The Eighth | Five Hargreeves x reader

Prologue

Prologue:

July 2nd, 2004

Our next mission was to evacuate and help move people out of the area. There is a major forest fire in Alaska. It started a month earlier, but we came to rescue the animals and people that refused to leave.

We were on a highway surrounded by trees, on our way to one of the cities affected. We needed to make sure everyone was safely evacuated and out of the buildings or forested areas that were at risk of flame.

It saddened me to know that we won't be able to save all of the animals, I wanted to help them as much as I can. Sloane felt the same way. She cared about saving everyone and everything.

We all watched as the shrubs caught on fire, and eventually, the bigger bushes and smaller trees were burning outside of our windows. About a couple miles later, we all witnessed the old-growth forests surrounding us becoming just black charred sticks of wood that were attached to the ground. A tear bubbled out of my eye and slid down my face at the thought that this was someone's home.

We weren't allowed pets back home, but I was so intrigued with animals and loved them. I have more empathy for animals rather than living people, because, in my mind, animals do what they have to for survival, whereas humans do terrible things to each other out of spite. I'd love to eventually have a cat or dog though.

I was pulled out of my thoughts and grief when Reginald gave us a lecture on keeping our own safety the priority, we came to help not to endanger ourselves, all that usual bullshit he gives us on missions.

All eight of us quickly got out of the car and headed for the buildings, some of us staying behind to observe and listen to hear if anyone was trapped or injured.

Marcus used his strength to kick down doors and open cars, Ben used his tentacles to grab multiple traumatized people and placed them carefully on the ground, and Sloane gave out water bottles and sandwiches to people and helped with the injuries. Fei used her birds to scare the small animals out of the burning forests, which made me happy.

I was helping Sloane, I felt useless while the rest of my team did all the important work. I handed out the last water bottle I carried to an older woman with ash on her face.

"Do you know where my daughter is? Is she still in the cabin? Did you rescue her?" she frantically asked, her face full of worry for her daughter.

"Ma'am, I'm sure one of my colleagues found her, don't worry! You need to rest and drink some water" I reassured her. I felt for this woman, and for some reason, I had the determination to find her daughter and reunite them. I wonder what it would be like to have an actual mom and dad, people who cared for you and loved you so much.

I shouted over to Ben if he'd seen a little girl, and I was unsatisfied with his answer. I ran over to Marcus, who was presently lifting up two people that were coughing from a burning building. He would also help the firefighters and throw bags of Pho-Chek into the forested areas. I asked him if he saw a little girl when he was helping people and he said he was too busy with the citizens in the currently flaming building in front of me.

I decided I would ask the woman some questions about the girl and where they were when the fires reached them.

I saw Sloane giving her a comforting hug and was rubbing her back, so I slowly approached as to not frighten the woman.

"Miss, can you tell me more about your daughter and where exactly the cabin is?" I asked with a gentler tone than earlier.

"She's seven, has brown hair like her father, and the biggest green eyes you wouldn't miss her. Our cabin is about a mile to the north of here, please find her!" She started sobbing into her palms and mumbling things about how she needed to see her little girl.