PERVERSE - Apply Fic

33

Fire has started in the woods somewhere.

Clare calls emergency services, vaguely aware of protocol for evacuation despite her short period on the job. She's most familiar with the procedures for bursting pipelines, spilling oil into their town. Oil had always been a consideration. There was no fears of factory fires; they all shut down years ago.

Through the open doorway, the wind blows through the room. It's too warm for their thick heavy coats.

There is no one working at the motel at such a late hour. The burner phone they've bought does not have data, and the motel wifi requires a credit card purchase. Audrey sits at the wall, trying to remember how fast forest fires burn. Chelster is a flat expanse, for once an advantage. With the zephyrs flying through town, there is no telling how long they have. Three hours, likely. At least one.

The town is built on oil lines. Maybe much less.

When Clare gets off the phone, everyone in the room stares at each other.

"My family," Clare is the first one to speak.

Kaia stands up. She moves over to the door to put her shoes on, tightening them as best as she can. Before Clare can say anything else Kaia steps into the door and waits for them. Clare's eyes crinkle, and they both head off into the wind.

"Fuck," Ajay looks down at Leo, who he doubts can run.

Corrin.

Fallon bolts too. Thankfully, she's still wearing her shoes so she doesn't have to waste time. The wind is so violent she can't run. Her hands are raised to protect her face from baking. It's like the burst of heat from an oven when she is checking on the dinner Corrin has made. Corrin soldiers on.

Ajay's family too. He hurries out the door too, barely sliding into his shoes. He grew up a decent way from here.

After he leaves, Este realizes he has the gun. Jayce is alive, again. At least, Audrey thinks so. Maybe Este doesn't trust what Audrey thinks, but people are shifting, looking at their shoes, and here Este is a sitting duck. She's not going to die again. She's going to put Jayce back in his fucking grave.

So she bolts out of the room too, moving as quickly as she can. Shouting Ajay's name through the whipping wind.

When Ambrose slips out the door, Audrey follows him. His body is the closest wisp they have of an answer. She won't let it walk out the door without them. Eva follows too, not really aware that Audrey has left behind their pocketknife. She will not let Audrey continue this lack of rest. Ambrose wants to be buried, intact, in the fucking dirt. Eva has no one she cares about to warn.

How strange that she is an omen. Not much is different, at least. Eva and Ambrose were both freakish in life too.

Barry takes Lydia's hand and heads out into the wind together. Where exactly they should go, Barry is uncertain. He can't let go of Lydia's hand. She's his, like it or not. She's not going to die again.

There are only two people left in the motel. Nico and Leo, of course. While Nico should go warn Kye's family, they never found their home. Beside Nico, Leo lies in bed. He's smoking, a worse smell than the one which always clings to Eva's clothes, but it just might be the open window blowing in air. The wind whistles through the room.

"Can you run?" Nico asks, looking at Leo.

Leo grunts as he forces himself up. Nico braces his arm. A show of strength isn't possible, no matter how much Leo wishes he could prove to Nico he is fine. They must evacuate.