Haunted Flames

By Lisa Powell

Jasmine Roads hides from her gift she calls a curse. She has been secluded all her life until her grandmamma moves them to the city. A whole new world is opened up to her. Still she wants to go unnoticed, unseen. The day she helped her first spirit is the day her life unraveled. She now has to deal with the sounds of the spirits. They are invading her mind and are driving her crazy. She tries to fight them, but it seems like a losing battle. Now that her grandmamma has passed, she has no one to trust no one to talk to. No one can understand her. She doesn't know how much more she can take.
Detroit has been under attack by numerous amounts of fires lately. The streets are unusually quiet and that alone scares the authorities. Something big is about to happen.
Cole Van Buran is a ten year veteran firefighter for the Detroit fire department. He is smug, vain and self-centered. He used people for his own entertainment. He was considered one of Detroit’s hottest pieces of ‘eye candy' and he played the role magnificently. He never lost a life to a fire until Amber. Now his life changed, it took a turn for the worse. He lost his heart and passion for life. He is haunted by the nightmares of that night. If it wasn't for his four legged friend Scar, no telling where he would be. His life is going downhill fast until he rescues Jasmine. Now they both will have to deal with what is haunting them.
Together they try and figure out who is behind these fires. With Cole's experience and Jasmine's gift, they just might save the massive city.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Powell
• Release date: Mar 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311444103

Lisa Powell

Inspiring is a GREAT Feeling: Everyone thinks their books will change the world. They want to become famous and make millions. But what about inspiring others? Being an author/writer is more than just writing. It's about inspiring others. Here's my story. I went to get my taxes done, I know everyone groan, I use the same person every year he is in his late 70's. He was talking about writing a book a couple years ago. I told him I was a writer/author and we talked for a while. The next year he was contemplating about the different avenues in which to publish and how much it cost. We talked more. This year I go there and he smiled. 'I published my book.' He went over to a drawer and pulled out his book. He tells me, if it wasn't for me, he would have never taken that first step and published. It's a boy scout book, with camp fire spooky stories. With all the legends and how the camp came to be. He was a boy scout at this camp. The camp is still open today, he made is money back and all proceeds go to the camp. He wrote an inscription to me and handed me the book. My husband was so proud and I was almost speechless. I may not be famous or a millionaire. My books may not have changed anything, but being a writer did plus, he saved me money on my taxes, *grin* That was a great feeling, me inspiring someone. Someone who indeed is very profitable in selling his book. I guess it stems back when I first started out looking for answers, before I published. I asked an indie author a couple questions. Someone, everyone loves and I to loved her books. But she got snotty with me and made me feel like an idiot. Well dah! I have never done this before, I don't know what I am doing. I don't buy her books anymore either, just because of that fact. So at that point I decided I would never do that to someone else if they asked for help or information. And it has paid off, in my eyes. Facts about me: Favorite person-Husband Favorite color is - red Favorite vehicle - ford (69 mustang mach1 boss 429) Dream Car. Favorite foods - bacon & bbq ribs Favorite time of year - spring Zodiac sign - Pisces Movies - Overboard, 27 Dresses, The Ugly Truth, Pretty Woman, Under Siege 1&2, Comando extra... Music - Areosmith, Poison, ACDC, Little River Band, Boston, Pink Floyd, Pat Benatar, extra...

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Haunted Flames

By Lisa Powell

Haunted Flames

~Lisa Powell~

Haunted Flames

Copyright 2013 © Lisa Powell

All rights reserved

Published by Smashwords

This book and or any portion of this book may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Dedication

This was my first NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) book. I was very nervous but finished well before the deadline. As the story developed I really liked what I was writing. So here it is. I want to thank John, Amy and Tom with their help on this book. Thank you so much.

And to my Loving husband Lance. He has the patience's and forgives me when my selective hearing kicks in. Love you!

You only fail if you stop writing. - Ray Bradbury.

Author contact:

mailto:[e-mail]

http://lisapowellbooks.blogspot.com/

http://lisapowell27.wix.com/authorlisapowell

http://author-lisa-powell.webs.com/

https://twitter.com/lisaannpowell

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaPowell

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

About the Author

BTT

Prologue

Stop! Stop! Go away! Leave me alone! Jasmine screams from the darkness of her mind. They are haunting her, taunting her, following her where ever she goes. She can’t escape, can’t get away. They are always pounding at her brain, wanting to get in. She fights them with everything she has. She feels as if it’s a losing battle. She wants to give up, give in, but is afraid. She has to stay strong. She has to keep fighting them off. There is only one place she can go to settle her mind. Many would think a church, but that just makes things worse. Every time she passes a cemetery she holds her breath and closes her eyes tight. Hoping they don’t get in. She needs peace, she needs to relax. The place she goes to is in her mind. She reaches into the farthest part of her mind and calls upon the one person who can help.

