Darkness.

 

“Where am I?” Fire shouts.

 

He floats in a sea of nothingness.

 

“Wherever you go, there I am.” A voice answers.

 

“Who’s there?” Fire shouts as he looks around.

 

“An old friend.” The voice answers, “You are early.”

 

“What? Show yourself!” Fire says.

 

Another object materializes right in front of Fire. An egg.

 

“Do not be afraid.” The voice says, “This was always going to happen.” 

 

“You are... an egg?” Fire shouts.

 

“I am everywhere. This egg is merely an anchor.” The voice says.

 

“Explain.” Fire says.

 

“Soon but right now there is something far more pressing.” The voice says.

 

“I… was burned alive.” Fire says groggily as he remembers what happened before now.

 

“Your metamorphosis will have to start now.” The voice says.

 

“Metamorphosis?” Fire asks.

 

“The seven of you will have to be ready.” The voice says.

 

“Seven?” Fire asks.

 

“My Guides.” The voice says, “Time to shine.” 

September 6, 2017

8.20 am, Naval Air Station Key West, USA

 

Sunlight dances through the window into blazing hell. Thick smoke smothers the room, transforming it into a smoky abyss. Flames roar, burning the medical apparatus in the room. The heat licks the figure of a male, kissing him with scorching intensity. Sweat droplets drip down his face onto his naked torso. The man lays on a bed, twisting left and right as if in a nightmare while fire leaps all around. Suddenly, his eyelids fly open. His vision flickers as he scans the entire room. 

 

'Where am I?' The man wonders. 

 

Everything is in flames. Somehow, his bed had been spared but not for long. The man surveys his surroundings. 

 

‘Am I dead or still... unconscious?’ The man ponders. 

 

In every angle he observes, flames erupt uncontrollably. If there is a hell, this would be it. The inferno rages on. The scent of burnt metalwork, like offerings, fills the air. Black smoke files out of the window. 

 

The window! That's it, there's a window. The man has never heard of hell having a window. 

 

'Time to move!' He says to himself. 

 

He jumps down from his bed and speeds to the window. He gazes down, performing quick mental calculations. The jump is too high. 

 

'Dang!' Another route then. He turns back to the door. The path ahead is obstructed with flaming debris. He needs a path through. He runs forward, navigating the deadly sea with each step. He jumps above some debris.

 

'That felt... different.' He thinks.

 

He pushes away some parts of the ceiling that have fallen in. He is now face-to-face with the door. He reaches for the handle but it gets crushed like a soda can.

 

'Damn!'

 

The man walks backward a little, stops, then sprints at the door. The metal door gives way like cardboard. Flames burst forth from the impact zone. Bright light flashes into his eyes. 

 

BANG! 

 

His vision plunges into a slurry of red. The man suddenly gains a 359 degrees view of everything. His vision spans for what feels like ten meters in every direction and he is lost in it. Which way is forward? How can he navigate his way to safety?

 

'Must focus!' He closes his eyelids but to no avail, his vision persists. 'Need my bearings.'

 

He spreads his arms in front of him by instinct then walks forward cautiously. All the while, alarms blare and people run away in confusion. The water sprinklers release rain but it is helpless against the fire. The man shouts for help but no one replies. He tries to approach what he believes is a person. The person jumps out of the way as if the man is a wild beast.

 

"Fire! That boy is on fire!" The person shouts.

 

'Boy? What's happening?' He thinks to himself.

 

Soon, three figures approach the mysterious man. These figures are different, two of them run towards him with some sort of darkly colored substance in their hands. Their next action gives the man a huge surprise. The figures spray a white cloud over him. However, it dissipates with no effect.

 

'Fire extinguisher?' He thinks to himself.

 

The man raises his hands to examine them and, to his own amazement, he glows a bright white. A peculiar white aura radiates from his center. He is dumbfounded. What exactly is going on? Is he the originator of the flame? It makes no sense. More figures come and surround him. The man freezes, contemplating his options. He couldn't see any identifying attributes which could allow him to classify the figures as friends or foes. All he knows is that guns are pointed at him and he needs to act. He enters into a combat pose.

