Defrost my Heart Part Ten: Nightmare Breaks the Strongest!

Nitro:

An eerie fog curled around me, every breath growing shorter. Rubbing the surface underneath my boots, a thin ice cracked menacingly. Attempting to skate away failed me spectacularly, the increasingly loud cracking echoed in the hollow space. One final crack sent me into a pool of salt water, the nitrogen in my blood screaming out in protest. The arms of all her victims snatched my arms and legs, a glimpse of my friend sending bubbles floating up to the top of the surface. Struggling in their arms, water splashed around. The light blurred, a hand ripped me out. Rolling  across a thicker piece of ice,  Lady Death skated towards me, my trembling body unable to move. Torn between rage and terror, a coughing fit relieved my lungs of its watery burden. Tapping the ice twice, spikes shot her into the air. Every cell in my body wanted her dead, the law dictating that she had to be imprisoned alive. Wiggling my fingers, one of her spikes striking my hand zapped my nerves into working. Ripping it out, a flick of my wrist sent spinning in her direction. A couple of voices calling for me had the nightmare fraying at the edges, a hand on my shoulder shutting it down.

Jerking awake into a sitting position, frozen tears shattered on my blankets. My father and Emberox fussed over me, their words fading in and out. Noticing my lack of attention, Emberox planted a hungry kiss upon my lips, my body arching towards his. Fresh ice melted off his skin, guilt eating at me. Damn, a solid drink looked mighty tempting at this moment. Swinging my feet over the edge of the bed, the suit on my father spoke of his meeting with the national government. Much to my dismay, the meeting with the city council members wasn’t going to be a fucking peach. Tugging on the rest of my uniform, a quiet thank you escaping my lips at my father tying my mask back on. Adjusting my gloves, his elbow waited for mine. 

“Knock them dead.” Emberox encouraged me, his loving gaze doing little to ease my swelling anxiety. Hooking my elbow around his, his eyes tracked me sliding on my boots on the way out of the room. Every footfall felt hollow, a deep grief stabbing me in the chest. Crossing into the elevator, sorrow dimmed our eyes. The floors dinged one after another, nothing breaking the grief’s stranglehold on me. The doors clanked open, his car waiting for us. Climbing in with pensive silence, his hand untied his mask.

“I am sorry about your friend. Taking in her kid sister was the right thing to do.” He assured me in his fatherly tone, the engine roaring to life. “You can always t-” Ripping off my mask, ice crept down my arm. The heaving of my chest increased in speed, the broken rage boiling over. 

“What the hell do you know!” I snapped hotly, his camera beeping while he backed out of the parking spot gingerly. “All these people are dying and I can’t seem to find the cause or solution to it all. Do you know how annoying a lack of a sample is! Science doesn’t work if there is nothing to experiment with!” Tying my mask back on in a huff, his sympathetic smile met mine.  Demonico poking his head up in the back had his tires squealing to a rough halt. Donning his usual uniform, a determined grin had my temper flaring further. Holding his finger up before I could tear him to shreds, the paperwork I needed rested in his palm. 

“You almost forgot the paperwork to secure our contract.” He pointed out with a nervous grin, my expression softening. “Let me come with you. Perhaps we could get them to give my people a chance.” Spitting out an accepting okay, his hands couldn’t buckle up his seat belt fast enough. Humming as we drove towards our dreaded chores, my father’s eyes flitted between him and me. Dropping us off at the town hall, curved glass shimmered in the early morning light. Something seemed off, a blonde haired woman in her fifties glared at me. The daggers flying from her eyes sent chills up my spine, Demonico twisting my hair into a bun whipped me out of the prolonged eye contact. 

“Damn, she makes you feel like a hot summer day.” He teased with a half cocked smirk, his hands scooping up our offer. “That look could kill most on an easy day.” Chuckling with him, her uptight personality wasn’t going to stop me from accomplishing my goal. 

“She is one out of thirteen but something reeks about her.” I returned shakily, the security guard waving us in. Grumbles passed bitterly behind me, the guard letting us through without the usual inspection. Stepping into the elevator, his foot tapped to the same rhythm as mine. Each ding sunk a warranted dread deeper into my stomach, his hand on my shoulder clarifying enough of my muddled thoughts for me to function. Plopping into the bench next to the courthouse, our appointment was a couple of hours out. 

