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She waddled off to the till, leaving me to drown in my mortification.
I moved away from the aisle I was in and went down to the pencil color section. This was what I got for talking out loud. Next time I need to keep my big mouth shut.
I wanted to know if my day could get any worse, and then it did.
It all happened so fast that I don’t remember all of it. But one minute, I was trying to choose between a pack of 50 or 25 colored pencils, and then I heard the explosion before being thrown back by the force of the large burst. My back hit the wall opposite the section I was in. Then it all went black from there.
14
NATHANIEL
“Engine 42! Ambulance! Explosion on Deerfield and Main.” The alarm rang throughout the entire section.
Everyone rushed to the brigade and put on our gear. The truck stormed out of the house and headed to the explosion site. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as we prepared for what could be a messy situation. These were the moments that I lived for. My senses became laser-focused on the task, and my body flexed as I prepared for what lay ahead.
“And here I thought this would be an easy day.” Xander put his helmet on beside me. “Time to be a hero, I guess.”
He always said that every time we left the station. He had this weird superstition that something terrible would happen if he didn’t say it. I didn’t believe in all that, but I have to say, with every call we took, we never had one casualty.
“Okay, listen up!” Brian, our lieutenant, commanded our attention. “I need everyone ready to go on this. I don’t want anyone taking any risks. It’s a crafts store with some highly flammable stuff in there. I need clear radio and clear communication. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!” we all replied.
When we got to the scene, it was exactly what I had expected. Flames engulfed the roof, and smoke leaked through the windows. Shards of broken glass scattered all over the floor.
People raced out of the building coughing as they broke through the gloom of smoke surrounding them.
“Nate, Xander, and Daniel head inside to check for survivors. Franklin, Abby, and Josh set up a perimeter and get these people as far away from this place as possible. Johnny, man the hose. We need to get this fire under control before this whole thing blows.”
After we got our orders, we all dispersed.
“Don’t be an idiot, Xander.” I put my gas mask on while walking toward the flames.
“Don’t try to steal my thunder, Cane.” He laughed, putting his mask on before heading into the burning building.
As soon as I entered past the flames, my instincts kicked in. I did my best to search through the smoke for anybody who needed help to make it out.
“Fire department, call out!” I yelled as I moved through the smoke. I tried fine-tuning my ear to hear any meek or low responses. “Fire department, call out!”
Broken pieces of wood and glass lay on the floor. Pencils and papers littered on the ground that I walked on.
I turned the corner expecting not to see anyone, but then I paused when I saw a body lying unconscious on the floor. She had her back to me, but I could see her chest as it rose and fell.
I rushed toward her. “Ma’am, are you okay—Amelia?”
I turned her body so she lay on her back. Soot covered her olive skin, but even with all the specks of dirt on her face, I could still tell it was her.
“Amelia! Amelia, can you hear me?” I slapped her face a few times, but she was unresponsive. “Dammit, Amelia…please.”
I wasted no time placing her on my shoulders and approached the exit. I could hear the creaking of the wooden beams above me. I knew that they were mere seconds from giving out.
I tightened my hold on her and picked up my pace. Blood rushed past my ears as I tried to see through the smoke to get us to safety.
“Nate, you need to get out of there,” Brian said over the radio. “Building is about to give out.”
“Moving,” I said back. “Shit.”
I moved around all the fallen debris until I finally left the exit. I had made it two meters when another explosion sent me flying to the ground. Amelia fell from my grip and tumbled to the ground beside me. I immediately covered her with my body to keep any flying debris away.
