The Duality of Fire 1

ISAAC'S POV

I drove like a madman. My hands shook on the wheel. The car swerved too much, and I nearly hit a mailbox. But I didn't care. I needed to get there.

When I finally saw the address, my heart stopped. Smoke billowed into the sky, thick and black. Orange flames licked at the windows of the house. I slammed on the brakes and the car screeched to a halt. I left it running, door open, as I stumbled out.

People stood in a loose circle on the front lawn. Ten, maybe fifteen of them. Just... standing there. Watching. Their faces glowed orange in the firelight. Nobody moved. Nobody did anything.

"We need water!" I yelled, running toward them. When nobody reacted, I screamed it again. "WE NEED WATER!"

A man in a polo shirt turned to look at me. His face calm, almost bored. "We called the firefighters," he said. "They should be here soon enough."