“Sorry for joining you today. Something told me that you would need me.” He apologized sincerely, his weary smile meeting my wet eyes. “To be honest, I stole the paperwork to help you out.” Smiling underneath my mask, difficulty rose with being mad at him. My lips parted to speak, the council member passing by us. Tensing up with me, the faint smell of death had our backs straightening. A couple more of them marched past us, the scent awakening a familiar fear. Communicating with our eyes, he excused himself. Checking the others one the way in, the three were the only ones, a new plan forming under our noses. All of it was genius, the positions of power sure to grant them a bit more freedom. Coming  back with a pitcher of water, the mousy woman approaching brought his plan to light. Hitting her pitcher with a minuscule ball of ice, glass shattering had the attendees leaping back. Demonico rushed to the cart, the woman blushing as he placed the pitcher on the cart. Cleaning up the glass, his flirting distracted her long enough for the trade off to occur without a hitch. Plopping down next to me, our eyes tracked the water going into the meeting space. Mouthing the words salt water behind his hand, my slight blink acknowledged him. Tapping my foot impatiently, a smirk twitched to life underneath my mask. Adoring his cleverness, his amused eyes met mine. Flipping through what to say, the hands on the clock seemed to be moving at a snail’s pace. The smell of death ran through the air, Lady Death coming in with her own proposal of God knows what. Sitting down next to us, her lack of hand had me chuckling under my breath. 

“Jesus Christ! Of course they sent you.” She bitched venomously next to me, her proposals sitting on her lap. “Don’t bother fighting me. We both know that the city hall is neutral ground.” The bench creaked with me leaning forward, my chin resting on my hands. A scoff of disbelief tumbled from my lips, the rules were the rules. However, a few were going to be broken when it came time for my session.

“Planning on creating more deaths?” I retorted sarcastically, her fingers fussing with  her new suit. “More like more messes that I will have to pick up.” A person called her name, the tension dissolving. Demonico nudged my shoulder, his head nodding towards a dropped proposal.  Scooping it up, his slender hand tucked it inside of his jacket. 

“Probably should save this for later.” He commented nonchalantly, the bench creaking as he leaned forward. “Hopefully it goes well today.” Matching his sentiment, our eyes flitted over to the clock. The damn thing ticked away, the doors bursting open. Lady Death huffed with annoyance, her boots clicking out of the room. Cursing audibly down the hall, something told me that she had failed in getting what she wanted. Hearing my name had us popping to our feet, the doors opening for us. A poisonous silence tainted the air, every footfall bouncing off the wall. Taking my place at the beat up podium, grumpy looks glared at me from the wall of dark wood. People murmured behind us, most eyes staring at Demonico. A police officer accepted our pile of proposals, each stoic council member accepting one. Slamming my own copping onto the beat up wood, all eyes fell on me. 

“Please read what we have presented to you.” I began with a shaky voice, the death smelling council members leaning forward with bemused grins. “The offer remains the same. Should you accept it, there will be no price increase.” Clicking her tongue, the blonde hair council woman held her head up high. A brisk scoff tumbled from her lips, her cohorts giggling alongside her. 

“Does this cover the endless sea of damage you superheroes leave behind?” She questioned fairly, a chill running up my spine. “That woman before you couldn’t even impress me. If you say that your construction team does immediate repairs, all is well. Or so you say. How many buildings have you destroyed?” Putting my finger up to speak, her head shook with a sinister grin. 

“What about those monsters? Are you any closer to figuring out how to save the people that get infected?” She continued viciously, her line of questioning pausing for a second. “What about the people who never get to bury a body? How can they celebrate one’s death?” Stunned by her last question, the basis of it was rather crude. Gripping the side of the podium, something had to give. 

“You know full well that we have a construction crew to repair any damage. Back the fuck off on that bullshit!” I barked back heatedly, her head cocking back in way to celebrate what wasn’t yet hers. “As for the monsters, they dissolve before I can run tests on them. Such horrid creatures melt into nothing. Sure, it is clean but not helpful in the sense of research. Currently, I am raising funds for a memorial for those who were lost. That is all I can say for now. Are you approving or n-” Sipping at her water, steam curled from her lips. Panic set in, the other monsters dissolving in seconds. Jumping onto the table, everyone but Demonico sprinted out. Red lights flashed to life, the alarms blaring away. Nausea wracked my body at her skin sliding off to reveal the thick exoskeleton. Tossing me a couple of salt water bombs from his jacket, a couple bounced off of his palm. Ripping the tops out together, a flick of our wrists sent them in her direction. Waving my hand, a dome of ice cracked to life over us. Neither of us tolerated salt water quite well, the rain of salt water eating at the thick shell protecting us. A couple of raindrops were heading towards Demonico, his protests falling on deaf ears while I covered his body. The damage that proved to be more internal compared poorly to his external damage upon contact. Frozen raindrops shattered at my feet, the damn dome giving away. Staring out at the sea of damage, a new level of dread sank into my stomach. Not sensing her in the room, Demonico burst out from underneath me, his boots pounding out of the room. Skidding out after him, ruby stained the floor. Every other council member had been slaughtered mercilessly, several more monsters chewing on their corpses. Panic rounded our eyes, neither of us knowing how to react. Fishing around my boot, a smaller salt water bomb grazed the tips of my fingers. Don’t let the size fool you, the salt’s level of concentration in the water was enough to kill an army of them. Too bad the blast of it might compromise the structure of the city hall. Glancing out the window, everyone but us stood on the other side of the street with horrified expressions. Twisting it once, a flick of my wrist sent it rolling across the floor. Dragging Demonico into the stairwell, my stern look told him to run like the wind.  Climbing the stairs next to me, the blast smashed us into the wall. Glass shattered below us, the structure crumbling away. Slamming my palm on the floor, ice crept into the spreading cracks. Metal whined as the structure stabilized itself. Frozen blood built up in my mask, Demonico wiping the blood from the corner of his lips. Untying my mask, a quick dump had me reconsidering my life choices. Gulping down an instant repair potion, his hand cupped his side as his organs weaved themselves back together. Struggling to my feet, the scent of death had me looking up. Blasting the former councilwoman with a ball of ice, a cement wall caught her. Sliding down with a wet squeak, dribbling ooze captured my attention. 

