The Scientist

Fire

Impulse pov:

We had been sitting around for what felt like hours, gathering as much information from Mumbo as we could. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken worries and fears. Skizz was pacing back and forth, his hands constantly fidgeting with anything he could find, while Grian, barely keeping his eyes open, slumped on the couch. He absentmindedly flicked on the TV, almost as an afterthought. None of us were really paying attention, too engrossed in the details we had been trying to piece together.

But then Mumbo gasped, and it was like the whole world snapped into focus. I whipped my head around to see what had caught his attention, and Skizz followed suit. The screen showed a building, flames licking at the windows, smoke billowing into the night sky. My heart dropped.

Without a second thought, I fumbled for my phone, my hands shaking as I dialed Zedaph. I didn’t know if he was okay or if he had anything to do with the fire, but I had to know. The phone rang twice before he picked up, his voice groggy and thick with exhaustion. Relief washed over me briefly, but it was short-lived. The alarms in the background were unmistakable, and they sent a fresh wave of anxiety crashing over me.

“Zedaph?” I asked, trying to keep the fear out of my voice. He paused before asking who all was in the room with me. I glanced around, rattling off the names. “Your boss, a sick bird, and Skizz... Look, I need to know if you’re okay,” I said, my voice trembling. Skizz came up beside me, trying to listen in on the conversation, his hand on my back—a silent gesture of support.

“I’m fine,” Zedaph replied, but as soon as he said it, the alarms blared louder in the background. And then, just like that, the line went dead. He hung up on me. The worry gnawed at my insides, making it hard to breathe.

My eyes snapped back to the TV, watching as people started running out of the building—scientists and doctors in white lab coats, but none of them seemed to be with the subjects Mumbo had described. They were all dressed like Grian, in what looked like old, thick, white prison outfits. My chest tightened as I scanned the screen, desperate for any sign of Zedaph.

The camera, presumably from a helicopter, began to hover around the back of the building. That's when more and more of the subjects started to emerge. “That’s the service elevator,” Mumbo muttered, his voice filled with a mix of confusion and concern. “They used it to get supplies down to the lower facilities where... where he was.”

I could hardly process what Mumbo was saying. More and more people were flooding out, my eyes darting from figure to figure—Tango, a creeper-goat cyborg hybrid Mumbo had mentioned—but no sign of Zedaph. The anxiety was overwhelming, bile rising in my throat as I scanned the screen. I was on the verge of losing it when, finally, I spotted him. His dirty blonde hair was covered in soot, but it was him.

Relief washed over me like a tidal wave, so strong it made my knees buckle. I sank to the floor, overwhelmed by a mix of happiness and confusion. I didn’t fully understand what was going on, but seeing Zedaph alive was enough for the moment. He and that green hybrid doctor took charge, both exchanging a quick look before nodding and running back into the building.

“No, no, no,” I found myself muttering, unaware I was speaking out loud. My voice trembled with fear as I watched them disappear into the smoke. They managed to get a few more people out before the building collapsed, a sickening crunch that echoed through the TV speakers. I was on the edge of my seat, praying that everyone had made it out, that Zedaph and the others were okay.

They went back in for an alien and another figure—it was hard to tell in all the chaos. My mind was racing, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn’t just sit there and watch. Without thinking, I bolted for the door, the need to find Zedaph and Tango driving me forward. Skizz and Mumbo were right behind me, leaving Grian behind. At that moment, I didn’t care. I had to see them, had to make sure they were safe.