The Price of a Secret

27 | DANGEROUS GAME

Simon prepares to meet Elizabeth and follow her during the dinner that Mason arranged when his phone rings. He knows it's from the Fire Department.

"Captain Marks speaking."

"Captain, we have an emergency in El Cajon. Five-story building on fire with possible casualties. They're calling in all off-duty personnel."

"I'm on my way."

Simon's heart sinks at the thought of leaving Elizabeth alone, but he must respond to the fire. He quickly calls her, changes into his gear, and heads to El Cajon.

Upon arriving at the scene, the sight is devastating. The five-story building is engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing into the night sky. He promptly reports and takes command of the operation with the other crews.

Simon approaches the building, quickly assessing the situation, determining the severity of the fire, and devising the best strategies to combat it. He communicates with the other firefighters, providing clear instructions and keeping them updated on the building's conditions.

The street is chaotic, and communication is only possible by shouting. As Simon reviews his strategies, his phone rings again. It's a call from Elizabeth. Is everything okay?

"Hello," he says, yelling.

"Hi, my love. How are things over there?" Her voice is barely audible.

"It's not good. I can't hear you clearly." He presses the phone harder to his ear, but it's impossible to hear her now.

Then the call gets disconnected.

He feels a tightness in his chest, but he doesn't have time to dwell on it. He needs to control the chaos that was only worsening on the street.

While some firefighters start setting up equipment and preparing hoses, others focus their efforts on evacuating the building's occupants. With courage and efficiency, they enter the blazing building, guiding people through escape routes and ensuring everyone is safe.

Meanwhile, another group of firefighters identifies the nearest hydrants and establishes water supply points, connecting the firefighting hoses to water sources. This crucial step ensures a continuous water supply to combat the flames. With the supply points established, the firefighters begin to attack the fire. Equipped with personal protective gear and respirators, they bravely advance into the building, facing intense heat and suffocating smoke. Using high-pressure hoses, they direct streams of water at the flames, seeking to control and extinguish the fire.

While some firefighters battle the fire, Simon and another team focus on ventilating the building to dissipate toxic smoke and improve visibility conditions. Simultaneously, search and rescue teams enter the burning building, looking for anyone who might be trapped or in danger.

After several hours of intense work, as the fire is brought under control, the firefighters shift their efforts to overhaul. Simon instructs them to meticulously check all areas for any remaining hotspots and perform the necessary cooling to prevent potential reignition. In the end, they work to ensure the structural stability of the building, inspecting for possible damages caused by the fire.

The night has been arduous and lengthy. Daylight is already present on the horizon. Simon crawls to the car, his body covered in dirt, sweat, and exhaustion. Before seeking Elizabeth, he needs a shower. Since it's still early, she should be sleeping.

To relax his body battered by work, Simon takes a long, hot shower. He tries to cleanse his skin and the memories of the night he had. Flames, bodies, pain. It's always very tough when there are fatalities. The atmosphere becomes more intense and suffering. They couldn't save everyone.