Beginning Flames

The story I'm about to tell may seem a bit farfetched, but it's right from the horse's mouth. I know what you're thinking: you've heard this line before with other stories, you're not gonna be roped in another 'wild goose chase'. Well, I don't blame you. But I believe you will think differently after hearing my tale - that being you're willing to listen. I can't stop you. If you'd like, you can put this book down and read something more worth your time. Or you can keep reading my tale.

I was just your average girl. Average height, average weight, average body type. My eyes are violet-blue, my hair long, straight, and brunette. I wore thin wire glasses for my nearsightedness. I'm quiet and timid, hence the nickname Chy - pronounced as Shy. In school, I was the wallflower, and no one aside from my friends can see me. Like a chameleon, I blended with the crowd, completely invisible. My dad had custody of me - I was an only child - after my parents' divorce. But my mom had some visitation rights. I lived in Idaho, and she stayed in Montana. There were days where I thought of going back there, but I never really had the guts to do something rash.

But enough about me.

I was asleep in my bed and I had the strangest dream. There was nothing but black around me, but I was hearing this voice that was completely unfamiliar to me.

"Your life is about to begin," the voice said.

"Who's there? Who are you?" I called out in the darkness.

"Your life is about to begin, Cheyenne Rowe. You hold a power that you never thought you had before. You shall come to the Temple of Hajime and train to use your gift."

Temple of Hajime? Power? I thought. What the hell is going on here?!

---

I woke up, my eyes wide. I massaged my temples and looked up. I found that the moon had found its way into my room, and my bed had been replaced with the cold, hard ground. I stood up, the realization that I had found myself in the middle of a darkened forest.

It's okay, Chy. This is just a dream. Sometimes, dreams can do a lot of crazy things to mess with you, whether you want them to or not. It can't hurt you.

Boy, I was wrong.

As I walked in the dark of the night, and without my glasses was hard, I heard soft crying coming from the left of me. I followed the sound until I saw a little boy, his head buried in his knees. My sympathy taking over, I quickly walked over to him.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

Without looking up at me, he shook his head. "He... he's coming to get me," he said with a sniffle.

I raised an eyebrow. "He, who?"

"You know, HIM! He's coming to get me!"

"I don't understand-"

A roar echoed in the night, sending chills down my spine. I loud thud! came from behind me. I turned to see a giant monstrous creature looking down at me! It looked like a shell of whatever came from it, giving off an icy chill around its being. Its yellow eyes seemed to peer straight through me, staring at my soul as it started to salivate. It was bigger and stood taller than I, about a few feet. Its body was gray, its head and wing-like appendages an icy blue. It had short arms like a T-Rex, and large, yet stubby legs not all that built for running.

This is only a dream. It can't hurt you...

Hearing a quiet, sinister laugh come from behind me, I turned around, only to see the boy get blown away by a gentle breeze. I looked back at the creature, and it let out a loud, deafening roar. I quickly turned and ran, not wanting the creature to get a hold of me. As I ran, my heart beat faster and faster, the adrenaline taking over me. I looked behind me for a moment to see if the creature was chasing me, but then a shadow covered me.

I looked up, seeing the monster flying right over my head. Still looking up from fear, I tripped over an uprooted tree root and rolled down a long hill. When I reached the bottom, my world was dizzy and spinning as I stood up. I heard a loud thud! behind me. Dizzily, I turned around, the creature stomping toward me. I backed away, only to fall on my butt and tried crawling away.

The creature stopped a few feet before me, staring at me once more with its threatening yellow eyes. I was paralyzed with fear, unable to move anymore. It let out another deafening roar and got ready to kill me. I closed my eyes, let out a scream, and waited for the end. I felt a strong wind blow by me. But with my eyes closed, I didn't see, nor did I want to know what was happening. By the time the wind died down, I opened one eye carefully to see if the creature was still there. Seeing that it wasn't, I opened both eyes fully. I was confused as to why the creature didn't kill, but I just couldn't take it anymore. My heartbeat slowed down so much that it felt like it stopped. I fell forward, going unconscious.

---

"Is she gonna be okay, Vector?"

"I don't know. She's really out of it."

"She was unconscious when we found her. Who knows what could have happened."

Voices. I'm hearing voices.

I slowly woke with a groan, totally unready for the surprise of a lifetime. I looked up and saw three aliens looking back at me! One was a crocodile with amber-colored eyes, headphones on his head, and gold chains around his neck. The second was a large bumblebee with orange eyes, a helmet on his head, and wore an orange vest. The third, I had no idea what it was, but it was purple, had yellow eyes, spikes down its back, and a horn on its face!

"Hey! You're awake!" the bumblebee said in a squeaky voice.

