Fire's Catching

Chapter 8 - I love you

We run as fast as we can towards the fire. Grey is obviously faster than us because of their new leg-strength. Perhaps they can try out their giga-bite for real? I notice Joy struggling to keep up with me. I enjoy working out, she doesn't. She never works out, no wonder why her stamina is lacking. I grab tightly onto her arm to make sure she doesn't fall behind. As I pull her towards me, she shrieks, but doesn't stop. That's good. I have to automatically slow down a little bit because of the extra baggage, but it's fine.

We arrive at the scene of the smoke a little after Grey. I see them helping a woman with a child out of the building. Flames are engulfing every possible surface of the structure, forcing all different types of people out. I can't believe it. I really thought smoking and killing animals was the worst of Valentina. It isn't. This is an apartment building. Innocent lives occupy this residential lot. How can one human being do that to someone else, let alone several someone elses.

I run up to Grey, taking over for them before they charge back in. The woman Grey was helping is coughing intensely, almost dropping her baby. I look her in the eyes, and she nods. I grab her little girl. The mother falls down to the asphalt, blood splattering onto the rough, gray surface. Her lungs must be completely torn from the horrid air. The small being in my arms is crying for her mom, whom is in no condition to take care of her at the moment. I bounce her up and down in my arms, trying to calm her down to no avail. The tiny eyes residing on her face are red from smoke, and snot is running down her cheek. I feel my own eyes water from the sight. Again, how can one human being do that to someone else?

Joy lays her hand on my shoulder. I look at her, barely managing to see through the tears. She smiles a melancholic smile and reaches out. I hand over the child. Joy's expression changes and she shakes her head towards the woman on the ground. I look down, not having paid enough attention to her because of the girl.

She's dead.

I don't need to double-check.

I know she is.

The bench I'm sitting at is cold. It's summer, but my skin has gotten confused by the immense heat from the fire. Grey got thirteen people out, seven survived. We still don't know how many were left inside. Reporters started asking them questions, so we left. We left the child with the first responders, and the mother on the ground. Dead. She was dead. Because of Valentina. That baby has to grow up without her mother.

I put my head in my hands.

"Hey, Forrest."

I look up to see Grey standing in front of me.

"Mind if I sit down?"

I shake my head, moving over to make space.

"Hey," they glance over at me. "That was rough."

"That's putting it lightly," I respond, breathing out heavily and annoyed.

"Are you okay?"

I glance back at them.

"No, of course I'm not!" I sit up straight. "How would I ever be okay after watching a woman die like that? After holding her child in my arms, knowing that she will never have a mom again?"

Grey shifts their eyes down to their fidgeting hands. I don't think they know what to say.

"You were a hero today! You saved so many people! I did nothing. I didn't pay attention, and someone died. It was my fault," tears start to stream down my cheeks. They land on my jeans, bloodstained. I lift up my hands to look at them. Her blood. My tears are mixing with her blood. How symbolic. How fucking symbolic.