HEALING FROM YOU

CHAPTER 2

Black smoke was visible even kilometers away from the spot, showing how dire the situation was. And when the truck neared, they heard people screaming and a loud noise of something crashing. Gary braced himself to prepare his mind for what was about to come. The sight that Gary witnessed was a mess as the house was barely a house anymore. One side of the house was not intact, and the fire was blazing, eating up everything that blocked its way. The only good thing was that the house had a pretty big lawn which prevented the fire from spreading to other houses. But the sudden gush of strong winds was not promising. People were using fire extinguishers and hoses to reduce the red monster, but it was not giving up, at least not anytime soon. It has been years since Gary worked in such a terrible fire. The last time was in an old age home and they lost 12 people, who were burned to ashes. He mustered up his courage, hoping badly that they could save everyone, and jumped out of the truck when another crash followed. It was the garage, and he was sure the car just exploded. Gary almost believed that no one would make it outside when his eyes were drawn to another mob in the front lawn of the opposite house.

With the number of people grouped around an ambulance and the sound of a screaming woman from inside the circle confirmed Gary that someone made it out but not all of them. His mind involuntarily brought up the image of Prana’s lifeless body being shifted to the hospital. He knew what it is like to lose someone and immediately felt sorry for whoever she was. Maybe the woman made it out alone, which means her entire family is being burned inside. And all she could do is watch. How painful would that be? Once they arranged the equipments, a local sheriff approached them with a grave face.

“Four of the members escaped, but their youngest daughter is stuck in the nursery.”

“Any signs?” Gary asked as his own son’s face passed through his mind. He would rather die than sit there and watch Addy go through such immense pain. The police officer shook his head in disappointment and pointed at the mass of people.

“The mother is hysterical. She tried to get to the room, but the huge wardrobe collapsed and blocked her way. The husband had to literally drag her outside. The other kids are safe and made it out in time.” The sheriff coughed a little as smoke covered the place.

“Could you just talk to her. She is losing her mind and some assurance will mean a lot right now.”

Gary was hesitant as he didn’t want to give the woman false hope but Isaac nodded and gestured his assistant to join him. While the others took care of the huge hose and water tank, Gary and Isaac moved towards the ambulance. The spectators made a way for the men in uniforms to get near to the screaming lady who was held by a man. Two kids sat beside them, crying. They were covered in dark ashes and mother looked near to pass out. Women surrounding her had tears in their eyes. Despite the wounds on the survivors’ body, they declined medical treatment. Even the two boys who were a few years older than Advik looked heartbroken and patiently held their mother.

“My baby. Sir, please help my baby.” She said to the newly arrived one’s looking at each of them turn by turn with red puffy eyes and sore throat. Her husband was quiet, but tears streamed down his face. Guess he already knows the answer. It was clear to anyone that the person inside did not have a chance against the fire. It will be undoubtedly be difficult for a grownup, so how will a small child survive. Even if she is not burned by some miracle, the smoke would definitely suffocate her to death. Gary cringed at the thought and wondered when he has become so heartless but he knew that it was the truth. A truth the mother has yet to come in terms with.

“I will, ma’am. I will.” Isaac said in soothing words, holding the lady’s hand in a kind gesture. Isaac always was the crowd pleaser among them. He had a way with the desperate and even tricks on them to believe that everything was going to be alright. A ray of hope passed through the lady’s eyes as she saw the determination in Isaac’s face. But Gary knew it was a facade. Isaac was tensed. People who really know could understand that from the way that nape of his neck was sweating. And it had nothing to do with the outside temperature. Gary couldn’t meet her eyes when he said those words, knowing it’s a lie. He avoids such situations and concentrates maximum on helping his co-workers, but right now Gary was in a plight. The woman was a mother and her daughter was trapped. What if the kid doesn’t make it? Won’t he be a lier?

“She is just four, sir, and she is scared of fire. Please don’t let her die this way.” The lady pleaded in a small voice and he almost cursed out loud. This was too difficult to handle. Gary could not stand there any longer seeing the distress of that woman and the helplessness in her husband’s eyes.