I blinked a couple of times and then let out a scream, the aliens screaming back in response. I quickly got up to get away from them, reaching for the nearest thing I could get - which was a desk lamp.

"Calm down, Kid!" the crocodile said in a loud, gruff voice. "You're safe! Nobody's gonna hurt ya!"

I wasn't going to be swayed easily. My left foot started hurting the more pressure I put on it. The purple guy started coming near me slowly. I thought that he was trying to persuade me to calm down, but I quickly swung the desk lamp at him. He quickly backed off before he got hit. When I thought he was trying to talk to me, he was actually moving toward my foot. He gently touched my ankle, and I quickly pulled it away from him. It felt like a thousand nails were piercing through the inside of my foot.

What's going on with my foot? Why does it hurt so bad?

"If I may ask," the purple guy started, his voice deep but soothing. "How did you hurt your foot?"

I lowered my weapon, realizing that his intention wasn't to hurt me. "I, um," I quietly stuttered, "sort of, uh, tripped."

I never realized that I hurt my foot the previous night. I guess when it comes to adrenaline, you don't feel any kind of physical pain until it goes down.

"It would probably be best that you sit down so you don't injure your foot more."

I put the desk lamp back and limped back to the couch, sitting down. I looked at the aliens, wondering what they were and where exactly I was planet wise. You would think a walking, talking crocodile would try to eat you. But I guess if it tried reasoning with you, it would make you think that not all animals were cruel, vicious killers. But I wasn't going to let that sway me from the obvious fact that I was still dreaming.

This just seems so real. Ugh, can't you hear yourself?! This is nothing but a figment of your imagination! Perhaps it was the dinner you ate last night. Yeah, that's it. Dinner. It's given you really weird hallucinations!

"Now that our guest has calmed down a bit," the crocodile said to his cronies, "we can finally get some information from her." He turned to me. "Alright, Kid, who are ya? You play nice, I'll play nice. If not, then we'll just have to see what happens."

"Vector," the purple guy groaned in annoyance.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding."

"Didn't sound like it to me," the little bee squeaked.

"Who asked you?!"

"Well," I sheepishly started. "I think it might comfort me... if you tell me where I am."

This just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

"Well well, look who's actually cooperating." The croc, known as Vector, cleared his throat before continuing. "You're at the Chaotix Detective Agency, where our policy is, 'We never turn down work that pays.' I'm Vector the Crocodile, the leader of this team. Don't let my looks and my charms fool ya; I'm a mean, green, biting machine."

"My name is Espio the Chameleon," the purple guy spoke calmly. "I'm the brains of this organization. My skills and quick reflexes make me a great ally to this team. I'm smart. I'm swift. I'm quick on my feet." His face showed a smirk. "I also happen to be a ninja."

"He's also full of himself," the bee added.

Espio's smirk faded as he let out an annoyed grunt. "It's better to be full of myself than to be an annoying pipsqueak." I couldn't help but silently laugh a bit.

The bee flew up in my face. "I'm Charmy Bee! I may be small, but I make a perfect addition to the team! I'm the team mascot! But that doesn't mean I don't get the sting on bad guys, especially right in the butt!" He laughed at his joke, then continued. "So, what's your name?"

"Uh, um..." I slowly began to realize that what was happening in front of me wasn't a dream at all, that it was real and just reverted to being quiet.

"Hey, how come you went all quiet?" Charmy started poking at my leg.

"She was screaming bloody murder not too long ago," Vector spoke. "Probably doesn't have a name."

Espio looked at his boss. "Or, more possibly, she doesn't feel comfortable enough to give out personal information," he said. I nodded at Espio, signifying that he was right. His smirk returned. "Told you."

"She can tell me like it's a secret or something," Charmy offered. "I promise I won't tell." I slowly shook my head, letting the little guy know that I wasn't going to say a word. "Aw..."

"If I may," Espio said, holding bandages in his hand. "You sprained your ankle and it needs to heal properly." I nodded for his approval, and he gently wrapped my foot with careful precision. I've been able to hold still long enough for him to finish.

Okay, let's see if I've got this straight: I've possibly found myself on some other planet. But for all they know, I could be a humble resident of this world. These three... guys happened to find me passed out and are wanting to help me. I'm not sure if I can trust them, but I think they don't seem to trust me completely as well. The kid seems to think I'm harmless, but Vector or Espio are still somewhat suspicious. Looks like we'll be keeping a closer eye on one another.

"Alright, if you're not gonna speak, then we'll have to try somethin' else," Vector spoke. "I'll be asking 'yes' or 'no' questions, and you answer with a nod for 'yes', and shake your head for 'no'. Understand?"

I nodded.

"Good. Now, about last night. When we found you, did you go into some kind of shock?"

