Ultra Girl; Origin Story

Chapter 4: Fire!

Walking home, I start to think about the homework in my bag and wondered if it was going to be hard. Probably would. Especially since I suck at science, which is most of my homework. Being gone for two weeks sucks!

Suddenly a horn blasted in my ears and I look to my left. An emergency vehicle was barreling down the road, the road I'm standing in. I jump back to the curb, my heart racing as it missed me by inches. I put out my hands to catch myself as I tripped over my own feet and skinned them, but just barely.

I look to the vehicle as it continued to hurry down, gently rubbing my hands. I was about to continue to walk home, but then I saw it, and my stomach sunk.

Smoke, rising in thick clouds into the sky. It was close by, close enough that you could smell it. Without thinking, I ran in the direction the vehicle had disappeared to. I was running, but it didn't feel like I was. It was almost as if I was a puppet on strings, desperately trying to get away from its master.

Finally, I made it to the area where the fire was. An entire house was engulfed in flames, bright... orange... red.... and yellow flames... There was something about it that made me feel awed but at the same time, they terrified me...

My attention was torn from the fire as the sounds of yelling reached my ears. I looked toward the sound and saw a woman, frantically yelling and trying to get past the firefighters and the officer holding her back. It was only when I got closer, could I hear what the woman was yelling.

"PLEASE!!" She screamed. "I HAVE TO GO BACK!!!" Even as far away as I was, I could see the tears spilling over her ash-covered face.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Said the officer.

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!!! MY DAUGHTER IS STILL IN THERE!!!"

Just for a moment, just a single moment, I could see in my mind's eye, what the girl must have been experiencing... Surrounded by fire... scared... shaking... crying... helpless... That was all I needed.

"Don't worry, we'll get her out, but for now she needs her mother to be waiting for her, so please, just-" The officer stopped himself as he looked up. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

I ignored him. I pass the firefighters who were caught off guard by the officer. They quickly snapped out of their shock as some tried to fight the growing fire while others tried to stop me. But they were too late. I threw off my bag from my shoulder to the ground; to get rid of the extra weight. I ran as fast as I could and slid through the front door. Before anyone could drag me out, part of the ceiling came crashing down and blocked the door. Just before the doorway was blocked completely, I looked at the woman and smiled. 

"Hello?! Can Anyone Hear Me?!" I yell into the house. I listen closely but it was hard to hear anything other than the roaring of the fire. The flames were getting bigger and bigger by the minute. The smoke was everywhere and was seeping into my lungs. I untied the hoodie from around my waist and covered my mouth with it.

That's when I heard it, a voice coming from upstairs. I ran up without a moment's hesitation.

Once I was upstairs in the hall, I called out again. "Where are you!?"

"Help!" Yelled a voice. It seemed so small compared to the roaring of the fire. The yell had come from the door to my left. I put my hand on the door, regretting it immediately.

"Gah-ha!" I cried, pulling my burnt hand away from the heated metal door handle. I glance at my red hand and then looked at my surroundings. There wasn't anything I could break down the door. The edges of it were already starting to glow with the fire. I couldn't think of anything else. So, I began slamming into the door with my shoulder. Again, and again and again. Finally, there was a small piece that fell.