Fire at a Distance

Part 3: Chapter 11

Something seemed off, Alexander didn't use a pressure switch, so why would William? Something Else is the same as before, something was there last time. Something... or someone? It hit me like a ton of bricks, it had nothing to do with Piperfield., he wants to kill who killed his brother. Even if it means taking his own life in the process.

He wants to kill me.

I jumped off the car and looked around the garage level, not a single car... William checked my file, so he knew what position I was in that day. That's why he advanced me. I would be eligible for missions as an alpha. That's why he didn't kill me with the needle, it had to be perfect. Poetic even.

"Fox, clear for shot, bomb is a decoy, taking fire." Luke said.

"No!" It was too late, I spun around and felt as if I were glued to the spot. A red light flashed at the back of the garage and instantly I took off in a full sprint. I don't know what I was thinking, I was no match for the bomb. Real life is not like those action films where they run from a bomb unharmed.

The explosion threw me like a rag doll. I slammed my back into a support beam and pain shot through my entire body. I pulled my legs to my chest as the fire raged around the sides of the beam. A second explosion went off, my best guess is that it was the car. Suddenly random gun shots started going off. The sniper casings where exploding in the heat. I held my arm close to my chest and slowly rose to my feet. I stayed behind the beam for protection and pulled my hood over my head. My sweater started to stick to my bare back as I looked for a way out.

"F...ox... com..e...in...f...ox.." The call was scratchy and distorted. I couldn't get a radio signal out, the explosion must have damaged my headset. I could already hear the Police sirens and I needed to disappear, quick.

"Come on, Fox... think." I told myself.

Five minutes later a second explosion went off, William probably has this whole place wired. I sighed  and leaned my against the beam, something metal hit my head. "Well I'll be."

Using my good arm I pulled the slack from the water hose and forced the knob. I staggered unprepared for the kick back, but caught my balance. I started to clear the fire around me and continued to clear as much as I could. It got to the point that the water had no affect on the raging flames. At this point I was having bad coughing fits. This could be my final act.

Not today.

I surveyed the area that was now clear, but the fire began to creep back. "Of course!" I yelled at it. I looked up at the ceiling and to my amazment I had a way out. Pipes ran across the entire garage. I took off in a full sprint at the beam and kicked off of it. I got barely enough jump off the ground to catch the pipe. Fighting back teh pain in my arm, I pulled myself up on top of the line of piping. "Alright, I can do this." Slowly I began to make my way across the garage level and praye the flames wouldn't rise any higher.

I rolled unto my back and toke off my headset. Carefully I rewired the connection and put it back on. "Fox to ground squad." I rasped, choking on fumes.

"Fox, you're getting hot at the garage. What happened?"

"Tell me about it. You shot William and the garage went up in flames, I need a way out." I told Luke. My lungs burned like crazy.

"You need to get to the edge, Fox. Frost has you covered."

"Roger." I continued across the piping and dropped to a clear area. I stood on the side barrier and watched as a helicopter hovered not too far away. Luke stood at the open side door and dropped a ladder.

I looked down at the ground below and took a deep breath. I stepped down from the barrier and backed up as far as the flames would allow me. I ran towards the edge as fast as I could and jumped, pushing off the barrier.

I caught the bottom rung with my good arm and slowly started to pull myself up the ladder far enough to get my feet on a rung.