'you saved that little boy, burst. you saved us all.'
that's what the paramedics, the police, the civilians kept saying but something felt wrong. as she sat in the back of the ambulance, more for everyone else's peace of mind than her own, she could feel her body creak and groan, stretching and breaking from the energy she had absorbed. it wasn't something she had experienced before, she had yet to find or reach her limit with her power and as she felt the searing pain, it still never connected that that's what was occurring.
she doubled over on top of the small, plastic bed, her arms clutching her abdomen in an attempt to stop the pain, to hold herself together. she felt every muscle, every nerve, every fiber of her body scream in protest as she lurched forward onto the hard floor of the ambulance. spasms shot through her body, pulling her closer to the ground, to unconsciousness. she couldn't hear anything but a sharp ringing, the effect of too much energy in her body. it was too much for the petite girl and though she fought to keep the energy inside of herself, it would escape.
despite the faint voices in the background she made her way out of the ambulance, stumbling to the ground step after step, having to push herself off the dirt after every shaky step. something was horribly wrong, she knew that, but she still couldn't figure out what. she doubled over again in pain and this time it tore a jagged, wet scream from her lips as blood began to flow from her ears, nose, even her mouth. her fists hit the ground again and again, making small craters in the dirt as she tried to figure out how to stop the pain. she didn't understand any of it. she was invincible, she had never known pain, and even when she injured herself her body allowed her to heal. no one of this should have been happening.
her mind reeled as a cough racked her body, blood splattering the ground as everyone rushed to help her. she wanted to tell them to something; to run, to get away because something bad was going to happen. she wanted to do so much but all that escaped was another scream of pain as her entire body gave one last groan of protest.
she opened her eyes to look at the beautiful pale blue sky. 'i must be dead' she thought to herself, a smile finding her lips. she thought about her parents, her little sister, she'd get to see them again, she wouldn't have to be alone. she tried to move her body, to get up and find her family and was quickly slammed back into reality as her sense clicked into place. the pain came first, the horrible, blinding pain and next her lungs filled with the smell of charred flesh, of burning meat.
despite her body's protest, she rolled onto her side and in that moment she wished she were dead. the small shops that lined the side of the street were leveled and what was left was being taken care of by furious flames that were fanned by the dryness of the summer. bits and pieces of what once had been people littered the street; a bloody stump of a leg here, a barely recognizable chunk of torso lay right next to her, where the paramedic had been. she felt herself wretch, but nothing would come out. it was her who caused it, she didn't deserve relief in any form.
her hands dug into the earth and pushed herself up to her feet, needing to find someone still alive. her eyes were wild with desperation and her hair and face was plastered with blood, some her own but not all. the world seemed to be off kilter as she made her way towards the buildings that still stood. people had learned to mind their own business when explosions went off so she doubted anyone would come to help her, not now anyways. she had to find help herself.
she smashed her way into a cafe she had frequented since childhood, clattering to the floor, taking an entire table with her. she heard voices again, filled with panic and concern but soon the world was dark and the voices began to fade even further away until they were swallowed by the darkness.