 

Suddenly, another figure arrives hands waving in the air and shouting, "Hold your fire!"

 

The figure steps in front of the gun pointing figures with his hands raised.

 

"Aidan, it is I, Dr. Wong.” Dr. Kabeer Wong says, “Please calm down!"

 

"Where am I?" Aidan AKA Fire says.

 

"Currently at Naval Air Station Key West." Dr. Wong says.

 

"What's happening to me, doc?" Fire says.

 

"I do not know, but we can figure it out together. I just need you to relax." Dr. Wong says.

 

"I can't see properly, doc." Fire says.

 

"Trust me and calm down. Focus, you can do this.” Dr. Wong says, “Take a deep breath." 

 

Fire relaxes. He is amongst allies. He holds the key to ending this confrontation as long as he takes control of himself.

 

'Breathe!' Fire tells himself.

 

"It's working, keep going." Dr. Wong said, urging Fire on.

 

"My vision is returning to normal doc." replies Fire as he opens his eyes.

 

Fire stares at his hands, which are now normal and free of burns. He stands steaming and naked in the scorched hallway.

 

"Cover him up before he catches a cold." Dr. Wong orders. One of the firefighters, who snaps out of surprise first, moves to Fire and wraps a blanket around him.

 

"What is going on with me, doc?" Fire asks.

 

"I am as lost as you are. But, we can figure it out together.” Dr. Wong says, “How do you feel?" 

 

"I feel... strange." Fire says.

 

"Have you looked in a mirror yet?" Dr. Wong asks.

 

"No... why?" Fire says.

 

"Follow me." Dr. Wong says.

 

“Doctor, he should come with us.” One of the MP officers finally says as he snaps out of shock.

 

“He comes with me.” Dr. Wong says as he flashes a badge on his lab coat, “National Security.”

 

The MP officers share a look amongst themselves then step out of the way. Fire walks alongside Dr. Wong, who leads him down a hallway. Firefighters are stamping out the remaining fires. Few pay attention to the pair who proceed through the wet floor, even though the young man is barefoot. Those who notice are struck by the charisma of the unsmiling young man.

 

A mirror reflects all in its grasp. An old man, with brown skin and silver-dark hair in a white lab coat, accompanies a young man wrapped in a gray blanket as they pass by this shining lake. Fire stops, then retraces his steps to the body length mirror. There, in full view, stands a reflection that has not been his for decades. A younger body stares back at him. He stands transfixed.

 

'What?' Fire thinks. Fire pulls away the blanket to scrutinize his naked torso. The clock has turned back time from his 60s to his 20s. His once scarred body is now scarless. And his aging short dark-brown hair is now jet black with orange tips. His once gray-blue eyes now glisten amber. He remains well-built but with a leaner, taller body. 

 

Fire marvels at his own reflection. He touches his face. ‘Is this all a dream?’ He wonders. Scarless? He quickly reaches for his left arm to confirm his theory. It is gone.

 

"Doc..." Fire begins to ask.

 

"I know, a truly magnificent phenomenon." Dr. Wong says, as he examines Fire’s reflection.

 

"But, my face? My body?" Fire asks, his once deep voice now mellower.

 

"I could only watch as you, somehow, reverted back to your mid-twenties.” Dr. Wong says, “I ran out to grab Director Jones but then reports of a fire drew me back."

 

"What?" Fire asks.

 

"My best guess is that whatever occurred was around the process of transdifferentiation. Long story short, you regenerated.” Dr. Wong says, “Call it a rebirth of sorts. Like the phoenix!"

 

"But how? Why?" Fire asks.

 

"We will find out more as we go along." Dr. Wong says.

 

They leave the mirror, finally arriving at the elevator. Dr. Wong presses the button, which pings.

 

“What about the rest of the team?” Fire asks as the elevator doors open.

 

“They all suddenly fell unconscious on the flight back.” Dr. Wong says, “Similar to your state.”

 

“Take me to see them first.” Fire says in concern while stepping into the elevator.

 

“I knew you would insist on seeing them first.” Dr. Wong says as he steps in then presses the B5 button. The elevator requests a badge swipe, which Dr. Wong does. The elevator doors close.