The Arsonist
Ten-year-old Troy Greyson discovers something intoxicating the first time he creates fire on his own—a secret, living force that responds to him in a way nothing else ever has. What begins as a stolen moment behind a backyard toolshed quickly becomes an awakening. The heat, the scent, the quiet power of watching something grow under his control—it all leaves a mark far deeper than a childhood mistake.
Caught by his horrified mother before the flames can spread, Troy is punished and warned, but the experience doesn’t frighten him. Instead, it ignites a private obsession. Hidden away in his room that night, he clings to the memory of those ninety perfect seconds, already planning his next chance to feel that same thrill again.
Sloth_000 · Realistic