Letter from a Fire Starter no2

To whom it may concern 1

I don’t know why I am bothering to write another letter. The first one was obviously not found; maybe I am wasting my time. I don’t know.  All I know is I have to hope, I need to believe that someone out there will find my letters. I am writing this knowing that I now have more questions than answers. When I last wrote a letter I was confident that Seth was nearby but now I have no idea where he can be. I am not sure of anything anymore. I will stop and write a letter when I can, telling of any progress I’ve made. It doesn’t really matter if any of them are found. Writing these letters gives me some time to think and make sense of everything that has happened. 2

I ended the last letter vowing to find Seth and to get myself out of the underground installation. Getting out was a lot easier than I had originally thought. I think they underestimated my fire starter abilities. If there is one thing this whole experience has shown me it’s that no matter how much I want to deny it, I am dangerous. I need to learn how to control the fire inside me. 3

As usual they came to fetch me at around 8 in the morning. Drawing from all the anger I was feeling, I sent a stream of fire out of the door the moment it was opened. The first three were engulfed before they could fathom what was happening. I ran out of the room; somehow someone had managed to trip the alarm and the wailing sound echoed in my head. All I could think about was finding Seth. I walked the corridors decimating everything in my path. I couldn’t find him anywhere; the more desperate I became the more the flames intensified. 4

I finally found my way out. Alone and with no idea where I was, I ran. I ran until my legs felt like they would fall off and my lungs burned from the exertion. I knew I had to get as far away as possible. If you had given me years to ponder, I still would never have guessed that this secret government compound would by situated in Hope town, honestly, one of the smallest towns in South Africa. If you drove past and blinked at the wrong moment you’d miss it entirely. I would have laughed at the irony of the name, if I didn’t feel so utterly hopeless. 5

In retrospect, my actions that day were not very intelligent. I should have left something intact. I should have looked for some useful information. One of those files could have told me where to find Seth. Maybe one of those files contained the answers I now seek, but none of that helps me - it’s all gone.6

All alone, I walked the streets of that tiny town, questions flooding my mind. Who? Where? When? How?  These repeated like a mantra in my mind. The fire inside once again pushing to come out. It felt like my brain was going to explode and I had to calm down. I sat on the pavement and watched the world carry on as normal. People were buying groceries and driving their cars, unaware of the world I had entered. Watching them I could almost believe that I was insane. Maybe I’d go back and the compound would be gone. Even if I was crazy, there was no way I would ever return to that place. My mind returned to thoughts of Seth - I couldn’t have dreamed him.7

Seth was somewhere out there and I had to find him - at least I had to try. I knew I couldn’t stay there. Hope town was too small and they’d find me in a heartbeat. As I scanned the area to determine where I could go next, a few things began to become apparent. This place was perfect for covert activities. Far from civilization, no one would ever think to look here. Another thing that made this particular town perfect was its proximity to Bloemfontein, the Judicial Capital of South Africa. Close enough to ensure its security, yet far enough to ensure its anonymity. I was more convinced than ever that the government had to be responsible for this place’s existence.8

I had to get away, so I just picked a direction and started walking.9

As I walked I tried to make sense of everything that had happened, but my thoughts kept returning to Seth, making it impossible to focus. Was he alive? How would I ever find him? I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I almost fell into the river that blocked my path. Staring into the water I almost burst into tears. Tired and defeated I saw no way across. 10

I had come too far to turn back now. There was no bridge in sight and I had no idea if I was being followed. I didn’t have the time to find an alternative so, I had to swim. The water seemed calm and it wasn’t that far to the other side, I reasoned. I jumped into the water, defiance more than anything else pushed me onwards.11

The current was a lot stronger than it had seemed, pulling me further and further down river. The more I swam the further away the other side seemed. The reality of my predicament hit me like a hammer when I realised I was no longer alone in the water. “Crocodile, help me crocodile!” I screamed, panic overwhelming me. I swam with a strength I didn’t know I possessed, but it was futile to try to out swim a crocodile. I knew that. I turned to see how far behind me it was; it was about a meter from my foot. I hesitated and that was all it needed to close the gap. 12

I closed my eyes and braced for the inevitable. 13

But nothing happened, no pain, nothing. I was too scared to open my eyes again. A voice from the riverbank snapped me out of it. 14

“Get out of the water!” the voice ordered. 15

I opened my eyes and there centimetres from my face was the crocodile.  It was immobilised and the water seemed to be restraining it. I turned and swam for the bank. The current that moments ago pulled me down river, no longer had any strength. I dragged myself up the riverbank.  Out of breath and utterly exhausted, I tried to ask my rescuer what had happened. The trauma of the day overwhelmed me and my world faded to black. 16

I woke up in a strange room and for an awful moment I thought they had found me again. The fear subsided as I looked at the far wall where there was a picture. I recognised one of the smiling faces as it was the boy who had saved me. I felt relief followed closely by curiosity. Was it possible that he somehow controlled the water? If that was the case then it opened up a lot more questions. Did he know something useful? Were there more of us? Three so far. I didn’t know what would happen next. All I could do was hope that this boy had some of the answers I needed. I knew that he would help me, even if it was only in the knowledge that he existed, that we somehow shared a common secret. 17

Wish me luck, for I believe that this adventure has just begun. 18