The Liberty War || Infinity War & Endgame

Chapter Thirteen: Eyes of a Child

Music is "Casualty" by Hidden Citizens feat. Tash.

Picture is of Assistant Chief Gerard A. Barbara as he looks up at the burning towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 in New York City. Moments later, he would go in, never to return. Photo by David Handschuh of the NY Daily News Archive.

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Eyes of a Child

{September 11, 2001 -- Seventeen Years Ago}

N E W Y O R K

I'm not alone for long. I hear shouting behind me, the familiar voices of Olympia and Thomas. The two firefighters I've known since the Academy follow quickly behind me, their gazes set for the burning building ahead of us. I see the engine of the second plane fall through more of the floors, settling in the center of the building as the blades continue to spin and spew metal shards.

When I get to the building, I'm unsure of what to do next. I hear screaming inside, but I don't have the proper equipment to handle a continually exploding fire. I know there are people trapped on the other side of the building, but the engine could fall on top of them at any moment.

Then I hear it, the sound of a child crying.

I don't hesitate. I don't slow but pick up speed. I shield my eyes and run straight into the building, letting my uniform take the blunt force of the fire. The ash makes me cough and my eyes water, but I continue onward. If only I'd kept that damn helmet.

"Imogene!" Olympia shouts from the front of the building.

I turn to glance over my shoulder. Both Olympia and Thomas are trapped outside as the front of the building collapses, sealing me inside. I have no exit and no backup. If I'm going to get out of this building alive, I'll have to make my own exit.

The engine starts to shift overhead. It only makes me move faster. I look around, desperately searching for survivors. All around me I see dead bodies. Scorched, battered, crushed people who were dead the moment the engine collapsed the structure. I move quickly past them, knowing there's nothing I can do for them now, and head towards the continually crying child.

"I'm coming!" I manage to shout, instantly regretting opening my mouth to let the ash enter. I cough it away.

The child starts crying even louder. Either they're in more danger or I'm getting closer. I pray it's the latter. I shuffle along the hallway, dodging holes in the floor and falling debris. I roll out of the way of a blade from the engine falling through. The sharp metal misses my face by less than six inches, and I breathe a shaky sigh of relief.

The child's cries stop suddenly. It's enough to make me pause and listen intently, using my hearing along to search for the sound that has been guiding me through the building. When I hear nothing for a long moment, my eyes widen as a though of horror crosses my mind.

No. I won't let myself think it. I'm not too late.

"Darling?" I call out, covering my mouth with my hand. "Darling, shout something! Let me find you!" There's no response, and my heart starts to pound even harder in my chest, if that were possible. "Damn it!"

The engine above my head shivers, sending vibrations through my body. It's slipping. I have a minute, maybe less. I could only have seconds, but I won't give up. I will find this child. Everyone in this building is dead. If there's even one person still alive, I will save them.

I press onward, pushing debris and metal out of my way. I fight the fire, forcing myself to keep moving through the blaze. The child's voice is still silent, so I follow the direction where I last heard it. Just ahead, to the light, in a lower room. I still can't tell what this building used to be. It appears to be a warehouse.