I thought a moment, remembering last night, and then nodded.

"Did you see something so horrifying that you thought you were gonna die?"

"Vector," Espio sighed.

I nodded at Vector.

"See, Espio?" Vector said. "It's just a question, and every one has an answer."

"Not every one," Espio muttered.

Vector continued asking me question after question about what happened the night before. However, some of the questions were kind of ridiculous. Every answer was me shaking my head.

"Did you see a giant monster flying around ready to kill some prey?"

I froze, my eyes wide with fright. I started shaking so bad that Charmy sat on my lap. "She's like a vibrating chair," he squeaked. "Not a good one, though."

"I'm gonna make that a 'yes'," Vector deduced. "You definitely look like something really spooked ya."

Gee, thank you, Captain Friggin' Obvious! Where'd you get that assumption?

"I think that's enough for today, Vector," Espio said. "She's clearly scared out of her mind."

"Guess you're right," Vector replied, then turned back to me. "You're not exactly a tough nut, Kid, but at least you're honest."

I feel like I just got complimented and insulted at the same time.

"One more question. Do you live anywhere around the area?" I shook my head as I kept shaking in fear.

"Well, Mobius is a pretty big planet," Charmy spoke.

"MOBIUS?!" I yelled, then passed out on the couch from the shock.

---

When I woke up sometime later, they wondered why I suddenly shouted then fainted. I took a deep breath and calmly explained that I was from Earth, not Mobius. Charmy remembered that they were on Earth some time ago before I came by, so they were somewhat familiar with what may have happened. The guys allowed me to stay with them, which was nice, though I felt that I was going to be some kind of burden.

Later in the evening, everything was dark and quiet. I tried to sleep on the couch as the guys slept upstairs, but - aside from someone snoring, I could probably guess Vector - I couldn't sleep to any avail. I got up and went out to the front porch, sitting on the front steps. I gazed up at the stars, the full moon shining so brightly, the stars sparkling like diamonds.

But then a chill fell over me as I remembered that creature was still out there, probably looking for me right that very minute. The one thing I remembered most about it was the eyes, those evil, menacing, predatory eyes! They still make me shiver a bit to this very day.

As I looked up in the twinkling lights in the darkened sky, I wondered what was happening back at home. Maybe my friends and family sent out search parties to try to look for me, as I had 'mysteriously disappeared' overnight. Who knows? I wasn't there. I didn't know what's going on. All I know is that people are desperately trying to find me. They could be looking at the night sky like I was and wondering what the hell's going on.

I still can't believe that I'm on a planet known as Mobius. Who knows how far that is from here?! Well, I guess Earth and Mobius are somewhat similar. I mean, if animals could have the same capabilities as humans, just think of all the possibilities. Well, then again, this is an alien planet in which animals are people, so I guess they could have the same potential. But then, that thing that's out there. Just what in the world was that?!

"The night is interesting, isn't it?"

I turned in surprise to see Espio sitting next to me. I didn't even hear the door open! Then I remembered that he was a ninja, so I assumed he was being quiet and sneaky, as the typical ninja was supposed to be.

"The night interests me," he said looking up at the sky, "because it can do two things at once. The stars tell stories of ages past, show us the constellations, as well as guide us, hence the North Star. It also hides the shadows of danger, making us vulnerable to an attack." He turned to me. "Why are you interested in the night?"

I twiddled my fingers, avoiding his gaze. Even though he had a deep, soothing voice, his look was somewhat intimidating, I'll admit. When I didn't respond quickly enough, he challenged me.

"Is there something you didn't tell us?"

I bit my lip, thinking of the right thing to say. "Well," I quietly started. "I saw something last night. Something really big. I thought... I thought I was dreaming. When it wouldn't go away, I started running-"

"And then you hurt your foot."

I nodded, looking down at my bandaged foot. "When it had me cornered, I thought I was going to die. But the funny thing was, I didn't. It just disappeared into thin air. I just don't know what would have happened if..." I trailed off.

The ninja chameleon turned thoughtful a minute. "What did this 'thing' look like?"

I told him what the creature looked like, and he sat there thinking and pondering.

"I'm not sure that there is such a creature like that around here."

"And if that wasn't bad enough," I continued, "it seemed to give off some kind of freezing air."

He raised his eyebrow. "Freezing air?"

"If you tried to touch it, your hand would probably freeze off."

"As I said, I never heard of such a creature." He looked up at the sky a minute. "We should head inside. It's pretty late."

"Yeah, I guess..." We went back inside, Espio heading upstairs and I returning to the couch, curling under the sheets.

It seems he didn't believe me. Damn. And I told every scrap of information I could wrap my head around. Can't win 'em all, I guess.