Skye and Penelope sat in the center and everyone else sat in a circle around them. Outside they heard Detective Salvino speak over the police car loudspeaker:
“Come out with your hands up. That’s a direct order. Everyone come out with hands up.”
Inside, they all sat as if they heard nothing. Skye took the gas can and poured some on her arms and rubbed it into her skin like lotion. She passed it to Penelope. Penelope rubbed the gas on her chest and up her neck in a massaging motion. The other members scooted closer and held out their arms. They rubbed gas on each other and giggled playfully.
The loud speaker again:
“Come out with your hands up. Everyone out with hands up. We will be forced to move in if you do not follow orders.”
Penelope stood up and skipped to the kitchen. She opened the drawer next to the stove and took out a matchbox. She skipped back to the living room and sat down. The Darius walked into the living room from the hallway.
“The Darius. You made it,” Penelope said.
“I wouldn’t miss it. The Darkness is here. We must set ourselves free and together join the Light. I have one more special gift for you all. It’s through Freedom Park, past the coy pond. I will bring it to you all. But, you must begin your journey to the Light. I’ll meet you there when I return with your gift. The Darius smiled. As the members sat on the floor, he walked around and touched their heads. They hugged his legs.
“We’ll meet you there,” Penelope said, “We’ll meet you there.”
All the members said it together, “We’ll meet you there. We’ll meet you there. We’ll meet you there.”
Loud speaker:
“This is your last warning. Come out with your hands up.”
The Darius turned around and walked to the kitchen. Penelope watched him and knew she’d see him soon. He walked out of Freedom House and into Freedom Park. And just like that, he was gone.
They all continued to chant, “We’ll meet you there. We’ll meet you there.” Penelope lit the match and in one second, the crisp sound of flame filled the air. Penelope’s face was bright from the match as she held it and stared into it. Then she dropped it onto her lap. The flame that started out as an infant, the flame that could’ve been put out with a thumb and index finger, hit the floor and crawled across the floor in all directions. Within seconds, it scattered over the living room, immersing all the Freedom House souls within its grip. No one got up. No one ran. And no one screamed.
Within the clouded smoke and bright yellow flames, the people of Freedom House melted into their skin and turned black like tar. They held hands but their flesh peeled off into each other’s palms. The flames split into two paths, one to the kitchen and one down the hallway. The front windows of the house shattered out with a loud cracking and the cloud of smoke and blinding flames pushed out and hugged the outside walls of Freedom House.
Detective Salvino and the officers ducked down behind their vehicles and covered their heads.
“You’re fucking kidding me,” Detective Salvino said out loud. He grabbed his radio: This is Detective Salvino. We need the fire department here five minutes ago. 1648 Mill Road off the 1. Officer down and kids inside. Over”
A voice immediately replied, “Confirmed. Fire department on their way.”
The flames multiplied and climbed higher and higher. Detective Salvino shouted over the sound of the angry flames, ripping and roaring out of control, “Detective Arc is inside. I’m going around the back to see if there’s a way in. Fire department is on their way.”
Detective Salvino held his gun with both hands. He moved fast and went around the left side of the house. A small stone path led into Freedom Park, the animals were to the left. The chickens were running frantically in their cage. The heat overwhelmed his skin. He moved back, away from the house. Whatever was inside had no chance. Any attempt to go inside would be a free ride to death. Train will be leaving in five minutes. Hop on the Death Express.
He went back the way he came and walked out to the front. Police cars surrounded the house and officers watched without any way to help. Fire trucks came wailing up, sirens screaming over the rumbling fire. Firemen jumped out of the truck and executed each action, every moment, with swift precision. They communicated with their eyes and each one had a particular set of tasks assigned. They moved fast. In less than a minute they were trying to get the fire under control.
The one in charge walked up to Detective Salvino, “Detective. Heard there’s an officer inside, that correct?”
Detective Salvino stared at the house with a mix of anger and worry, “Correct.”
The fireman left Detective Salvino alone and went over to a group of firemen huddled together and began giving directions. They were nodding their heads and four of them walked to the front door, broke the door down, and disappeared inside the house.
Detective Salvino watched as thick, heavy water shot out of the hoses and crashed against the black smoke and slithering flames. He watched as they battled each other even though the fire had won, and they all knew it. He stood there, and just watched.
