“Get him out of here! Go, now!” Dad yelled forcefully through the sound of crumpling pillars and burning wood. His silhouette shimmering in and out of view, until all that was in sight was scorching fire. I was scared, petrified, and I couldn’t move. Mom grabbed my arm, clearly as scared as I was, and pulled me away, panicking as she tried to find the nearest exit in the maze of rubble and roaring blazes. She managed to locate a window nearby, however the floor around it was ablaze. She had no choice but to toss me through the window. I landed on the grass with a thud, trying my best to force away the pain. I looked up at my house as it was completely engulfed in flames. Moments after my narrow escape, the entire two story house gave in to the heat and pressure of the fire, and collapsed in on itself. I struggled to escape the clutches of the collapsing house, while getting pricked by wood chips and hit with scorching sparks of fire. I tried to find safety through the blinding, dark smoke. I suddenly tripped over the curb and tumbled into the road. Coughing and teary eyes, I looked back at my home, to see nothing but a giant pile of scorched wood and ash. My parents were gone. My home was gone. I’d lost everything, all because I wanted to play with fire.
Police, ambulances, and firemen were everywhere. Sirens were blaring, people were yelling, and I was sitting on the curb, staring into space. I couldn’t wrap my head around what had just happened. Several officers had tried to come and talk to me, but I wasn’t paying attention. It was only when Tim, my closest friend, sat next to me that I broke my gaze. He looked at me seriously, an expression I rarely ever saw. We both didn’t say a word, we just sat there and looked at the remnants of the place I used to call home. Soon after, Tim’s parents walked over to him and I.
“I’m so sorry about what happened, Zack. Everything is going to be ok, I promise,” Tim’s father said. But I didn’t believe that for a second.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep Mr. Tomson,” I told him in a shaky, broken voice. It was the first time I’d spoken since the fire, and I was struggling to remember how to talk. He knelt down next to me and stared straight into my eyes.
“Zack, I know you must be feeling very sad, but I’d like you to work with me right now. Our family is willing to allow you to stay with us, if that’s something you’d like to do,” he explained to me. Up until that point, I hadn’t been thinking about what would happen to me after what had happened. I had only been thinking about the mistake I’d made, and how much I wanted to take it back. Still, I understood that this was an offer I couldn’t turn down.
“Fine. I’ll do it,” I answered, hoping I’d done the right thing. That brought a smile to Tim’s face, motivating him to say something.
“Ok then, but I still want the top bunk,” He said. Clearly happy that I’d accepted their offer. After all, it was better than foster care.
A few hours later, I’d gotten settled into my new room with Tim. It didn’t take long, seeing as there was practically nothing I could salvage from the wreckage. We had changed clothes, eaten dinner, and were getting ready to hit the hay. Tim turned off the lights and then hopped in bed.
“So dude. I know it doesn’t help in any way, but I’m really sorry about what happened. This must really suck for you,” Tim said. I was wondering when he would finally get around to talking about it.
“You shouldn’t be saying sorry. It was my fault, after all. And now I have to live with that for the rest of my life,” I sighed. “Alright, good night,” I said, and with that, the real story begins.
Origin Story
By: Hotshot14380
Police, ambulances, and firemen were everywhere. Sirens were blaring, people were yelling, and I was sitting on the curb, staring into space. I couldn’t wrap my head around what had just happened. Several officers had tried to come and talk to me, but I wasn’t paying attention. It was only when Tim, my closest friend, sat next to me that I broke my gaze. He looked at me seriously, an expression I rarely ever saw. We both didn’t say a word, we just sat there and looked at the remnants of the place I used to call home. Soon after, Tim’s parents walked over to him and I.
“I’m so sorry about what happened, Zack. Everything is going to be ok, I promise,” Tim’s father said. But I didn’t believe that for a second.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep Mr. Tomson,” I told him in a shaky, broken voice. It was the first time I’d spoken since the fire, and I was struggling to remember how to talk. He knelt down next to me and stared straight into my eyes.
“Zack, I know you must be feeling very sad, but I’d like you to work with me right now. Our family is willing to allow you to stay with us, if that’s something you’d like to do,” he explained to me. Up until that point, I hadn’t been thinking about what would happen to me after what had happened. I had only been thinking about the mistake I’d made, and how much I wanted to take it back. Still, I understood that this was an offer I couldn’t turn down.
“Fine. I’ll do it,” I answered, hoping I’d done the right thing. That brought a smile to Tim’s face, motivating him to say something.
“Ok then, but I still want the top bunk,” He said. Clearly happy that I’d accepted their offer. After all, it was better than foster care.
A few hours later, I’d gotten settled into my new room with Tim. It didn’t take long, seeing as there was practically nothing I could salvage from the wreckage. We had changed clothes, eaten dinner, and were getting ready to hit the hay. Tim turned off the lights and then hopped in bed.
“So dude. I know it doesn’t help in any way, but I’m really sorry about what happened. This must really suck for you,” Tim said. I was wondering when he would finally get around to talking about it.
“You shouldn’t be saying sorry. It was my fault, after all. And now I have to live with that for the rest of my life,” I sighed. “Alright, good night,” I said, and with that, the real story begins.
Origin Story
By: Hotshot14380