The sun had dipped toward the horizon by the time Derek and Kim returned to headquarters. Derek carried a gooey substance on a gloved hand as he followed Kim inside. They went in search of Professor Radik and found him outside the shooting range. Derek approached the observation window and watched while the new recruits demonstrated their skills with Laser Emitting Pistols on the other side.
He chuckled to himself. Who named these things anyway? You’d think they’d come up with something more creative than LEP.
“Why do we even bother with the LEPs?” Kim’s voice broke into his thoughts.
Derek shrugged. “They can hit a target farther away than most weapons.”
“Yeah, but the beam is so small it does little good against the larger creatures, which are the ones we normally have to deal with.”
“True, but we’ve been over this. The rules state we have to be comfortable handling all available equipment, including the LEPs. They might seem useless, but they have come in handy against smaller venomous creatures we can’t approach.”
Kim rolled her eyes.
Ignoring her response, Derek strode to where Radik stood. “Take a look at this.” He held out his hand for the professor to see the globular form.
“Hmm, it resembles a lump of red gelatin.” Professor Radik peered at it from under his white, bushy eyebrows. “Have you had it assessed?”
“Still waiting for the analysis to come back. Would you believe I had to hit the little blighter with an immobilizer? It kept squirting goop at people. The lab tech, Nathan, took a sample to analyze, and I expect to have the results any minute now.” Derek set the globular form on a nearby counter. “Since the creature didn’t appear dangerous, I put the setting of the immobilizer on temporary. If Nathan discovers anything of concern, we’ll need to hit it again. Most of the time I’m glad dream-creatures only last for twenty-four hours, but it’s a shame when it comes to ones like this. We could have fun letting it slime people if the substance proves harmless.”
“Would you care to add its shell to the permanent collection of interesting dream-creatures?” Professor Radik asked.
“Nah, I don’t think it quite qualifies for the honor.” Several used paper targets hung nearby, and Derek walked over to study them. Burn holes clustered around the center. “Impressive. Which recruit do these belong to?”
“Chelsea, but Juan performed just as well.” The professor stroked his long pointed beard. “In fact, they have met my expectations.”
“But?” Derek raised an eyebrow. “Your tone indicates a problem.”
“Nothing too worrisome, but you’ll need to take the lead on any situation involving spiders until we can desensitize Chelsea to them.”
“What? The new girl’s afraid of spiders?” Kim snorted with laughter. “Doesn’t sound like she has what it takes to join the team, since Chasers should be fearless.”
“We all have our fears, Kimberly.” The professor gave her a pointed look. “Even you.”
“Yeah, but mine are at least rational, like fear of drowning, or …” Kim crossed her arms and shuddered. When she spoke again, her voice came out in a whisper. “Or burning to death.”
“Kim …” Derek placed his hand on her shoulder. “What happened to Travis was a terrible tragedy. You have every right to be bothered by it still, but don’t take your emotions out on Chelsea. Give her a chance.”
Kim glared at Derek. “I don’t want her potential incompetence to cause you to get hurt, since she’ll be your partner. Sorry for caring.”
Chelsea and Juan finished their session and came out the door. They were laughing with each other, but Chelsea’s giggles stopped short after one look at Kim’s face.
“Hi.” Chelsea waved nervously.
Kim stalked off.
“Have I done something wrong?” Chelsea glanced at Derek and then at the professor.
“No. Kim’s struggling. It has nothing to do with you.” Derek gave Chelsea a smile but concern about Kim’s behavior kept it from being sincere.
“Derek, I was about to show Chelsea and Juan the creatures stored in the warehouse,” the professor said. “Why don’t you join us?”
“Sure.” Derek noticed Chelsea’s blue eyes brightened, and her pink cheeks turned a deeper shade.
She quickly looked away from him, and her gaze strayed to the glob on the counter. “What’s this?” She went to inspect it.
The creature’s eyes popped open.
“Uh, I wouldn’t get too close …” Derek grabbed at Chelsea to pull her back, but the warning and action came too late. A string of gooey slime shot from the creature and coated Chelsea’s head, neck, and shoulders.
