"Avery is also best friends and colleagues with one of the company's founding members, Hitoshi Ryoyo. The Wahlberg's paid for more than half of the company's start up costs. Avery isn't just a major share holder in the companyahe's Hitoshi's go-to man." Asia watched as my fires rose up inside of me.

"So this is all about revenge?" I asked, with my fiery tone. I could still see Avery's shadow watching me from the trees. If only I had caught him.

"Not anymore," Asia looked on coldly.

"This doesn't make sense. Avery never cared about his brother before. They never spent more than ten seconds in the same room with each other," Sam defended him. It made me burn hotter. I had to tell her what happened on Thanksgiving.

"Now it's about money," Asia added.

"I don't understand," Sam winced. Her hand tightened around mine.

"Max's unique abilities have dollar signs swimming through their devious heads. Imagine the kind of weapons they could create from his powers," Asia winced, as lightning flashed at the windows. Sam and I looked at each other with the same terrifying thought.

"Oh no!" Sam rumbled.

"They took Madison," I grimaced at Asia. "They stole my baby girl!"

"They must have known about her gifta" Sam trailed off and started to tear up again. Her pain was my fault and it was driving me crazy. I decided not to tell her about my Avery sighting. Asia sighed and pulled a piece of paper from her leather jacket and handed it to me. I was so scared that I almost didn't look at it. It was a picture of her and I in China, at the cherry blossom orchard. Asia's scared face found mine.

"Max, they've been watching us for a long time."

Scars - 30.

*Letting The Cables Sleep: Bush*

3:33 a.m.

It was late or very early in the morning, depending how you looked at it. I stood at the foot of my uncle's bed while he slept. I wish I could have done the same but the fires in me wouldn't let me. I was wide-awake. Sam had finally fallen asleep again in one of the waiting chairs in the room. She lay on her side with her knees pulled up into her chest. She looked cold even though it was a warm seventy-eight degrees in the room. Asia sat quietly on the other side of the room in one of her yoga poses. Her legs locked across each other and her back straight as a board. Headphones dangled from her ears with muffled music leaking from them. She sat completely still with her eyes closed. From outside, the storm pounded at the walls to get to her.

"Hey there. Can't sleep?" Frank's raspy voice rumbled to life. His old eyes found the clock on the wall and then followed themselves over to me. I quickly walked up next to his side.

"I'm sorry Uncle. I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's fine son. How could I possibly sleep with all this drama?" He smiled lightly. I felt a lump slide down my throat.

"Do you need anything? Water?"

"Maybe later. I'm sorry I fell asleep. What's the latest news with lil' Madi?" he asked hoarsely. I poured a glass of water and handed it to him. He noticed that the glass was instantly warm from my touch but said nothing of it.

"The police said all we can do is wait. Let them handle this, and for us to sit tight," I grumbled. Frank watched my anger take hold of me. He looked around the room at the girls. His eyes spun with concentration. Slowly a smile crawled along his lips before he spoke.

"Max, go home."

"What? I'm not leaving you. Not now!" I was offended.

"You need to get some rest and it won't be possible here," he scolded.

"Buta"

"Take the girls back to the house. Get away from all this heartache. We will find Madisonatogether. I promise," his voice filled with his usual hope and it actually settled me for a moment.

"I can't."

"You're no use to any of us if you don't get some sleep. You know I'm right. Even a couple hours will do you wonders. All of you," he said, as his eyes met Asia's. She stood up slowly and offered him a gentle smile. She slid her earbuds into her jacket pocket.

"I agree," she whispered. The storm outside had faded to a light drizzle against the window. Her haunting blue eyes fell on me and it calmed me even more. My body was on its last reserves. I needed to sleep.

"So do I," Sam added from her chair. Her hands wiped at the corner of her eyes.

"But what about your mom?" I asked.

"The doctor said she could leave in the morning. Same with Kai. Frank is right, we need to get away from here," she said sadly. It was finally setting in that our daughter was gone and she looked so defeated because of it, but she held onto her unwavering confidence as always.

"I need to get away from here," she exhaled.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"No, but it can't be any worse at Frank's. At least it will feel like home," she finished and walked up to me. Asia shuffled nervously at her words. Her truck keys jingled from her pocket.

"See. Go home Max. I'll hold down the fort for you until the morning," Frank teased, but I was in no mood for it. The last thing I wanted to do was leave his side but he was probably right. I would need all my strength to find Madi. He was always right.