Jasmine sits down on a pillow in the middle of her living room floor, of the small duplex she lives in. She lit some candles and closed her eyes. She took a couple of deep breaths to inhale the fragrance of jasmine. She often wonders why her grandmamma insisted on naming her that. She remembered her grandmamma would say, jasmine relaxes you and then she would smile. As she relaxed she called for her, Grandmamma, grandmamma please help me. She waits. The only thing she can hear is the ticking of the clock.

Minutes tick by, still no sign.

She tries again. Grandmamma, grandmamma, please I know you can hear me. Why are you hiding? Why won’t you talk to me? I need your guidance. Please grandmamma.

Tick, tick, tick.

Soon a gentle breeze begins too flow through the room. Lavender over powered the smell of jasmine. Jasmine smiled.

# # #

No, no, no! Cole screamed in his sleep. The nightmare that dreaded nightmare has returned. Cole is jarred awake by his four legged friend Scar. Cole rescued Scar from a burning building three years ago. He is a mutt a German shepherd mix. The left side of Scar healed nicely, but the right was gruesomely burned. Everyone gave up hope on the poor dog, everyone but Cole. Cole took him home and nursed him back to health. They have been inseparable ever since.

Cole jumped when Scar nudged him. Cole was covered in a sweat, and his heart is beating so fast it felt like it’s ready to explode. He can’t catch his breath. He tried to sit up, but feels paralyzed. His mouth is so dry like he tried to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon. He can smell the smoke, feel the heat. The vision of her death is haunting him once again.

He is awake he knows he is. He can hear Scar whining. He can feel him licking his face. Why can’t he move? What has caused the re-occurrence? It’s been over a year. Everyone has told him it wasn’t his fault, but he still blames himself. He never lost a single person to a fire in all his years of firefighting until that night. What did he do wrong? What could have he changed? How could he have calmed her more? She was so young, Amber was her name.

She was in panic, fighting him, trying to run the wrong way. She was heading into more danger. The building was ablaze. The smoke was getting thicker, burning debris everywhere. You could hear the hissing of the fire, the exploding glass. The snapping of the timber as the ceilings came crashing down. The floors started to give out. The stairs were ablaze. He wanted to lead her to a window where the ladder was. She panicked and got away from him. He tried to grab her again but lost his grip. She headed for the steps that lead to the exit, but they were ablaze. He chased her. When he went to grab her she stepped on the stairs. As he reached for her the stairs collapsed. He will never forget her screams as the fire engulfed her from the floor below.

Chapter 1

Present- Cole

You look rough Cole, is everything all right? Fire Chief Ed Barren of twenty years asked. Ed watched Cole go from rookie to pro. Cole is one of the best fire fighters he has ever seen. Cole was vain, but a damn good firefighter. However, ever since his return to duty it seems Cole has lost something, his edge, his heart. Maybe the fact he can’t save everyone. Ed was there that night Amber died. He knows it wasn’t Cole’s fault. Still Cole refuses believe that. The fault lies with the arsonist who started the fire. The arsonist should be in prison for arson, murder and attempted murder. Cole? Did you hear me?

Cole cleared his throat. Yes Captain. I just have a lot on my mind. I didn’t sleep too well last night. Cole didn’t want to tell his captain the nightmare was back. He has been to enough therapy to last a life time. He thought if his captain found out, he would make him return to therapy. It did help some. But still the scream, that horrible, bone chilling scream will forever be piercing his ears. His thoughts went back to the nightmare. Something was different this time. A hand, he remembered a hand. He never had seen it before. It grabbed him. He heard a barking dog. He doesn’t know what it means or why the sudden change. He thought maybe the barking dog was Scar trying to wake him. But he couldn’t figure out the hand. He felt chilled at times. He figured he was getting sick, but he wasn’t. He got goose bumps, but he wasn’t cold. He smelled weird smells. Things didn’t make sense. He felt like he was losing his mind. Was he going crazy?

The fire alarm sounded. It shook Cole from his thoughts. Everyone went running to take their positions. Scar started prancing around, wanting to go. Scar was used to the sound now. He felt and saw the excitement of the men. He wanted to join them. Cole still felt Scar wasn’t quite ready yet. He has been coming to the station for a couple years now but still felt Scar might freeze or panic. Maybe even try and run away. He wasn’t ready to deal with that, not right now.

