RISING FLAMES

Alex's POV Like a wildfire, the anarchy broke out around us, and all I could hear was my heart roaring loudly. Screams and yells abound in the night as the troops of the Order rushed to answer our onslaught. I looked at Lena, whose will sprung from her anxiety, and Finn, whose strategic intellect flew through the anarchy. "Copy my lead!" Screaming, I tried to be heard over the noise. "We are going to the depot!" Dashing toward the supply building, we avoided patrols by shifting. My senses sharpened, every sound enhanced—the crunching of gravel under my feet, the rustle of cloth as Lena and Finn lingered nearby. Though it was a risky thrill, one that may readily turn into a fatal error, the adrenaline pumping through my veins made me feel alive. A soldier with firearms sprung out from the shadows as we approached the door. Without thinking, I sprang forward to ground him. The effect took the breeze out of me, but I hurried to hold his arms down. I needed him to talk; I did not want to murder him. "Where are the others?," I wondered, my voice low and strong. "Go to hell!," He spit back, fighting my hold. I strengthened my grip and looked at Lena, a wide-eyed spectator. "Get the knife!" I pushed her, gesturing toward the weapon of the soldier close by. "Alex, we have no time for this!!" Finn cried out, desperation tumbling through his voice. I hesitated, caught between the necessity to move on and the material I could gather. But the soldier kicked out before I could decide, smacking me in the ribs. I staggered back, lost my hold, and he slid away, hurrying to his feet. "Run!!" I cried and pushed myself upward. Lena grabbed my arm and we rushed toward the depot door, Finn just behind. Not only from the effort, but from the anxiety of what lay ahead, my pulse was pounding. Inside that structure were not only supplies but also answers—answers about the Order, about the individuals we had lost, and about our future steps. We pulled open the entrance to the supply depot, which creaked to expose a large chamber loaded with barrels. The air smelled strongly of gunpowder and oil, and I shivered with expectation running down my spine. Our opportunity presented itself here. "Over here!" Finn yelled and gestured at a stack of boxes in the corner. That seems to be the primary supply. Lena looked for anything we may use as I nodded and headed toward it. From outside, I could hear footsteps coming, the far-off noises of screaming troops growing near. We were running short of time. "Help me with this." As I started to separate the sacks, I phoned Finn. Working fast, our hands blurred as we piled them aside to expose explosive material barrels. The sight set my heart racing, a mix of thrill and terror. "Are these usable?" Lena questioned with a trembling voice. "Absolutely," Finn responded, his eyes ablaze. "This will set off a cascade." We will shut down their whole enterprise here. But we need to get clear, I said, looking tensely at the door. There is no going back once we start this. "Then let's do it," Lena remarked, her voice clearly expressing determination. "We cannot let them continue to take from us." I nodded, weighty in her words underfoot. This was about recovering our life, about rebounding against the darkness that had engulfed us for so long, not only about surviving. Adrenaline drove us forward as we moved with intent, swiftly setting the bombs pushing us ahead. But the door sprung open as we were finishing, and a troop of armed men surged in with uplifted rifles. "Get down!," urged Instinct, kicking in. I yelled and jumped behind a nearby container bringing Lena down with me. Finn matched us, adrenaline pumping through us as we attempted to be quiet. "Can you change the detonator?" My eyes darting about for a way out, I murmured to Finn. His voice firm, he said, "I can try." We have to cover him, though. Lena nodded fiercely with her eyes. "I'll create a diversion." "What?" No,! I objected, reaching for her arm. "You cannot—". "I will and I can. just trust me. Lena rolled out from behind the container before I could stop her, running for the troops. She yelled, raising her arms to catch their eye: "Hey!" No, Lena says. Panic gripping my throat, I shouted. She looked forward, though, not back. She was a whirlwind of will, zipping around the troops with their rifles pointed at her. Finn was going behind the containers, focused just on the detonator. Time seemed to slow down, my pulse thumping in time with the anarchy all around. Lena's voice permeated the tumult, "Come on!" I cannot be caught! Confounded and attempting to find out how to pursue her, the troops yelled. My heart surged, caught between needing to guard Finn and wanting to aid her. "Alex!," asked Finn's voice came through my fog. "I really need you here!" Turning, I pushed myself to concentrate as I slid back toward him, preparing to cover him as best I could. Lena diverted the troops' focus, and I could see Finn's fingers dancing across the detonator. Almost there, he said, his brow wrinkled in concentration. One of the troops noticed what was occurring just as I arrived at Finn's side. Raising his rifle, he said, "They're in here!" "Finn!". I shouted, flinging myself in front of him just as the gunshots started. As I dropped to the ground, the bullets flew past, ricocheting off the metal containers and stinging my shoulder sharply. "Alex!," Finn sobbed, and I heard terror in his voice. "Keep on!" I clenched my teeth and pushed myself through the agony. I have to be attentive. I refused to allow this to mark the end. Lena was still wreaking havoc, dodging and weaving, staring at the troops. She taunted, her voice rebellious even in the midst of peril: "You'll never catch me!" Finn stared at me, his will clear despite his anxiety. "I am qualified to accomplish this. Just cover me! I nodded fiercely, then rolled onto my side and pulled my weapon free. "Go!"— Finn staggered back to the detonator, and I began fire, aiming at the troops still processing what was occurring. As they sought cover, my rounds came out and each one landed. "Almost almost here!" Finn cried out, his hands quivering as he worked. The man I had fired collapsed to the ground, and I hurried forward Finn to observe his every action. You are able to achieve this! I told him, my voice strained. We could hear anarchy all around us: troops screaming, bullets breaking through, and Lena's faint taunting in the distance. She was doing it, long enough to divert them enough that we could finish our task. I understood it! Finn yelled quickly, and as he set off the explosives, I experienced a flash of optimism. "Now let's get the heck out of here!!" The first explosion rocked the earth under us and sent shock waves into the air as we turned to run. I stammered and grabbed for a neighboring container to ground me. The flames erupted in waves, bathing the space in a terrible radiance. "Run!" With haste driving me ahead, I yelled. Finn closed behind me, we ran for the door. But as we arrived at the gate, I turned back to see Lena still standing, her resistance unflinching as she confronted the troops. "Lena!," I yelled, but she was already racing back toward us. The second explosion burst out, the shockwave pushing us ahead as we staggered out of the structure. We dropped to the ground, the fiery heat sweeping over us like a tsunami. I raised myself, my breathing raggedly gassing. "Is everyone okay?" I inquired, looking about the room. "Lena!," Searching for her, Finn yelled, worry written on his face. She came out of the smoke with her hair wild but her attitude sharp. "Here I am! Let's get going! I felt the ground move beneath us once more as we rushed to our feet. The depot was crumbling, trash all about. "Move!." Grabbing Lena's arm and dragging her ahead as we ran away from the anarchy, I encouraged. We sprinted till we came to a safe distance, fell to the ground, gasped for air. Though for now we were secure, the far-off sounds of the surviving troops rang behind us. Lena fixed me, her eyes ablaze with exhilaration. "We completed it. Indeed, we did it! I found myself smiling, a tsunami of relief washing over me. We did, I responded, looking at Finn, who was struggling to breathe. But I felt a great ache in my shoulder as the excitement subsided. I winced, rubbed my palm over the cut, and Lena's smile vanished as she saw. Whispering, hurrying to my side, "Oh God, Alex," she said "You hurt!" Though I could feel the warmth of blood oozing through my fingertips, I said, "It's nothing."