Leaving behind Isaac and the Sheriff, Gary walked back to the truck and found his colleagues readying everything. They were quick in assembling all the items because of the thorough training they had. His new team comprised freshers, and only Isaac and him had sufficient experiences. If Garry had any doubt about their team’s efficiency and quickness in such a situation, he had none now. The youngsters were really doing great and Garry felt a moment of pride wash through him.

But it soon dissolved as Stefan, a newly recruited guy, motioned for Garry to join him. He was having a binocular with him, and the others were splashing water on the building through two hoses in full power. But the wind was making it difficult, and the fire was eating the house with more vengeance. At this rate, the entire house would crash down in an hour.

“What is it?” Gary asked, coughing a bit as the smoke filled his lungs. He didn’t like using mask unlike his coworkers. The mask suffocated him more than the smoke.

“I think I can see some movement in the top floor, right side window. I can always be wrong though.” One thing Garry hated in Stefan was his uncertainty. He had great potential and is one of the brightest students in the group, but he always doubted his conclusions. Garry had given him several lectures regarding this, but they always end up in square one.

“Make it sure. I will go get Isaac.”

With that, he semi ran to the white vehicle and called Isaac and the sheriff to join Stefan. The woman seemed less hysterical and clung to every word that left Isaac’s mouth. She was reluctant to let him go, but he consoled her, saying that he will return with her daughter. When Gary turned to leave, the woman, who was now just whimpering, held his hand.

“Is my baby going to be alright?” She was practically pleading for him to say yes with her eyes. But how can he lie to her just like that? Maybe she can see through his senior’s facade and wanted to get a genuine feedback.

“I hope so, ma’am. I really hope so.” Without waiting for a response, Gary went to join the others.

“How is it going?” He asked with hope filled in his voice.

“Not much luck.” Stefan said, looking at the almost burned building.

“What are we going to do then?” The sheriff had a panic look by now. Everyone was in a dilemma. It will take another fifteen minutes to subdue the fire and break in. And it was certain that the child won’t be alive by then, if at all she is breathing currently. But to barge in right now is borderline suicide.

“I am going in.” Gary couldn’t even recognize his own voice, it was bold and sharp.

“What if she’s dead?” Isaac winced at his own words, but he didn’t know what else to say to stop Gary from doing what he was about to do.

“We can’t take chances, Isaac. I have a son just one year elder than her. What if it was him?” Gary was already buckling the safety belt and waited for no one to help him.

“It’s for your son that I am telling you not to go, Gary. We can send someone else.”

Isaac was practically yelling. Little Advik has gone through enough. He can’t lose his father too, the child will be broken beyond repair. The thought was selfish and not suited for a person in similar jobs. They practically signed in for such dangers, but right then Isaac didn’t care. All he had in mind was the boy’s love he had for his father.

“You think that will hold me back? I thought you know me better Isaac.” Gary sighed sadly. “Look, no time to waste. I am the most experienced here after you. And you cannot go in there because of the surgery you just went through. I can bring her back if she’s alive. Trust me, man, I can do this.”

Isaac, hearing his friend’s words, knows very well that he will not back off. Hence he just gave a nod, defeat evident in his face. He prayed to God to keep his friend safe.

Gary got his equipment and was ready to start his mission. The front door was not usable anymore as the fire has engulfed it, therefore they used the ladder attached to the fire truck to hover above the house and Gary used a non-flammable suspended rope to land on the roof. One third of the terrace was made of glass and Gary used a hammer to break it, all the while his friends were ready to lift him anytime the fire increased. Gary felt a burning sensation as a puff of smoke rose from the broken space along with a few sparks. He coughed a few times before covering his face with a mask, a routine he never liked.

Signaling his friends that he was ready, Gary took his position and was slowly eased into the house through the shredded glass. The smoke blinded him for a few minutes and his eyes stung, but soon he adjusted to his surroundings. The whole place was covered in flames except for few spots. He was reminded of Inferno, and this was the closest he would get to one. Gary stood on the trembling floor and fire immediately started greeting the newcomer. Thanks to his uniform, other than the rise in body heat, he felt nothing. It was difficult to assume directions as he felt like he was in the middle of nowhere.