-Written by Sterp
All Rights Reserved
“Come out with your hands up. That’s a direct order. Everyone come out with hands up.”
Inside, they all sat as if they heard nothing. Skye took the gas can and poured some on her arms and rubbed it into her skin like lotion. She passed it to Penelope. Penelope rubbed the gas on her chest and up her neck in a massaging motion. The other members scooted closer and held out their arms. They rubbed gas on each other and giggled playfully.
The loud speaker again:
“Come out with your hands up. Everyone out with hands up. We will be forced to move in if you do not follow orders.”
Penelope stood up and skipped to the kitchen. She opened the drawer next to the stove and took out a matchbox. She skipped back to the living room and sat down. The Darius walked into the living room from the hallway.
“The Darius. You made it,” Penelope said.
“I wouldn’t miss it. The Darkness is here. We must set ourselves free and together join the Light. I have one more special gift for you all. It’s through Freedom Park, past the coy pond. I will bring it to you all. But, you must begin your journey to the Light. I’ll meet you there when I return with your gift. The Darius smiled. As the members sat on the floor, he walked around and touched their heads. They hugged his legs.
“We’ll meet you there,” Penelope said, “We’ll meet you there.”
All the members said it together, “We’ll meet you there. We’ll meet you there. We’ll meet you there.”
Loud speaker:
“This is your last warning. Come out with your hands up.”
The Darius turned around and walked to the kitchen. Penelope watched him and knew she’d see him soon. He walked out of Freedom House and into Freedom Park. And just like that, he was gone.
They all continued to chant, “We’ll meet you there. We’ll meet you there.” Penelope lit the match and in one second, the crisp sound of flame filled the air. Penelope’s face was bright from the match as she held it and stared into it. Then she dropped it onto her lap. The flame that started out as an infant, the flame that could’ve been put out with a thumb and index finger, hit the floor and crawled across the floor in all directions. Within seconds, it scattered over the living room, immersing all the Freedom House souls within its grip. No one got up. No one ran. And no one screamed.
Within the clouded smoke and bright yellow flames, the people of Freedom House melted into their skin and turned black like tar. They held hands but their flesh peeled off into each other’s palms. The flames split into two paths, one to the kitchen and one down the hallway. The front windows of the house shattered out with a loud cracking and the cloud of smoke and blinding flames pushed out and hugged the outside walls of Freedom House.
Detective Salvino and the officers ducked down behind their vehicles and covered their heads.
“You’re fucking kidding me,” Detective Salvino said out loud. He grabbed his radio: This is Detective Salvino. We need the fire department here five minutes ago. 1648 Mill Road off the 1. Officer down and kids inside. Over”
A voice immediately replied, “Confirmed. Fire department on their way.”
The flames multiplied and climbed higher and higher. Detective Salvino shouted over the sound of the angry flames, ripping and roaring out of control, “Detective Arc is inside. I’m going around the back to see if there’s a way in. Fire department is on their way.”
Detective Salvino held his gun with both hands. He moved fast and went around the left side of the house. A small stone path led into Freedom Park, the animals were to the left. The chickens were running frantically in their cage. The heat overwhelmed his skin. He moved back, away from the house. Whatever was inside had no chance. Any attempt to go inside would be a free ride to death. Train will be leaving in five minutes. Hop on the Death Express.
He went back the way he came and walked out to the front. Police cars surrounded the house and officers watched without any way to help. Fire trucks came wailing up, sirens screaming over the rumbling fire. Firemen jumped out of the truck and executed each action, every moment, with swift precision. They communicated with their eyes and each one had a particular set of tasks assigned. They moved fast. In less than a minute they were trying to get the fire under control.
The one in charge walked up to Detective Salvino, “Detective. Heard there’s an officer inside, that correct?”
Detective Salvino stared at the house with a mix of anger and worry, “Correct.”
The fireman left Detective Salvino alone and went over to a group of firemen huddled together and began giving directions. They were nodding their heads and four of them walked to the front door, broke the door down, and disappeared inside the house.
Detective Salvino watched as thick, heavy water shot out of the hoses and crashed against the black smoke and slithering flames. He watched as they battled each other even though the fire had won, and they all knew it. He stood there, and just watched.
-Written by Sterp
All Rights Reserved
