature with only consumption and survival on her mind, not aware of my appearance or the outside world and their views, and only worried about being left alone in my habitat?

If the creatures came from my imagination, using my emotions, were they also some part of me? If my imaginings are monsters, does that make me one?

Staring at the young men and women, watching them feed as if I was gazing into a mirror, I became so much more aware of what was taking place around me.

Did they know how connected we were by them feeding on my land? The land of my creation? Did them feeding make them just as part of me as Lilac and the Scorchers? I continued watching while staying hidden behind the tree until Lilac approached from behind, careful to not blow our cover.

"Interesting," he whispered, fascinated with the performance before us.

Some of the kids lay back exhausted from exertion and overindulgence. None of them spoke, keeping their minds on their tasks.

"What is happening?" Lilac's question seemed sincere as the sight had to be just as bizarre for him too.

"They're feeding," was the obvious question, however it felt like something more was taking place. Something out of my control but had been initiated by me. Much like everything else in the Scalded.

"I just realized something," Lilac murmured near my ear, his warm breath grazing my lobe. "We all have a purpose, like the actors of a movie, or the pieces of a puzzle. And I know my purpose. I'm here as your companion."

I turned to look at him. Meeting his eyes, I nodded, agreeing. "Maybe Hermit's purpose is to give us a different perspective on the reality of our situation. Giving us a bird's eye view." I turned back to the kids who lay on the cusp of the blackened ring. "Now what's their purpose?"

"Maybe their purpose is yet to be known," Lilac suggested. "But the real question is, what are the creatures purpose?"

I thought about it. Imagination, emotion, lack of control. No matter how I angled it, I couldn't put a finger on it. "I have no idea."

"Look at those people." Lilac pointed in their direction with a slender finger. "What do you see?

"Curious rebels not afraid to embark on a new adventure. Thrill seekers, fools." I shrugged.

"I see influencers, progressive thinkers, unapologetic future leaders with a mind of their own not wanting to be told what to do by authority figures or others. They may be thrill seekers, but they're also risk takers. And they're willing to give the benefit of the doubt and not judge a situation based on other's opinions." He lifted his chin, satisfied with his observations.

My heart swelled and the urge to act overwhelmed me. Understanding that these young people weren't afraid to stand up, make their own decision, and forge their own path lit a fire within me.

I stepped from behind the tree to reveal myself. For a second, I expected Lilac to try to stop me or follow my action with a "What are you doing?" but he didn't. I didn't need to look over my shoulder to know he was standing there, watching, and waiting for my next move.

The crunching roots beneath my feet resounded in the vicinity, and the kids' heads snapped in my direction. Some had big, round eyes filled with fear while others looked on with curiosity. I met Noel and Valerie's gaze. "You came back."

"Kyla!" Valerie's face lit up with a smile.

Noel glanced behind me. "Lilac? I thought—"

"I returned." Lilac approached to stand beside me. "Kyla is capable of some really amazing things."

"I believe it!" With enthusiasm, Valerie pointed to us. "Guys, this is them. The occupants of the Scalded."

Most of the kids stood with excitement. "She looks just like in the video," a boy with round eyeglasses said. "I like to write too, you know." He nodded. "I wrote stories since the second grade."

"Me too," another interrupted. "I write fanfic. And pepperoni pizza is my favorite too."

A tall young lady stepped forward, a smudge of black nectar on her cheeks. "I just want to live in peace too. I hate it where I'm at. My folks fight all the time. And when they drink, things get really crazy. It sucks."

Noel stood tall. "We like this place."

"Yes," the crowd agreed. "We love your home. And we don't want to see it destroyed."

"We think the Scalded is cool and want to help you protect it," Valerie added. "We're willing to stay here all night to make sure no one tries to harm you or the property."

I shook my head. "No, that's dangerous. Haven't you heard the gunshots? The explosions? You see the smoke?"

"If they know we are out here, they will stop, right?" Noel looked to his buddies.

They all nodded.

"It's not fair, you're only trying to live in peace," the tall girl continued. "Why would anyone want to take that away from you guys?"

"Many people got hurt here." I gulped, refusing to mention the Scorchers. "That's why."

"You were just defending your home." She seemed to show compassion toward the situation. Yet, I thought of the innocent woman who had come to see the place for herself before succumbing to the creatures, my fear. My head dropped in shame.

"We want to help you," one of them said in a way that seemed sincere.

"The only way you guys can help is to spread the word." I nodded, looking to each person individually. "I never meant for anyone to come here and put their lives at risk. I couldn't handle it if you guys got hurt trying to help me."

"No one will hurt us." Valerie seemed so sure. "They wouldn't shoot an innocent teen. And they sure wouldn't burn this place down with us standing here."

"What about the creatures, huh?" I stared into her eyes trying to convey my point. "You can't bring a bunch of people here knowing anything can happen at any time."

"I thought this was what you wanted." She seemed confused as she looked to Noel.

"Yeah, I thought you wanted our help," he said.

"I do but not like this." I gulped down my guilt. "You have no idea the danger you're in or what this place is capable of." I glanced to Lilac for assistance, but the look of worry was the only communication he displayed.

Valerie huffed. "This place is perfect—"

"This place is perfect for me and the residence who live here." My voice raised.

"What are you doing?" Noel asked, confused. "Do you not trust us or something?"

"I'm trying to save your life." My heart thumped hard in irritation. "What about that don't you understand?"

The small crowd paused and stared at me in shock and disbelief. Probably not expecting me to be so passionate.

Valerie shook her head. "We're not going anywhere. We've made up our mind, and it's not your decision if we stay or go anyway."

My heart thumped so hard the pulse was stinging my ears. My chest rose and fell from heavy breathing and my hands formed into fists at my side. My fingernails dug into my palms, but all I wanted to do was drive my point forward to unwavering ears.

"Leave!" I screamed, and from behind me the sound of tree branches creaking and snapping resonated in the space before the putrid stench of burnt molasses assaulted my nostrils.

Everyone in the crowd locked their wide eyes onto the beast behind me. I turned just as Lilac backed away with a dropped jaw.

The curve of the dripping dark creature's neck reached the tops of the tallest trees as it jerked its way forward, towering over everything in the vicinity.

The kids' howling screams cut through the night as the crowd disbursed.

~~~

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