No Scar, not yet. You stay here with Mike. Mike is the station’s cook for the week. He is a great cook everyone loved his food. He made the best coffee around. They wanted him to be the permanent cook, but the duties got rotated among the men. Scar put his head down and whined. It was like he understood what Cole was saying. In a way, he did.

Cole was getting his gear ready when he was stopped by his Captain. I think you should sit this one out Cole. He put his hand on his shoulder.

Cole looked at him. I am fine. He glared at his Captain.

Look, Cole, you said you have a lot on you mind. You won’t be focused and we don’t need…

Need what Captain? Mistakes?

Now Cole, you know that’s not what I meant.

Then what do you mean?

Listen, for the past month you have been acting strange. I don’t know what is going on with you. I want to help, we all do. But you keep closing us out and we can’t help. What you went through was a traumatic experience. It will take a long time for healing. He looked down at Scar then continued. But it doesn’t help keeping things bottled up. I really think you should go back to therapy. You need to get this resolved.

Cole stood there staring at his Captain. He felt angry, guilty, and helpless. Shouting from the other firefighters brought him back to his senses. I need this Ed. I just can’t sit by and do nothing. I have to keep busy. I have to work through this. If you want to help, let me go on this call.

Scar barked.

Against his better judgment Ed let him go on the call. But as he feared, Cole froze. Cole, Cole? Ed called him. He was unresponsive. Cole just stared at the burning building. Ed saw fear and panic in his eyes. Sweat was running down his face. He was turning pale. He could see him shake. Ed knew right then Cole defiantly needed help. He needed to go back to therapy and get some other kind counseling. They will not let him return until this problem is taken care of. Ed was puzzled at what could have started all this up again. Cole was doing fine. Things didn’t make sense. Ed shook him, but still Cole just stood there. Maybe one day he would recover from this. Right now he is putting himself and everyone else around him in danger. He can’t be counted on to do his job. They can’t afford to have him out here.

Cole couldn’t go into the burning building. He just stood there and stared as everyone else took over. He couldn’t move. His feet felt rooted into the ground. His mind was not cooperating with him. He tried forcing himself, but nothing was working. He just stood there and stared at the fire. All he could hear was that scream. He heard nothing else. No noise from the other men. No shouts from the Captain. No sounds of the sirens. No cries of people. Only that scream, that horrible, bone chilling scream. What was happening to him? Why all of the sudden is it happening now? He thought he had worked through all this. He was fine until the nightmare started up again. Cole couldn’t figure it out himself what triggered it. He was as confused as everyone else. Maybe his captain was right that he should go back to therapy. Still he couldn’t figure out why and why after such a long time? Cole was getting furious with himself. He was letting everyone down, including himself. He had to snap out of it.

Cole, snap out of it! Cole! His Captain shouted. Miles has been hurt. We need you. God help us. Ed said a silent prayer.

Miles Gilbert has been on the team for five years. He was head strong and always rushed things. He had a tendency to make everyone else’s job harder. He was a danger to himself and others. How he became a fire fighter was beyond everyone. He was strong though. One of the strongest members they had on their team. Maybe that’s why he was so head- strong. He also had an ego problem and that didn’t help at all. He always wanted to compete against everyone else, especially Cole. They always butted heads.

Cole thought he heard a barking dog, Scar? He whispered. The sound snapped him out of the terror he was trapped in. He shook his head and he looked at his Captain. He saw the fear in his eyes. He didn’t know if it was for him or if it was because the situation was getting out of control. Cole had to pull himself together. He had to fight this. People needed him. His co-workers, Captain, everyone needed him. Cole slowly nodded his head. Give me strength!

On it Captain! He shouted. Cole saw some relief in his Captains eyes. He grabbed the fire hose with a co-worker and started fighting the fire.

It was a long hard battle but the fire was finally out. The building was a complete lose, nothing was salvageable. They were lucky though that they contained the fire to one building. It was a miracle nobody was hurt, accept Miles. He was the hospital. It was his own fault he got injured. He sustained a broken leg. He was on his fire rush as everyone called it when he tripped over the hose and broke his leg.

When everyone finally got back to the fire station they were all exhausted. They were ready for a shower and some food. Scar greeted everyone as they entered the day room. They all gave him a pat on the head as they went to take their seats. Everyone was talking and chattering when the Captain entered. He cleared his throat and the room became silent.

Congratulations on another fine job. You could hear applause and see nods throughout the room. The Captain put up his hand to silence everyone. This could have gotten a whole lot worse. As you know Miles has a broken leg and will be out until he is healed…

Can’t we transfer him elsewhere Captain? He is a menace.

