totally meta

chapter 12

Henry stood on the edge of the street, staring up at the flames engulfing the apartment building. Thick black smoke billowed out of the windows, and the crackle of fire filled the air as people screamed from below. He clenched his fists, heart pounding in his chest. His comm device buzzed to life in his ear.

"Henry, are you seeing this?" Dr. Harris's voice came through, tense but controlled.

"Yeah," Henry replied, his voice low. "I'm going in."

"Be careful," she warned. "The fire department is on the way, but you'll get to them faster. Just remember, safety first. Get everyone out, then get yourself out."

He nodded, even though she couldn't see him, and with a deep breath, he took off.

The world blurred around him as his speed kicked in, his body a streak of red moving faster than the eye could see. He darted through the front door of the building, the heat from the flames hitting him like a wall. The air was thick with smoke, and Henry forced himself to focus, pushing past the rising fear.

On the first floor, he found a group of people huddled together near the stairs. Without hesitating, he swept them up, running them to safety outside before they could even register what had happened. Back and forth, he moved through the building, carrying everyone he could find to safety, weaving through flames and collapsing debris.

Dr. Harris's voice echoed in his ear again. "Everyone out?"

"Not yet," Henry grunted, sweat beading on his forehead. "There's someone else."

He ascended the stairs, the heat intensifying as he reached the top floor. The fire was fiercer here, and the thick smoke made it hard to see. He coughed, squinting through the haze.

That's when he saw him. A man standing in the center of the burning room, flames licking at his skin but not consuming him. His eyes were wide with fear, his hands trembling as small bursts of fire erupted uncontrollably from his fingertips. Henry's heart skipped a beat.

"Meta-human," he whispered.

The man turned, startled, and another burst of fire exploded from his hands, igniting the wall behind him. "I can't stop it!" he yelled, panicking. "I didn't mean to—this just started—I don't know how to control it!"

Henry could see the desperation in the man's eyes. He was terrified of what he was doing, of what he had become. The flames around them were growing more intense by the second. They didn't have much time.

"Hey!" Henry shouted, trying to get the man's attention. "I can help you, but you need to trust me!"

The man looked at him, confused and scared, the fire still crackling around his hands. "How? I'm a freak! I don't know how to stop this!"

Henry thought fast. The building was collapsing around them, and the man's uncontrolled fire was making everything worse. But just outside, he remembered there was a deep pool near the building's courtyard. It was their only shot.

"Trust me," Henry repeated, stepping closer. "We're jumping out that window, and we're landing in the pool outside. It'll cool you off and stop the fire."

The man hesitated, glancing at the window as flames closed in on them. "But... but I—"

"You can do this!" Henry shouted, grabbing him by the arm. "You don't have a choice. If you don't come with me, we're both going to burn!"

For a moment, the man seemed paralyzed with fear, but then he nodded, gulping down his panic. "Okay... okay."

Henry pulled him toward the window, the glass already cracked from the heat. Without a second thought, he broke through it with his shoulder, sending shards flying. The flames roared behind them as they jumped into the open air.

Time seemed to slow down as they fell, the heat of the fire giving way to the cool rush of wind. Below them, the pool sparkled in the sunlight, a welcome sight amid the chaos. Henry tightened his grip on the man, praying they'd hit their mark.

With a huge splash, they plunged into the pool. The water enveloped them, the flames snuffed out in an instant. Henry surfaced, gasping for air, and pulled the man up with him. The man's fire had been extinguished, and for the first time, he looked calm.

Henry looked up at the building, the fire still raging, but the people were safe. He had done it.

"You okay?" Henry asked, swimming to the edge of the pool.

The man nodded, coughing. "I... I think so. Thank you. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. please help me stop this."

"I know," Henry said, pulling himself out of the water and helping the man out too. "We'll figure it out. But for now, let's get you somewhere safe."

Henry took the man to a fireproof cell in seven labs before the guy even had a chance to process what was happening. "I will find a way to help you control your powers, but for now you're safe, those people are safe."

the guy gave henry gave henry one last hopeful look before henry sealed the cell shut.