He entered the first room to the right, or he assumed it to be right, where Stefan saw or imagined movements. There was nothing of a door left other than some ash on the floor and Gary was careful in taking steps as he didn’t want the place to collapse. The floor creaked, and he took baby steps, trying his maximum not to assert weight. The room was indeed a nursery, as he saw a small bed and a doll being devoured by fire. For a second, he thought that the doll was the child, but the way it burned proved him wrong. The smell of melted plastic wafted his nose, and he felt slightly relieved as it was not human flesh. He had enough experience to differentiate the two. But there wasn’t a single living being to be seen. The place looked empty of any living presence. What if she is not in this room?

“Anyone here?” He called out to confirm his suspicion, and as expected there was no response. Gary decided to check out other rooms when he noticed a small passage to the left of the space. With care, he walked towards the passage but was stopped midway as the rope got stuck. He hesitated for a second before untying the rope and proceeding with his mission. Gary peeked inside, only to discover a door that was intact. He almost jumped with joy; the narrow space has not let most of the flames inside. He slowly pushed the door, and it opened, resisting at first because of the pressure. With careful effort, he entered. Though the flame was slow to make its way, that was not the case for smoke.

It turned out to be a bathroom, but the inside was barely visible because of the heavy smoke present. He fluttered his eyes several times before searching. The smoke was increasing by each passing time and if it wasn’t for his mask, he would have been suffocating already. Gary swept the room with his limited vision and started feeling the wall tiles to make his way.

His eyes caught a slight movement in the corner, and he immediately moved to that position. To his absolute relief, it was the girl. She was sprawled on the ground and was taking heavy breaths. The moment he reached the kid, Gary covered her with a sack he brought and unmasked himself to cover the child’s nose and mouth. Smoke rushed to his lungs, and he coughed uncontrollably. Garry carried the child in a bride style and headed towards the exit. But all the windows and doors were now blazing with fire. The rope was nowhere to be seen, and he searched for it frantically. Two lives were at stake here, and Gary was losing the battle against the God of Fire. Without having anyway to communicate his co-workers, Gary rushed inside the safety of the bathroom but the smoke was making him unsteady. He sat in the corner and thought about Addy. What was he going to do without Gary? Who was going to be there for him? But he never regretted his choice. If only the child could live, his death would be more meaningful.

Million thoughts ran in his mind until everything stopped and a wave of numbness took over him. He slowly raised one of his hands and unclasped the chain around his neck. It held the photo of the three of them smiling and he placed it on the little girl’s hand, who was now breathing less heavily. As the smoke intensified, Garry let out deep, harsh breaths before closing his eyes, eventually.

Meantime, sensing something was amiss, Isaac pulled on the rope which came into view with no struggle and without the person on the other end. Three men, covered in masks, barged inside the house using another entrance. The fire has settled a little after the continuous pour of water. They searched for him and the child everywhere and almost went past the passage before one of them noticed it. The room was a little clearer now, and they found Gary in a fetal position on the ground, holding the kid onto his chest. Everything happened in slow-motion for Isaac then. The paramedics were quick to give him and the child CPR. But in the end, only one survived. Stefan hasn’t seen Isaac cry like this before, and he himself was filled with sorrow. Both Gary and the kid were taken to the hospital, one to the morgue and the other to the Intensive Care Unit.

Elise was asked to bring Cameron to the hospital, and she almost cursed God when she saw the smiling face that eagerly waited for his father’s return. The hospital was packed with people, all having tears in their eyes, which Addy didn’t know why. Two beds were pushed his way. In one lay a girl whom Advik found beautiful to look at, and the other held his father.

“Aunt Elise, why is father sleeping?” Not able to hold any longer, Elise broke into tears and hugged the child tightly.

“Your dad has gone to be with your mother.” She said in between sobs.

“Why didn’t he take me?” He asked as he noticed his father’s soft features.

“Because he wants you to grow into a brave and handsome man like him. You see that girl?” Elise asked pointing at the other bed and Addy nodded his head.

“Your father saved her. Gary is a hero” Somehow those words felt hollow to him. She did not find her beautiful anymore. His father was sleeping because of her. An unfamiliar emotion found its way inside him. Anger.

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