“Create a dome of brimstone after I do the stupidest thing in my life.” I coughed uncontrollably, blood crystals breaking by my boots. Bewilderment had him jumping to his feet, the snatch of my wrist had ice melting on his arm. Tossing me into the wall, a jolt of pain paralyzed me. Bouncing a salt water bomb in his palm, the monster leapt at him. Aiming for the open wound, a flick of his wrist sent the bomb disappearing into it. Clasping his palms together, a dome of brimstone crackled to life over us. A wet pop sickened us both, bloody vomit flying up his throat. Grazing my fingers along the surface, a thick layer of ice steadied the structure. Breathing a sigh of relief, his body collapsed onto the floor. The heat of his brimstone melted the ice, cool rain soaking us to the bone. A bang of my elbow shattered the shell, his finger twitching away in his rough slumber. Hitting the large pieces with ice, the last pebble bounced off my boots. Medic team alarms blared in the distance, dissolving body parts taunting me. A deep voice announced the arrival of the construction team, his men getting to work to make it to us. A mustache hovered in front of me, a big hand waved over the medic team. Muscular men rolled us onto stretchers, their orders clearing the way. Slamming us into an ambulance, worry had frozen tears crashing onto the floor. Rolling onto my side, the seizures rattling his body bore greater guilt within my heart. A young EMT jammed a needle into my vein, my protests falling on deaf ears while she hooked it up to a tube. Her blurry face hovered inches from mine, her free hand taking my vitals. 

“Do I have permission to use your blood to cool him down?” She inquired intensely, true terror rounding my eyes. “I have reason to believe that you are the key to slowing down the fire cooking him from the outside.” Granting permission with a sad smile, her partner prepared his end of it all. Connecting the tube, silver blood flowed into his veins. Exhaustion consumed me, a darkness stealing me away. 

Groaning awake in my cryogenic room, machines beeped all round me. An apologetic Demonico snapped to his feet, his trembling hands tugging at his super suit. Smiling warmly in his direction, his hand held mine. Scarlet painted my cheeks, his adoration of me threw off my composure. Feeling my lips, no trace of my mask met my fingertips. 

“If you hadn’t done that blood transfusion, my insides would have boiled away.” He gushed while spinning away from me. “Bonus, my body can’t overheat now! See!” Summoning a ball of brimstone, the rock shifted into a miniature sculpture of us together. Frozen tears shattered upon my pillow, his excited grin faltering. My blood had been used to save someone and not destroy their life, weeps of joy wracking my body. 

“Holy shit! Are you okay?” He fretted while pacing back and forth, my hands clapping stalled him in his tracks. Struggling to sit up, a fit of laughter burst from my lips. Confusion mixed with relief at me leaning on my knees, a wave my hand beckoning him. Burying him into a desperate embrace, his tears soaked the top of my head. Feeling the ice form, his flames kept melting it. Steam curled into the air, his wheezing causing me to let him go. Cupping his cheeks, a stern look hardened my features. 

“Next time, let me take the lead.” I pleaded with a broken smile, his tense muscles relaxing instantly. “Thank you for showing me that my blood can help people. Shit! I didn’t get the proposal approved. Oh, wait. They all died. Father is going to k-” The door burst open, Demonico excusing himself. My father clutched me close to his chest. His frozen tears bounced off the top of my head, his hand cupping my cheek. 

“Thank god you are okay!” He berated me, his sharp eyes flitting to all of the machines. “Living without you would be torture. Did you know that they are going to study the use of our blood for fire users. Something about small doses cooling them down is in the talks. We can save them after all.” Sinking into the closest chair, pride illuminated his features. His lips parted to speak several times, his finger wagging shutting me down. 

“The bad apples were plucked out. Thankfully, proper council members were voted in. The best part is that they agreed to the proposal in seconds.” He mused playfully, his hand holding mine. “The construction team worked wonders, so we showed them the full force of your services. Thank you again.” Plucking a needle from his pocket, his form shifted into Lady Death’s. Plunging the tip into my IV line, a drowsiness consumed me.