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“Uh, thank you?”
“If you’re stuck and can’t get out, sprinkle this all about.” He smiled. “Sounds crazy but just…use it.”
I tucked it into my pocket. “Fine. Now I have to go.”
I turned and ran, following my men. Hastings had just gotten the side door open, and we rushed in.
“Two to the left, two to the right, two center,” I ordered on coms.
I’d go center with Lincoln. He was behind me and crouching low as there was minimal space to walk that wasn’t ablaze.
“We have five minutes,” I said. “Search and rescue, after five we abort. We need to get a line or ten in here.”
Everyone responded. I hoped we’d have five minutes, but this place wasn’t going to stand much longer, and we needed to get the fire under control.
At the five-minute mark, I commanded everyone out.
Lincoln and I were almost to the door when a shout rang out.
“Is that a person?” Lincoln asked. I searched left, right, up, and everywhere I could see but saw nothing.
“Came from there.” Lincoln pointed to what appeared to be a restroom, maybe.
“Get out. I’ll check quickly.”
“Sir, no. We stay together; that’s what you always say.”
“Fine, stay outside the door and I’ll go in. I say run, you don’t argue.”
“Heard.”
I pushed through the bathroom doors and was greeted to a cool area, no sign of fire, and quiet.
“What in the…” I peered under the stalls and saw nothing.
“Anyone in here, call out.”
Silence.
“False alarm, Linc, I’m heading out.” I pulled on the handle but the door wouldn’t open. “Linc, can’t get out, push the door.”
There was no answer. “Linc!”
When there was still nothing, I used my body to slam against the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
“There once was a fireman named Easton who thought the loss of his wife was the worst day of his life. Only to discover his son would be another life he could not save. But oh, what do we have here? I see, the wee little fireman trapped with me.”
I turned and there stood a man with long black hair, onyx eyes, skin whiter than paper, and a sinister expression.
“Sir, are you hurt?”
He chuckled ominously. “No, I’m not. This fire could not hurt me.”
I was so confused, the crude words he’d said a moment ago were finally sinking in.
“Who are you, and how do you know my family?”
“Oh, how rude of me. My name is Arachnis. Finch is my brother. I believe you know Finch.”