"Alright," I caved in. I leaned over and kissed him on the forehead before turning to the girls.

"Lets go."

We walked out of his room and down the hall. As we headed out the doors of the hospital toward Asia's truck, my phone rang. I stared at the blocked number on it, completely paralyzed. The ringing continued as I stood motionless. After the tenth ring I finally found the strength to answer it.

"Hello?" I asked. The girls watched with curious eyes.

"Mr. Valentinea"

"Where's my daughter?" I cursed.

"Downtown Hanaa6 p.m. Come alone."

"Where's Madison? Is she okay?" I yelled. I had already started to steam all over in the sprinkling rain. Asia stepped closer sensing what was coming. Her body prepared itself, knowing I was about to lose it.

"Don't be late!" the voice laughed. Click. The line fell silent. My hands burst into flames as I threw my cell phone into the concrete of the parking lot. It shattered into a thousand flaming, tiny pieces.

"They have her!"

"What did they say Max? Where's Madi?" Sam begged. Her feet pushed her small body forward. I felt dizzy.

"They have her!" I yelled again. I felt my sanity slipping away. I knew I could not control my anger much longer. My arms blazed over in red and orange flames. Sam stepped back from me.

"Max! Calm down!" Asia scolded, as she pushed her body into me. My breath was hot and shaky. My fires slithered along me, hot with hate.

"Max!" Sam screamed at me, but I could only hear the twisting of my flames in my ears.

"They will all pay!" I cursed.

"Uh oh," Asia called out as her hands found my chest. She knew I was only moments away from a supernova. Mad Max was alive and well.

"Max!" Sam screamed.

"Run Samantha! This is going to be bad!" Asia warned Sam without looking at her. Instead her cold blue eyes stared into mine. I tried to pull my stare from Asia's but I couldn't. Sam hesitated instead with fresh tears. Her cheeks were raw with all the crying she had done already.

"No!" I screamed and tried to pull from Asia's grip. Her cooling electricity had already started pulsing through me and her grip felt like iron. She was so strong now. Scary strong. The flames inside of me only found that more appealing and reached out for her. They belonged to her.

"Please hear my voice Max. Please calm down," she pleaded again. She adjusted her grip, as I burned even hotter. Sam ran from us as I began to explode with reddish flames all over. I watched as they engulfed Asia. She stood still and strong. It terrified me but it was too late. I couldn't stop now even if I wanted to.

"Asia!" I screamed, scared for her safety. She quickly shoved her full weight into me and my flames. Her hands filled with white light as the first stab of electricity sliced through me. It felt like ice in my chest.

"I gotcha baby," Asia concentrated. The storm awoke above us again. Her electric force pushed its way into my brain, making me numb for a moment.

"Ouch," I gasped. Numbness turned to pain as her hands shoved into me harder and my chest began to pop. Was she getting stronger? This made my flames instinctively try to fight back. They pushed back with much more force. I felt my control completely gone now. She pushed another wave into me, cracking a few of my ribs instantly. My flames fell away like a melting candle but I tried in vain to power back up. Pathetically, I made one last effort to pull away from her. My body washed over in pain from another pulse of her powers. Lightning cracked against the pavement and I folded my arms across my breaking chest. Instinctively my body wanted to protect itself and I began to fill with curling fire again when Asia pushed once more.

"Ugh," I gasped again. My voice fell much quieter though. Lightning slithered into my veins, bringing complete pain. This time I fell to my knees in a split second. I was dazed in an agony filled with blackness. I couldn't breathe right. Air staggered into my lungs, tripping on the blood that was filling them. Stars started spinning before the blackness. They were bright and beautiful. Just like Asia's eyes. From the ground I started shivering uncontrollably.

"Damn it!" she cursed herself. She slid down next to me in a panic. She hadn't realized how hard she was pushing until it was too late. Her hands felt soothing along the undeniable pain that seemed to be everywhere.

"Sorry Max," she whispered, as I folded and broke inside her arms.

"I thinkayou brokeame," I coughed up blood. It stained my teeth in a dark crimson. Her hands quickly wiped away the excess blood.

"I know baby," she comforted.

Asia slowly helped me to my feet and into the truck. Sam was right next to us. She looked so upset with measo scared. It helped to center my thoughts and gain control of my temper. I hurt all over and it was obvious I had no healing ability left. Even the flicker of flames I still had deep down inside of me couldn't help anymore. I was in agony. Asia was so absolute now with her abilities. I should have been terrified by that thought but it turned out to be the opposite. My inferno missed her even more.

