POV: Marcus
The pain was beyond anything I'd ever imagined.
Every cell in my body felt like it was on fire because it was. The transformation hadn't just changed me - it had made me into living flame, and flames never stop burning.
"Dad, can you hear me?" Cade's voice sounded distant, muffled by the roaring in my ears.
I tried to answer but only smoke came out. My throat was fire. My lungs were fire. Everything was fire.
"Marcus, focus on my voice," Dr. Chen appeared in front of me. "You need to control the flames or they'll consume you completely."
Control them? I couldn't even control my own thoughts through the agony.
"Grandpa!" Hope's small hands touched my burning skin, and somehow her touch didn't hurt. "You have to breathe. Remember breathing?"
Breathing. Such a simple thing I'd done without thinking for fifty-two years. Now I had to relearn it.
I forced myself to inhale. The flames inside me flickered but didn't go out. Exhale. They settled slightly.
