The Cure

X

I'm stuck. I literally have no clue what I should do now.

I find myself standing in the middle of the road outside the warehouse and am only focusing on taking deep breaths in and out because I'm sure if I stopped thinking about that and other things instead, I'd probably pass out.

Griffin's in jail for something he didn't do.

That's a problem.

Unless we procure the real criminals Griffin will stay there.

I can't just waltz up and say there's a big mistake, either.

That would have to involve admitting I was present and then I'd get thrown in the slam too!

Yeah, I definitely don't know how this is going to work out.

Not only Griffin's situation do I have to deal with now, but also my own.

All that dirt in the warehouse is the exact same consistency and color of the first all over our kitchen the other day.

Either Ofelia has been in two places and been very busy or the same people who were in the warehouse - doing heaven knows what with that dirt - were also in my home.

I admit that sort of freaks me out a bit.

I also will admit that I'm not the best person to go to when planning a big rescue mission.

I am not good at planning anything.

Not birthday parties or Christmas dinners and especially not rescue missions.

Not only would I probably make things worse in any attempt but I would require help and any help would require telling someone what we've done.

I bite my lip. This thinking is making my brain hurt.

I slowly start off in the direction of the factory square in hope that something will come to me while I'm walking before I have to get home.

By the time I reach the square it's unnervingly quiet.

It's not an odd time of day, where everyone seems to be occupied in thought (thought that happens often enough).

No, there's something strange and chilling about the world at this moment.

I find myself in the center of the road and simply stand, as if I'm waiting for something to happen, even though I can't guess what it could be.

Then it comes. The loudest, ear piercing scream ever heard in the history of the world. 

When you hear a scream, there's always that bit of exhilaration that courses through you, but most of the time afterwards it's followed by relief when you realize it's only children playing tag or someone accidently dropping a dish.

After a scream, there's usually the relief of recognition that everything's actually alright.

I do not feel that. I hear the scream and when it comes again and is combined with shouts, yells and even sobs, I know everything is definitely not alright.

The quiet is disrupted and soon every door in town is open.

The streets immediately become flooded with people all frantically looking about, some are crying; others shouting over the consistently pounding yells and screams from nearby.

I'm surrounded by people and try to push my way somewhere definite, but I just wander as I drift on the current of ever moving faces. 

"Where's it coming from?" is the remark I hear most often and after only a few seconds more I hear someone shout, "from the factory! It's coming from the factory!"

Then the tide changes and I'm pressed along towards the factory gates where men start rattling the bars and shaking the locks, trying to enter.

It's no use. They can't get in without security pass codes opening them. 

Then there's another loud noise, like a bang of a gun and then an explosion.

Several women scream and I turn to see half the factory's roof being blown off in a shower of fire and metal sparks. I find myself crying, not because I'm scared or I know anyone who works in the factory – Griffin's the only one and well, he's occupied at the moment – it's enough to see other people around me in tears.

Nearly all the men in Ash work in the factory; husbands, brothers, and sons to these people.

To see anyone in pain is enough for my grief. 

Finally, we hear sirens and everyone moves away from the street and onto the sidewalk before a fire truck comes whizzing around the corner and stops in front of the gates, which are opened immediately to allow the truck access through. 

The gates stay open in scuttle and after a few moments and people start to realize they aren't going to shut, everyone runs through the gates and down the road towards the factory.

I force myself against the flow.

I have no desire to see that place; no wish to be contaminated by its filth.

It shocks me how everyone can be so...callous. 

I manage to escape the excitement and cross back across the road to the opposite side of the factory gates.

I find myself breathing hard as I watch from a distance men fight vainly to put out the flames on the north side of the building.

I see the crowd try to press forward but are stopped by police officers and security guards and pushed roughly back towards the street.

What were they possibly trying to do?

Get inside the factory and see what? People lying hurt or worse? I clench my fists, gnawing at my cheek in anxiety. 

Once everyone is back outside the gates, I hear one of the officers shout. "Go back to your homes!" he yells.

"Watch the news if you want to know anything. Just stay out of the way!" There are still people crying, but all noise that had come from the factory has dimmed, all except the steady pulse of the flames.

I fear for one slight moment that our town will burn to the ground. 

The last thing this place needs in more death and Ashes.