Page 51 of Burning Escape

“Anytime, kid.”

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Best get back to what he’d come here for.

Orion pushed open the door to the hardware store, the smell of lumber welcoming him. A few other people lingered in the store. After finding the lawn mower blades, he asked the woman at the counter where to find mulch.

“You purchase it here at the counter and then drive around back. We’ll get ya loaded up in the lumber yard.”

Orion ordered what he needed and drove the truck around the block to the back of the store. He scoped out the mulch, but everything in reaching distance was gone. They’d need a lift to get the unopened pallet on the top shelf.

Noise came from the other side of the shelving.

“Hello?” Orion called as he moved to the next aisle. Nothing. “I could use some help. Anybody there?”

Suddenly a tower of packaged cedar shavings toppled over, knocking him to the ground.

And trapping him.

Orion sucked in a breath and yelled, “Someone help!”

* * *

Tori beat the low flames with her wet burlap. It wasn’t glamorous work, but she loved it. There was something therapeutic about smothering fire and stomping out the destructive nature of it. Funny that once it’d been darkness she’d fought.

Now she was fighting a source of light.

But unlike the sun that gave good light and provided warmth, not asking anything of people, fire didn’t play fair. It burned and left ash and darkness behind. It was selfish and all-consuming, its light deceiving, drawing her in only to burn her, destroying whatever was in its path. And here she was fighting back.

Take that!

She smothered the orange embers at her feet, the grass now black and ashen.

She walked back over to the tank they’d set up and wet the burlap again.

“Hanging in there?” Jade asked as she mopped her face with a dripping wet bandanna.

“All good.”

“I think we’ve almost got this one. It’s creeping, and with the night shift coming in, they’ll probably be able to finish it off. There’s another crew out of Fairbanks fighting a smaller blaze just north of here too. So we’re gonna gather up and pack out. Buses are waiting for us three miles out. Go ahead and gather your gear.”

“Got it.”

The packs were heavy, some weighing as much as she did, but the guys were good about taking the heavier ones. She hefted her load and marched with Cadee and JoJo.

“I’m beat.” JoJo munched on a granola bar.

“Packouts after a grueling day of beating out fires are just cruel.” Cadee made a face.

Tori grinned.

“What are you smiling about?” JoJo asked her.

“Nothing. I guess after being out of the game for a while, I’m glad to be here, even if it’s sweaty and tiring work.”

“Or”—Cadee stopped and adjusted her load—“you’re excited to see Orion and now have something to look forward to beyond a hot shower and decent meal.”

“Maybe.” Why bother denying it? “I hope he’s all right.”

“Ihope he made us something delicious for dinner. I could eat an elephant.” JoJo pocketed her wrapper and marched on.

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