AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Thirty-six
Ruby had seen fires before but this one freaked her out. Not only were there dangers from the flames and smoke, but one had to also be aware of the bullets flying, burning vehicles, and people killing indiscriminately.
When she saw bodies flying out of a high window, her heart missed a beat. How could this kind of warfare happen in the streets of America? It sickened her soul.
But she had a job to do and working along with the others on her team, they geared up and began using their hoses to water down the growing flames. As they traveled from one building to the next, the screams grew, and panicked folks were everywhere.
One apartment had people rushing outside to safety while the turmoil of the gang war raged around them. It was a horrifying sight. Children shouting with fear while close by, others killed in an orgy of violence.
When Ruby heard the orders from Command to all units, she repeated them. “Operate in offensive mode, prepare for interior fire attack with one and three-quarters line… awaiting RIC. Engine 1 take RIC and Truck 14 provide forcible entry for fire attack to Engine 14.”
Once they had their position, she began to move with the others. It was the child in her peripheral vision who caught her attention and had her leave her crew as they worked to enter a burning building.
Sharing her predicament with the Chief-in-Charge, she headed in the direction where the little girl waited to be rescued. No sooner had she arrived at the spot where she’d seen her, she noticed a man grabbing the girl and hauling her away.
Ruby let out a yell, “Hey. Leave that kid alone. Let her come to me. You’re taking her into a dangerous area over there.”
The male ignored her pleas, and when the youngster lost her footing, he continued dragging her by the arm while her poor body got scraped over the uneven, dirty ground. Ruby heard the panic in her screams of terror. “Let me go. Please. Let go.”
Running as fast as her equipment allowed, Ruby hurled herself at the asshole who’d been slowed down by the body still fighting to be free.
“Let her go, you bastard.” She raised her hand and scratched at his face, trying to gouge his eyes as taught by her self-defense trainer.
Releasing his hold on the girl, he grabbed at his eyes and Ruby tugged the child to her feet, screaming, “Run. Go. Back to the firefighters. They’ll look after you.”
As she swiveled to leave, hands seized her from behind and forced her to halt.
“Stop struggling, or I’ll shoot the kid.” For the first time, Ruby noticed the rifle clutched in his hand.
She did as she was told with the intention of waiting until the child had reached safety. Then she’d fight for her life. Except before that happened, a line of hostages appeared with gunmen mustering them in a pack to move together. Using the humans as a shield to escape from the police, the blackhearted cowards intended on gaining their escape by any means possible.
The man who had her arm pushed her toward the line, his voice filled with hatred, cruelty, and definite purpose. “You give me any trouble, bitch, and you’re dead. Got it? Now, keep moving.”
She tried. Looking in every direction, hoping to find a way out of her predicament, she trudged along, and then the stupid prick decided she wasn’t going fast enough and pushed her hard. That’s when her hip weakened and down she went.
