Phaethon Alive — Steven E. Wedel

Sam follows his friend Gene as they peddle their bikes out of town in the late evening. Gene stops them in a clearing around an oil pump jack and tells Sam to start gathering firewood. That's when Sam knows Gene wants to do his fire thing again.

Gene has the weird and unique ability to shape fire into objects. Usually he does small things that he can hold in his hand. But tonight he has something bigger in mind. Much bigger.

Sam can protest, but in the end he can only watch in horror as Gene creates his masterpiece.