Pyromania

There were so many differences between him and I. I was darkness, he was light; I was the storm and he was the peace; I was cruel, he was loving, but more importantly, he was life and I was death.

The universe had gone out of its way to keep us apart but it hadn't tried hard enough.

I was burning a building down. Dousing the bricks of the building in gasoline, I struck a match and dropped it into the wet grass. It was magnificent, the whole world lighting up in a split second. Burning heat scorching the air around me. Screams erupted inside the building -- screams of terror -- and I smiled.

Taking a few steps back from the raging fire, I watched as it ate away at the base of the building, moving its way up. A hand fell on my shoulder and I turned around to see a boy around my age, his face grim.

"Did you do this?" he asked, nodding at the gasoline can in my hand.

For a split second, I felt like throwing him into the flames but restrained myself. "And so what if I did?"

"It's a crime," he said. His grip on my shoulder tightened. "You're coming with me."

"Don't try to be the hero, kiddo," I said, removing his hand from my shoulder. "They get nowhere in life."

"I'm not trying to be the hero, I'm doing what's right," he answered. He was tense, ready to pounce at any moment if I made a break for it.

"I'm not going anywhere," I shook the gasoline can casually. "There's nothing left to burn down. Every building in this town has my mark on it."

"I know," he said flatly. "Every building you've burned down to the ground and yet you continue to do it."

I nodded. Sirens wailed in the distance. "But now that I'm caught, I guess my streak will come to an end."

"You disgust me," he said. His hand wrapped around my wrist and pulled me towards the cop cars that had pulled up. Fire trucks pulled in seconds later and the scene began to swarm with firefighters.

The boy wove his way the mass of people and hoses and handed me off to an older cop. He slapped handcuffs onto my wrists and led me towards the cop car.

"Thanks, Matthew," he called over his shoulder. "We've been trying to catch her for years."

A grin slipped across my face. "It's a shame, really."

"How so?" the cop asked. His pushed my head down as I sat down in the cop car.

"I've been doing this for years and some teen boy catches me? Too bad one of your professionals couldn't have had the honor," I smirked.

"It takes a thief to catch a thief," Matthew said, leaning up against the car.

The cop went to shut the door but Matthew stopped him.

"Can I talk to her for a second, Cap?" he asked.

"Sure, just close the door when you're done," Cap gave him permission.

"Yes, sir," Matt nodded as the older man walked away.

I looked at him and he looked back. For a minute, we listened to the crackle of the

fire, the screams of people inside and outside of the building, everything. I reeked of gasoline but the smell didn't bother me since I had been smelling it for what seemed like my entire life.

"You were smooth," he whispered, leaning in so only I could hear him.

I nodded. "Thanks."

He smiled. "So... why did you allow yourself to get caught? You could have made a break for it any time."

Thinking, I looked away. "I could have escaped but... opposites attract."

He smiled and stepped back, shut the door, and sealed me to my impending doom.

----

I was sitting in my cell, picking at my fingernails. Today was the day. The day I escape these bars. Hearing footsteps approaching, I looked up.

"Hey," Matthew came into view. He held onto the bars and leaned his face forward as far as he could. "You ready?"

Matt had come many times to 'visit' me and every time we furthered the plans for my escape.

I nodded and stood up. "Why are you helping me?"

The question had been gnawing away at me for some time and I needed to get it off my chest.

He smiled, his eyes shining. "Opposites attract. Now let's get going."

Inserting his borrowed key into the lock, he opened the door and let me out. Fire would rage the city that night but I wouldn't be alone.