Convergence - The Last Science #2.1 - In Plain Sight

B2: Chapter 8 - Making a Difference - III

  Far to the south in the suburban sprawl, a window had lit up. Not with the steady even light of a bulb, or even the flicker of a candle. No, this was something more deep red and intense.

  It was growing quickly.

  Hailey scanned the area from their high perch. Come on, someone respond.

  An emergency light almost blinded her, forcing her eyes shut for a split-second. A fire truck speeding down the road.

  It was going the wrong way. Some other emergency.

  Hailey bounded to her feet. Jessica spluttered awake, apparently having dozed off. She tugged Hailey's hand to get her attention.

  Hailey pointed at the growing orange glow out in the distance. Jessica had invented the spell they both used to see such distances, and as soon as she'd cast it, she understood what Hailey was asking. She hesitated, while the fire began to spread through the whole complex.

  What is she waiting for? Hailey thought, dismayed. "Come on, Jess. We have to do something." She mimed a diving motion, then gathering something up with both arms and holding it close. Jessica frowned. She looked nervous, brushing back her brown-and-blue hair with a trembling finger. After a moment, she nodded.

  Hailey nodded back confidently. Before they could take off, Jessica conjured a tiny flame in midair. She choked it away, but immediately shook her head. Hailey wasn't sure what she meant, and tilted her head to the side.

  Jessica repeated it, then pointed at the fire and shook her head again.

  "We can't put it out," Hailey realized aloud. "We can't explain that." She nodded again to show she understood.

  Jessica threw her arms around Hailey and they took off, flying out at breakneck speed before anyone on the observation deck might see them. In what seemed like no time at all, Hailey was already flaring out her wings to slow them down as they approached the apartment building.

  The fire was spreading quickly. Hailey had read about it once, how modern homes tended to burn very quickly with all the cluttered fast-burning fuel filling every room of the place. There were screams issuing from some of the higher rooms, and smoke billowing out of the top.

  Hailey glanced around again in midair, but she still didn't see a fire truck in sight. Jessica clung to her, her eyes shut tight. Hailey took a deep breath and dove for the top floor window. At the last second, she sent a burst of magic into window frame, shoving it wide open.

  They landed easily on the top floor hallway, just as one of the apartment doors opened. A bleary-eyed man in a nightshirt rubbed his eyes, staring at the duo.

  "...the hell are you?" he muttered.

  "Housekeeping." Hailey reached forward and pulled him roughly into the hall. "You need to get moving. There's a fire downstairs. Go to the fire escape."

  "Fire?" The man's eyes lit up. His adrenaline was finally kicking in at the perceived danger. He turned back to his apartment. "But I—"

  "Your stuff or your life, dude," Hailey said firmly. She yanked him back and shoved him toward the fire escape, a bit more roughly than she intended. "Get going."

  As she did, a small explosion rumbled through the building. They all winced. A shower of dust fell from the ceiling.

  The danger finally processed through the guy's skull. "Yeah. Okay."

  "Does anyone else live on this floor?"

  "Last two doors on the right." He turned and bolted for the fire escape at the other end. The alarm finally started to shriek as he plowed through the door.