"Madison?" Sam asked calmly as she positioned herself beside me in the truck. Asia started the engine and drove away as I passed out. In the dark I saw my sisters young face. Mia in her perfect little pigtails. She smiled at me before turning away from my sight. Then Madison appeared and reached for me with her tiny healing hands. I started to cry in my dream.

"Please don't let me lose her tooanot againapleasea" I begged the darkness.

Rest In Pieces - 31.

*I Can't Make You Love Me: Bonnie Raitt*

1:11 p.m.

I awoke from my bed to the spinning blades of my ceiling fan gently humming above me. The light from outside my bedroom window hurt my fuzzy eyes. It was one of the few windows in the house that survived my inferno when I lost control the night before. It took a minute to focus my vision but when I finally did, I was rewarded. Sam sat above me, next to my broken torso with her soft touch caressing my head. I was safe at home again and it became obvious that I was in bad condition.

I tried to speak but found the pain inside me radiated everywhere. I could taste the blood in my throat and mouth. It hurt to exhale even a shriveling breath. I didn't want Sam to see me like this. The crazy thing was that even though I was in the most physical and emotional pain of my life, I still felt content with her by my side.

"Hey hot stuffahow you feeling?" she teased, with a brush of her hand through her hair. I tried to sit up but found the pain too great and quickly gave up on the idea. As I gasped, she laughed lightly at how pathetic I was. It brought a soft smile to my face.

"That good huh," she said sadder now. The weight of our situation shown through her beautiful features.

"I'll live," I hoped. Her mouth filled with a frown.

"I miss Madison." She started to cry. I bit down on my teeth and forced my body up. I hated when she cried. I wanted to do whatever it took to stop her tears.

"Me too. We'll get her back. I'll get her back," I swore. She kissed me softly and the agony faded for a second. We fell into a familiar comfort.

"What did they say on the phone earlier?" She asked, trying to hide her tears. Her fingers slid along the length of my bangs, twisting themselves at the very end.

"They told me to go to Hana at 6, and to come alone," I said raspy. I wasn't too familiar with the city but it didn't matter, I would walk through Hell and back for my daughter.

"We should tell the police Max," her nerves grew.

"It won't matter Sam, they want me. That's what they'll get. It's my fault they took her in the first place. My powers, my curse," I grumbled, and the thunder outside the house agreed.

"This is not your fault," she countered. Her face flashed with annoyance at the surrounding thunder.

"Yes it is. All I seem to do is hurt you and now my daughter too." I felt dizzy from my pain. She leaned in closer and held my shoulders in her soft hands.

"That's not true. Madi needs you. She loves youa" her words drifted a little. I felt my broken chest tighten.

"I love you," she said, more with her eyes than her words.

"Sama"

"No matter what Max." Her lips found mine again. Thunder rolled over the house slow and ominous as we kissed. It announced Asia as she stepped into the room. Her cold eyes fell to the floor, filling her with pain. She drew in a long breath before she spoke.

"Max can I talk to you for a moment?" she sounded defeated but under control. Sam stood up and nodded that she was fine with it. As she walked out of my room and into the hall, Asia watched her closely. My arms ached as I used my last bit of strength to pull myself from my bed. Asia watched me from across the room with a look of guilt across her face. She looked as if she wanted to reach for me but never let her guard down. She was so stubborn.

"Alright," I coughed.

I sat down on the backyard bench with a small blanket around my shoulders. Asia scooted up next to me. A light mist peppered the back yard, as the sky grew grey with more rain clouds. We both sat there silently for a few minutes before she reached over and moved the blanket from my chest.

"How are the ribs?" she asked coldly, but her touch was anything but. My core heated and reached for her from under my clothes. She could feel my fires react to her and it settled her emotions for a brief second.

"Fine," I lied. I was surprised that I was still angry that she hurt me so easily. She snapped my ribs like toothpicks. I was lying to myself again too. What truly upset me was that no matter how much I loved Sam, there was still a part of me that yearned for Asia. That would always be the way it is.

"I didn't mean tooa" she started, but I began to pout.

"I'm fine," I snapped, and tasted blood on my tongue. Her eyes fell cold as ice. Thunder grew above us. My face flushed over in red with pain and embarrassment.