Yeah, let another division deal with him.

The Captain shook his head. I know how everyone feels about Miles. But, we have been working with him for five years. Would it be fair to send him somewhere where no one knows him? He could get more people hurt. At least we know him. And you have to admit, he maybe a menace, but the man is a bull. I for one, I would want him to be on the other end of that rope pulling. Everyone agreed at the Captains last statement. Okay everyone go get cleaned up eat and get some rest. Cole I need to speak to you. Everyone got quiet and looked at Cole. They had seen what happened. They all know Cole froze. The room emptied out. Cole remained seated.

Scar trotted over and lay down next to where Cole was siting. He looked down at him. Cole swore he heard a dog barking, but Scar was here at the firehouse. It could have been another dog somewhere around the vicinity.

Cole.

Yes Captain?

What is going on with you? You have been doing great until today. Are you in financial trouble? Are you ill? Don’t tell me that ex-girlfriend is stalking you again? Ed knew he had issues. But he never expected Cole to say what he was about to.

Cole cleared his throat. The nightmare is back.

How long? This is not good. His captain shook his head.

About a month now.

Any idea why it returned?

No. But something is different this time.

Like?

I hear a bark, he looked down at Scar. I see a hand.

Silence.

When we went out tonight, I heard a bark. Did you hear anything Captain?

Not that I can recall Cole. Ed was starting to think Cole was losing it. He wanted him back in therapy. He wanted him back 110%. Maybe he didn’t handle the death of Amber as well as he thought. He thought everything was going good. Col was back in action, sure he wasn’t all the way back up to par, but at least he was fighting fires again. Maybe he will never heal. Cole was one of the best fire fighters he ever had the pleasure of working with. He didn’t take what he said lightly. Something else was going on. Something had to trigger that nightmare again. He just didn’t know what.

Okay Cole, go home get some rest. Ed stood.

Thanks Captain. Cole stood and started for the door. Scar followed. As the Captain watched the two walk out the door it finally hit him. This all started three years ago when Cole rescued that dog. Not only that, but it’s when all these fires started. The arsonists haven’t been caught yet. But the bigger question is, why?

Chapter 2

Three years ago- Scar

It looks like another arson job. Same MO.

Did everyone get out? Cole asked his Captain.

Yes, except we couldn’t find the last dog. Miles heard it whining but he couldn’t find it. Before Ed could stop him, Cole was running back into the burning building. Damn it Cole, get your ass back here! But Cole didn’t hear, or acted as if he didn’t hear. He didn’t know if it was because Miles couldn’t find the dog. So he had to do better than Miles or what. Cole! he shouted again. Damn it Cole.

Cole put on his mask, before he entered the burning building. The smoke was thick, but the flames have died down. Everything was smoldering from the wetness. Creaking and cracking could be heard. Cole listened carefully for the dog. He searched the bottom floor, nothing. He saw the stairs. He tested the strength before he made the climb. Step by step he climbed cautiously. Each step creaked under his weight. He could hear his Captain shouting through the head set. Cole tuned him out. He listened. He couldn’t hear anything but the sizzling of the debris and his own breathing.

Cole made it to the second floor. He walked carefully as he searched room by room. The smoke was thicker up here. He could barely see anything. He got down on his hands and knees and slowly crawled on the floor. What the hell Cole have you lost it? He shook his head and continued searching under everything, still he found nothing. This was a big building. He knew he didn’t have much time. His Captain would have his ass in a sling if he stayed too much longer. Cole found more stairs. He didn’t know if he should go up another flight or not. He couldn’t understand the need to find this dog. He never had a pet, never had the need to want one. This was bizarre even for him. But the need to find this dog was strong. He continued his search.

Cole this is your last warning. Get your ass out of there or you will be suspended!

Cole cringed. He wanted so desperately to find the poor dog. Guilt was filling him. He couldn’t give up. He knew the dog was most likely dead. But he had to find out. As he started to stand he saw something on the stairs, third step from the bottom. Cole slowly moved toward the step. There he saw not a dog, but a puppy. He was burned and not moving. Cole scooped the puppy up and carefully made his way out of the building. He was heading out the door and his captain was walking towards him at a fast pace.

If you ever pull a stunt like that again Cole you will never work at this division again! Is that clear! His Captain shouted as he saw Cole come out of the building. As he got closer he could tell Cole had something in his arms.

Cole rushed over to the paramedics with the puppy. He took off his gear he was all out of breath. I found him. He barely got out.

Cole what in the hell has gotten into you?! You have never been irresponsible like this before!

Cole stood there. He couldn’t think why he rushed back into the burning building for the animal. He always