Chapter 8

The alarms started going off one after the other that very night. Mia got up and rushed out to the dining hall where everyone gathered before every mission. It has only been a week since her arrival and she has gotten used to the alarms by now.

Mia walked into the dining hall only to find that it was empty. She looked in the kitchen and then in her uncle's office but the building was empty. She noticed everyone was standing outside so she walked outside to join them.

Her uncle saw her coming and asked, "what took you so long?" Mia looked at him and said, "I didn't know that alarm meant we neet to gather outside." Mike looked at Luna and asked, "you didn't explain the alarms to her?"

Luna looked guilty at Mia's uncle and said, "sir I kind of forgot to explain that alarm to her." Her uncle took a deep breath and said, "that's the one alarm that she needs to know about."

"I know sir but it hasn't gone of presently so I didn't remember it," Luna repeated. "It's okay," Mike said. Sam came to Mia and said, "that alarm is what we call the fire alarm. That means if it goes off you rush to the grass outside the building," Sam said.

"Dad had me practice fire drills several times a week. It quite boring actually but it's needed since putting out a fire is important," Mia said.

"Those fire drills are not needed today, I suspect it was a false alarm. It usually is a false alarm," his uncle said. But in the distance, she could see people running. She took out her earplugs and heard, people, screaming just down the street.

Her uncle saw her behaviour and looked towards what Mia was looking at. "Whatever that is, it's not normal Uncle," Mia said. Mike took a look and then told Sam. "Go and take a look maybe it's not a false alarm," Mike said.

"Mia you're coming with me," Sam said. Mia rushed to her side of the truck. Sam got in and opened the door for Mia. They drove off and soon they knew what the problem was. A building was on fire, the flames were dancing in the window's as the dark smoke rushed to the sky. Mia could hear glass breaking and knew it would be only minutes before the gas bottle would explode.

"The fire is really hot, it won't be long before the gas explodes," Mia said. "How can you tell there's gas in the house?" Sam asked. "I can see it from here, look below the window on the side of the house. That symbol usually means that there is gas in the house," Mia said.

Sam had to take out his binoculars and once he looked at her realised what disaster was on their hands. "Mia, that's not the symbol for a gas bottle but a symbol for an undergrown gas chamber. If it explodes the whole town will be gone," Sam said.

Mia's eyes grew wide and asked, "what do we do now? Should someone turn off the gas?" Mia asked. "Wait here Mia?" Sam said as he got out of the truck and spoke to the chief fireman. Sam came rushing back and said, "there is nothing we can do. The chief said the gas is already turned off," Sam said.

Mia wasn't convinced that the gas was really turned off but Sam convinced Mia that there was nothing wrong and that the firemen had everything under control. Back at the base, Mike wasn't convinced about the gas either. "I thought the city banned homes from using the underground gas," Mike said.

"They did but the home that caught fire was one of the first homes that were built as an experiment for gas. Before the city banned it as being too dangerous to use" Sam said. The next moment an explosion went off and Mia knew right there that the gas wasn't turned off.

She looked around and realised they were in the line of the explosion. "Uncle we need to get out of here. We are in its line of explosion. The gas isn't off, I think there is a leak," Mia siad.

"Your father trained you well. Mia looked around her and realised. The forest is dry, if it's caught fire it could be days before the fire was out. Mike was looking around and he realised he had only seconds to think of a plan. As a second explosion went off this time closer to them.

Mia didn't have to be told what to do. She rushed back to her room to get her most important belongings. She grabbed all the vehicle's keys and opened all the garage doors. Her uncle looked surprised at her and with one word everyone rushed to evacuate the building.

Mia walked to Sam's truck and placed her things inside the truck. The vehicles were ready to leave within seconds. Mia saw that the old lady was also being evacuated as they were driving away in a long black vehicle. Many people were now rushing to leave the town. As the one explosion happened after the next. Mia created wind and used sand from a nearby construction site.

She used the sand to put out and prevent any fire from spreading. Giving the people a chance to evacuate safely. Sam touched her shoulder and said, "everyone ready to leave and it looks like we are the last to leave," Sam said.

Mia rushed to the truck and Sam followed the rest of the team. Mia looked out of the window at the back of the truck and asked, "do you think everyone evacuated safely?" Mia asked.

"Yes, as far as I know, we are the last to leave the town," Sam siad. Mia wasn't able to sleep as the fire's burned behind them. They arrived at a camp not far from the town but Mia could see that it was a safe area. She looked around and noticed there are many different groups of people that were ready to help. Mia got out of the truck and noticed someone was checking everyone's documents.

The man checked Mia's documents and she noticed she had looked twice at her documents. She got worried and asked, "is there a problem with my paperwork?" she asked. Sam came around and asked, "she just joined the base but as far as I know she has all the paperwork she needs," Sam siad.

"Your his daughter?" the man asked. "Who are you talking about?" Mia asked. "John your mother I Mike's sister I believe," the man asked. "Yes, but how did you know?" Mia asked. "We lost contact with your father a few weeks ago. Any idea why?" the man asked. Mia looked at the man and siad, "our home was ambushed. I found a shelter but they couldn't get, away," Mia said.

The man had a worried expression on his face and asked, "do you remember who took them?" the man siad. Mia was about to tell the man when Mike came over to them. "Is there something wrong here?" he asked.

"This is my mother's brother he is also this base's captain. I am staying with him for now," Mia siad. "Sir no problem I was only asking the lady if she knew what happened to John her father. It's been weeks and no communication from him or his wife. I am sorry to hear that they went missing after their home was ambushed," the man siad.

"Yes, but this is not the place to discuss this matter," Mike said. "Her father was an important member sir, our captain he needs to know," the man said. "There is not much to tell, my mother has two brothers. I believe it's her other brother that is involved somehow but I don't know who took them. My mother only told me to find my uncle and to stay with him," Mia siad.

"How do you know your mother's other brother was involved?" the man asked. "Because he was the first one I spoke to when I got out of the shelter. I must have phoned the wrong number for help," Mia said. "You're not answering my question young lady. What you are saying is very serious," the man said.

"They same group attacked his home when I was alone and he wasn't there. I ran away and heard that they knew him. I ran for it when I learned that. There are others involved as well. I suspect a few high officials but I have no proof only what I heard. Lucky for me. I knew one of my mom's old friends lived. That's how I found my uncle Mike," Mia said.

The man checked Mia's documents and said, "I am afraid you need to come with us," the man siad. "Why, I am not going anywhere with you. I dont even know you?" Mia shouted. "Calm down we dont mean any harm young lady," the man said. "That's what everyone say's?" Mia siad.

Mia refused to go with the man and so the man was forced to go and report her to his superiors. Mia looked at Sam and Mike and asked, "why is it I dont know them? Dad never spoke about his work or anyone of his friends. I only came to you Sam because I remembered you talking to my mom. If it wasn't for that i would still be out there," Mia siad.