1 Mages

'Surround Him!'

'We got him cornered! Catch him!'

The night was filled with siren that night. the road was filled with speeding police car as like they were heading to somewhere. The sky was decorated by the helicopter lights as they were pointed at a specific spot.

Around 50 police car make a half circular shape, covering the entrance of a building.

A police officer around 30 years old step out from his car. He took out a speaker from the backseat.

"There's no way to avoid this, slowly step out of the house and release the hostage. We just want to resolve this without violence." Said the cop.

Every other police officer stayed in their car to make it look like they come in peace. However, they already readied their gun in case something unexpected happen.

Then, a figure came out from the house. A tall man with a smiling silver face mask came out while raising their hand.

( There you are you damn mages ) thought the cop. Then, he continued...

"There you go boy. Now turn around and lie on your belly. Subject #2001, aka Phantom, you are under arrest for murdering. Now stay there!"

He looked at the cop on his right side in the other car and tilted his head toward Phantom, signaling him to handcuff him.

He looked scared.

"Mister Ben, I can't do it... What if he burn me with his magic?"

"don't you worry!" Said Ben. "There are 5 snipers on the top building around here. They will shoot him before anything happen to you." Ben smiled although he faked it to make him feel calm.

The cop smiled back at him and went straight for Phantom. His legs are shaken, but when he thought about those snipers his legs movement became clearer.

On the way to Phantom, he felt hotter. Is tonight became hotter all of a sudden? He was sweating a lot and Ben noticed something is wrong. He reached for his walkie talkie on his side and warn the sniper to be ready.

suddenly, Phantom jumped while facing towards the cop that was walking to him.

Shoot!

Ben ordered the snipers to shoot him. immediately, they shoot.

But Phantom was gone in a blink of an eye. The bullet just now hit the floor where he used to be.

Ben was shocked. He's gone? but where? How could he move so fast? Isn't he only have a fire magic?

The cop that was on the way also surprised. He then turned around in confusion and walked back to Ben.

Suddenly a red eyes behind a silver mask appear behind him.

"You! Run!"

But he could not make it. His body was burned from head to toe almost immediately. Phantom was standing behind him, staring directly at Ben. "Arrest him!"

Other cop get out from their car and point their gun to him. Shoot! Ordered Ben. But he managed to avoid all of them as he was dashing like a fox towards them.

"don't stop shooting! Arrest him no matter what!"

He then jumped right into the middle of the cops car. one by one he burned them entirely. They screamed while looking at Ben seeking for help as they were burned to a ashes. So cruel! does mages does not even have a little sympathy? That thought ran through each of the cops mind as one by one they were burned.

Ben felt hopeless. The cops are not a match for him. The snipers could not shoot him as he was too fast. It is hopeless. There's no way we could catch that guy. It is the same as that night.

A blurry memories ran in his head. A woman was screaming his name, telling him to run.

NO

I will not let that happen again. To me, to anyone. I will catch him even it costs my life.

he drew his gun while dashing toward Phantom. The other cop thought he was crazy as he blindlessly charge towards Phantom without any plan.

Phantom saw Ben charging toward him. But he was not afraid. What can a normal cop like him do to me. He is just a normal person. But then Phantom saw that face he was making. Something's wrong with him. He didn't seem to be afraid. Does he lost his mind?

Phantom without any further thinking, Charged back at him. His eyes was glowing red.

Ben saw his eyes. Such a beautiful eyes for a demon, He thought.

His body then was burned.

Ben was screaming in pain as the other cops was looking at him with sympathy and hopelessness dwelling in their mind.

But even then Ben was standing. Phantom immediately know that he wasn't screaming in pain, however he was screaming with determination to kill him.

Ben, with his body is still burning with fire, jumped toward with his knife he hid in his shoes and stabbed Phantom in the shoulder.

Phantom took a step back while his shoulder was bleeding badly. He then suddenly disappear, only leaving his dropped mask away.

Ben suddenly laughing. His body is still burning. " What's wrong fire boy? Are you afraid of a buning man? Huh?!" He shouted and laughed until he collapsed. The other cops was rushing to get some water to extinguish the fire that has been lit for too long.

He smiled while lying on his back.

I didn't do much, but at least I am useful for something right? He thought to himself.

I'm dying huh? Well, it doesn't feel so bad. I'm sorry I couldn't avenge you. At least I could see you in the heaven, we could meet again, Mom.

**********

Huff, huff, ...

Phantom was running away toward some residential road. His shoulder is badly hurt as it was hit at the vital spot.

Shit. It didn't stop bleeding. It was that cop's fault. unforgiveable. You must die, all of you! It is because of you that... I...

Suddenly Phantom feel drowsy. He leaned towards a wall in a narrow dark alley and fainted.

"Urghhh! This trash bag is so smelly! What is even in here?" A woman with a brown hair step out from a door just beside Phantom has fainted. She took the bag and dump it in the dumpster. She turned around and found a man has fainted in the back of her store. It was the dead of night, and the hospital was too far away to take him to. So she decided to take care of him and drag him into the store to get him treated.