Hellfire.

Hellfire was scorching the area.

I was breathing hard, but my being was calm. The gleaming moon lit the place around me, as if shining a large spot light to this event. The burnt smell of blood filled my nose and my heartbeat quickened. I lifted my hand to swipe a bead of sweat rolling down my temple, but it seemed to smear something on my head instead.

Blood.

That’s when I noticed the bodies laying in front of me. Limp and unmoving.

I heard a high pitched scream piercing the air. It rang through my ears and I pulled at my hair, feeling my brain felt scrambled. My senses seemed heightened too. Everything was clearer. The blood was darker. The flames boasted. The bodies features were visible. And I found out where the agonizing scream came from.

It was coming from me.

I jolted out of bed in a cold sweat.

I couldn't see well, so I raised my hand to touch my face to find warm tears flowing down it. I wiped them away quickly, and forced myself to calm down. I counted down from 50 and by the time I reached 1, I was breathing normally.  I looked at the old digital clock on the side of my bed and realized it was evening.

With an exasperated groan, I shakily get up and out of my comfortable bed to prepare a meal.

Where’s the milk? I question as I search my nearly empty fridge. I literally just poured my cereal, and I have no milk? Perfect.

Feeling even more tired, I place a hot pocket in the microwave. I have a bad feeling. I wonder what will happen today. Or rather, what I’ll do today. I think while tying a not-so-neat bun. I turn on the radio and hear a slight static. After finding the right station I lean back in my chair listening to incoming reports from cops near me.

I finish my hot pocket and start getting ready for work.

Boots? Check.

Cloak? Check.

Spray paint? Check.

I just needed one last thing before I went. I scrambled to find it and after a good 5 minutes, I saw it right under the couch.

My mask!

I lifted my lucky japanese styled face mask only revealing the bottom half of my face, and tucked my long jet black hair into my hoodie. Taking  a side glance over to my window, I saw that it was completely dark out with only tiny stars and city lights glowing. Even in such a beautiful scenery, it screamed trouble.

With a familiar grin plastered on my face, I jump out the window.

I ran roof top from roof top, zooming past buildings in a blur. I blended in with the dark well, so I had no problem. I halted to a stop at a run down building. It was quiet, and old. If you were a normal person walking by, you wouldn’t give it a second thought. But if you actually knew your stuff, you would know you shouldn’t be walking by in the first place.

I crack my knuckles through my fingerless gloves and sigh. I don’t want to end up making a mess of things...But I always end up doing the opposite. So with a sigh, I walk to the back of the building. There’s a little shack with a hidden button somewhere that will open up a door to the place I’m heading. I just need to find it.

I’m looking around the shack carefully. If I touch something I’m not allowed to touch, who knows might happen. With that thought leaving my mind I find an almost unnoticeable little frog gnome. It’s perched on a shelf with other junk on it, making it hard to see. But it’s eyes...it definitely isn’t normal.

I walk over to the gnome and gently glide my fingers over its form.

Bingo.

I pressed it’s left eye and a buzzing sound was made. I pressed the other eye, but it wasn't a button. It glowed red, and I realized it was a camera.

“State your name and purpose.” the other end of the camera asked.

“Karma. And I’m just here for kicks.” I respond in an innocent smile with a hint of amusement in my tone.

There was silence on the other end, before the shelf rotated into a gleaming elevator. I walked inside and got ready for whatever might happen. I play with one of my many knives hidden in the compartment inside my cloak.

Ding.

The elevator stops and a small smile forms on my lips. I step in the casino-like place gracefully. The rowdy chattering and game noises tingle my ears, and the smell of cigarettes fill my nostrils. Ignoring the looks of passerbyers noticing my presence, I waltz over to the biggest table in the middle of it all.

“Hello.” I speak loud enough over the noise so my words reach to the end of the table. They look down at me as I situate myself on the rather large chair for my tiny form.

“And what’s a lil’un like you doing in a place like this?” A man with spiky hair that resembles literal needles breaks the silence. Without glancing his direction I simply state, “To have fun is all.”

He didn’t seem to like that I didn't even spare him a glance, because he shot the needle he was chewing on my direction. I waited right before it hit between my eyes and caught it with my hand. “Now, Now.” my smile widens. “That wasn’t very nice, don’t you think?” I finally turn my head to his direction and tilt it. “No need to act so hasty.” And with that note, I flicked the needle back his way. He barely dodged in return. But he’s alive, and that was that.

I face back to the head of the table. The man at the very end is the only person not staring at me. He shuffles his card deck like it’s more interesting than anything. “Xavier Blackwell.” I greet to him. He shoots his head to my tiny figure and his eyes widen.

“May I join your game?” I’m grinning from ear to ear now.