The Orb: Beginning

Chapter 7

I woke up early today. I was not in a good mood and did not wish to see my so called family today at all. I combed my soft black hair into a ponytail and wore a grey hoodie with jeans.

I climbed down the stairs and went to the kitchen. Good, nobody's awake yet.
I took a carton of chocolate milkshake and tip-toed out the house. I passed the old mansion once again and I felt like going inside.

However I pushed this instinct to the back of my mind and boarded the bus.
Atleast I would have a normal day at school with my friends. I kept thinking about how the wind blew Tanya down.
Maybe it was just a coincidence although in my heart I knew it wasn't.

"Hey Liana." Sara came towards me. "Hey! So what's your first class today?"
"History. What's yours?"
"Same. Let's go." I said and we went to class. The rest of the day was pretty normal. My mind kept wandering to the ' air incident ' and my weird dream.

"Ms. Dawson, can you tell me the name of the scientist who proposed the Apical Cell Theory?" The teacher asked. Shit, I wasn't paying attention. I stood up and thought for a while. "Hoffmeister." I answered. I did do my homework and some extra reading yesterday.

"Correct. Please take your seat." She said and I sat down. Phew! That could have been catastrophic. "You should really stop daydreaming." Ivy whispered from behind.

I was happy to hear the lunch bell. And I exited my class. I went to the cafeteria as usual and grabbed an apple. I wasn't that hungry. So I went to the courtyard instead. "What is the matter with you today?" Sara asked as she sat next to me.

I wasn't sure if she would even believe me. Before I could answer I smelled something. The smell of smoke and something burning filled my nose.
"Sara do you smell that?" I asked her and she nodded.

"It's coming from that way." I said and we ran towards the smoke. The smell grew stronger and the smoke grew thicker. We stopped when we saw that the school gym was on fire.

The gym was located in a separate building away from the main building so that would explain why nobody saw the fire yet. "Do you think that there's someone inside?" I asked Sara who looked petrified.

"No, it can't be. They shifted the gym to the main building just yesterday. It's probably empty." She said. "We should warn the staff." I said. Just then I saw Chelsea running towards us. "What on earth is going on here?"

"Chelsea go get help." I said and she immediately ran to the main building.
The fire was now increasing. We watched as the orange flame spread across the building.

"I hear someone." Sara said out of nowhere. "We need to help them." She said and started climbing a ladder which led to a window full of smoke.
"Sara don't. It's dangerous. " I said trying my best to warn my friend.

"Hey where did that fire come from?" Roxy asked me. I didn't even see her coming. Ivy was also here. "It's Sara. She heard someone and she climbed  inside." I said pointing towards the window. "Don't worry. She'll be okay." Ivy tried to calm me.

"Help! Somebody please help!" We heard someone's muffled  voice from the main entrance of the building. Without a word Roxy ran to the main entrance and entered the burning building.

Sara finally came outside the window and relief washed over me. There was nobody with her but she was carrying something. Suddenly the ladder started shaking and I was afraid that she would fall.

The small creepers on the ground turned to thick vines and grew over the ladder making sure it stood strong. I saw Ivy lifting her hands absent mindedly. The creepers grew taller and secured the ladder as Sara slowly climbed down.

The wind started blowing which caused the fire to spread further. Urgh! I wish the wind would just stop. No sooner than I thought that, it happened. The strong breeze disappeared.

I helped Sara down the ladder. As soon as she got down we shared a hug. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" I asked her with concern. "I'm fine. Just exhausted."
"Did you find someone up there?" I asked remembering why she went there in the first place.

"Well, sort of." She said revealing a little grey kitten hiding under her jacket.
"Don't worry little one. You're safe now." She said holding the kitten like a baby.

I heard footsteps behind me and saw Chelsea running towards us. "They called the fire department. Some teachers are one their way. They told not to enter the building. " she said trying to catch her breath.

"Too late." Ivy said pointing to the entrance through which Roxy had entered but not yet returned. "Oh no. We have to do something." Chelsea said with worry.

There was a low creaking noise and the water pipes nearby exploded sending water towards the building like a hose.
The water wasn't much but it managed to reduce the fire near the entrance.

There was still too much smoke to see clearly. I moved my hands instinctively and the smoke started to move away from the area. I could now see someone coming out of the building.

Roxy walked out with a small group of students. But as she did so the flames mysteriously started moving away from her. "Let's go help her out." I said and we ran towards her.

Most of the staff had now arrived and they had taken the group of students and Roxy to the infirmary. It was a plain grey room that had about ten hospital beds and a couple of medicine cabinets.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked Roxy who was sipping a glass of water. "Yeah, I'm good. You should go check on your brother though." She said shifting her gaze towards Trevor.

I never considered him to be my brother. But I was worried about him.
"Trevor, what happened?" I asked him.
"None of your business. It's not a big deal." He said with that casual lazy tone.

"It will be a big deal when you meet the principal." The nurse said. " You are all required to see Mr. Brickman regarding this incident." All of us? I wonder what awaits us.