Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

The Great Fire written by Sabriel Goldstein (work in progress))


One day I was walking home from work at the Santa Maria Community Service building on Price Avenue. I was still half a mile from my place of residence when a great breeze started up. That was only the start of my problems though. A few blocks more, I hear screams and see people running in the opposite direction of me. I watch them for a few seconds, wondering what the hell was going on. Then I see it. A great wall of fire heading out in all directions. Smoke and flames were being thrown in every direction by the strong gusts of wind and the fire was spreading quickly. Fire trucks showed up within seconds and firefighters began to fight the fire but it was a losing battle and they called in help from the other staes and cities nearby. I saw members of the Bloods and other neighborhood gangs and ran towards them, gathering all of them up. Then I looked around at all of them and informed tham of a plan I had.

" There are people still inside there, trapped, but all the firefighters are needed out here to fight the fire. We should grab peoples cars and trucks and drive in there and gather as many survivors as we can." I said, yelling over the sound of the wind, fire, cries and sirens.

The others nodded in agreement. We told people who lived in the neighborhoods nearby and they agreed to lend us their cars. We all jumped into ones we liked. I, myself, jumped into a black, two door, four by four, Toyota Tacoma. We all drove off and went into the areas that were burning in search of survivors. When we found enough to fill up the vehicles we were driving, we would drive out and drop them off near medics. We continued this for hours while the fire departments all kept the fire under control but could not get it to die down at all. We had realized that the fire not only went all the way to Enright Ave, where we all started our expedition, but went 5 miles down West Eight Avenue and about three miles to each side. We were all still in when tornadoes started touching down all over inside the fire area. The firefighters were having trouble keeping the fire under control and we were all trapped inside. I zipped around and tried helping out as many of the others to find routes out of the fire pits as I could and had gotten all except myself and my friend Beth Coleman, aka Black, out. Then we realized we were really trapped, we were both togeth and there was fire coming ever closer to us on all sides. Black jumped out of her vehicle and went running for a house that was nearby and ran into the basement saying to come back for her later and I drove through the fire. I got my left arm, side, leg and face burned fairly badly and my eyesight was gone entirely but other than that, I had made it out just fine. We fought the fire and everything and it took almost an entire week to do so. By the time we did, we went back into the area to look for any survivors. many had made it down to the cellars where they should have been fairly safe, but all was torched and no one survived. We waited a month, in which I had made no contact with anyone, I just remained in my hotel room, which was paid for by the government since my house and foster family had all been burned in the fire. Then memorial service was held. I was in my Air Force Uniform and was one of the honour guard. Then I was surprised to see that the President of the United States of America was there and even more surprised when he handed out flags for each and every person who had died in the fire. Even though I was not family of the Coleman's, I still was give the flags for all of them. Then I became even more surprised when the president then started to hand out purple hearts to all of us who risked out lives and drove into that fire. The memorial service took place at St. Joseph's Cemetary, which was one of the many that were burned in the fire. There was a huge stone cub with the names of all that died in the fire etched into it as a memerandom for all to see in the future. I waited patiently for a cab to come and get me at the end of the ceremony to take me back to the hotel and was given yet another surprise. For a cab did indeed pull up in front of me, but as I went to find the door handle to climb in, a young man climbed out. I heard him shut the door and I stood at attention, frowning.

" I am very sorry to have to inform you of this sir, but you have come too late for the ceremony. It has already ended." I informed him gravely.

The man then looked at me, frowning himself. Due to my uniform and cover, he was unable to see the burns on my body or the whiteness in my eyes that revealed I was blind.

" It's me Sabs, it's Matt." he said solemnly.

I looked up towards him with a small smile, happy to hear his voice, to know it was him. He, on the other hand, frowned more deeply, for when I looked up, he was able to see the burns on my face and the whiteness in my eyes. He guided me into the taxi then, without a word, and climbed in himself. He turned towards me and placed his right hand on my left and asked,

" So, Sabs. Where is the best coffee house in town?"

I took in a deep breath of pain, as my left hand was still quite tender but forced a smile and looked in his direction.

" I would have to say The Front porch Coffe house on Glenway Avenue."

I replied. I then felt the jolt of the car as it began to leave, heading for the coffee house I had just mentioned. I also felt Matt's hand slide off of my own, pick it up and slowly pull the white glove off, reveiling even more burns. He frowned deeply still but said nothing, placed the glove back on my hand carefully and looked forward, with his hands proffesionally folded in his lap. He knew as well as anyone who knew me, I do not like to be pittied, felt sorry for or worried about. Therefor he decided to keep quiet until we came to The Front porch Coffee House. Upon arriving, he helped me to climb out and led me up the wooden ramp, leading to the frotn door. We entered and I sat down while Matt went to order the drinks. When he returned, he came back with two large cups of hot coffee. His flavored Caramel Latte and mine being a Chocolate Carmel latte. Though I had been unable to see it, the ride to this place and when he was leading me, I was able to feel that he was wearing his Air Force uniform as well. He had taken a seat across from me as I took a sip of my coffee.

" How much did this cost? I'll pay you back when I get back to the hotel." I offered.

He shook his head and laughed quietly, as he always had. Then the owner of the coffee house walked over grinning. He had a large pepperoni, saugage and bacon pizza with him, which he placed in the center of the table. He then went back and grabbed two plates and some napkins which he set in front of myself and Matt.

" The coffee and pizza is on the house. Thank you both for that terrific memorial service and I hope neither of you had lost too much by the fire, if anything at all." He said smiling.

He then walked off as I pulled my cover down a bit to hide the burns. Matt frowned again and served the pizza, yet again silent. We ate in silence until there was no more pizza left and our coffee was out for both of us. Then He threw the trash away and helped me up.

" Come, everyone should be waiting by now." He said sorrowfully, but with a hint of his old mischief back in his voice.

I looked towards him as he led me back into the cab that had been awaiting us to finish. He made sure to sit on my right side this time, grabbed my hand and squeezed gently as I looked towards him full of curiousity.

" What are you talking about, who's all waiting? And where? What are they waiting for? What is going on?" I asked.