Chelsea stood frozen in horror. As the shock wore off, she reached up to wipe the substance away from her eyes and mouth. Her hands were quickly coated. She held them out, and the gunk formed a sticky line between her fingers. “Yuck! What is this stuff?”
A device in Derek’s pocket beeped. He pulled it out and checked the screen. “Well, I just got the test results from the lab. It’s pretty much a form of gelatin. No harm done, except red tends to stain, so you’ll want to clean it off right away. And you just earned yourself a new nickname, Squirt.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Hey, I tried to warn you.” Derek flashed a genuine grin. “Guess the tour will have to wait until you get cleaned up. I didn’t think we’d add the creature’s shell to the museum collection, but we have to now. We’ll tell all future recruits the story of how Chelsea ‘Squirt’ Devonshire got her nickname.”
“You probably think I’m going to make a terrible Chaser,” Chelsea groaned.
“Actually, I was thinking you look cute in red. It goes well with your strawberry-blonde hair.” Derek dodged to the side as Chelsea flung a glob of goop at him.
“Enough horseplay.” Professor Radik sounded serious, but his eyes showed amusement. “We keep spare clothes of many sizes here and have showers as well. Derek will show you where to find them.”
* * *
After Chelsea had showered and changed into a fresh set of clothes, she stood blow-drying her hair in the ladies’ locker room. She marveled at all the accessories available. A variety of combs and brushes were arrayed in neat rows inside of drawers, and there was a basket for used ones on the counter to be disinfected. The cabinets contained straighteners and curling irons, hairsprays and mousse, and even a large selection of hair-ties, clasps, and barrettes.
Just as she turned off the dryer, the door opened, and Kim sauntered in. Chelsea watched the Chaser’s reflection in the mirrors that covered the wall.
“Heard you had a little trouble.” Kim’s eyes were narrowed and hard. “Good thing that slime turned out harmless, or else your flesh might have melted away.”
“What’s your problem?” Chelsea whirled around to face her. Though Kim stood several inches taller, Chelsea wasn’t about to let the Chaser intimidate her.
“You don’t belong here.” Kim strode forward until she crowded Chelsea’s personal space. “Derek’s the closest friend I have left, and he needs a partner who can watch his back, not a bumbling bimbo like you.”
“You don’t know anything about me, Miss Kimberly Jacobson.” Chelsea’s jaw clenched.
“I know enough. If anything happens to Derek because of you, I’ll make you pay for it.” Kim jabbed a finger at Chelsea’s chest.
Before Chelsea could respond, a knock sounded on the door.
“Everyone decent?” Derek called.
Chelsea relaxed a notch. “Yeah,” she said.
“Good, because I’m coming in.” Derek pushed the door open, and his deep brown eyes focused on Kim for a moment before his gaze flitted to Chelsea. “Everything okay?”
“Sure. Kim was just checking on me.” Chelsea faced the mirror and ran a brush through her short-cropped hair. “Guess I’m ready for the tour now.”
The trio filed from the room, but the tension accompanied them.
Once in the warehouse, Chelsea forced herself to concentrate on the remarkable creatures Professor Radik pointed out. She saw a Minotaur that had breathed fire, a giant owl with bat-wings, and several goblin-like beings, along with many other oddities. All were empty shells without any life, simply remnants of creatures that had come into existence after someone dreamed about them. But Chelsea’s favorite display was an army of mice in full plate-armor with tiny weapons in their paws.
“Don’t let their size fool you.” Derek peered over Chelsea’s shoulder as she studied the mice. “Those little monsters put up a good fight. Their weapons couldn’t do much damage, but they sure hurt. All the Chasers got called out to get them under control. The blighters were fast too. I don’t think any of us escaped with fewer than a dozen pricks before we managed to immobilize them all.”
“Did you make them stay in a frozen state until their time of existence expired?” Chelsea asked.
“Of course not. We put them in a secure room with several stuffed animals for them to battle to their hearts’ content. By the time they finished, the room was covered in stuffing.”
Juan, Kim, and Professor Radik moved farther into the warehouse.
Chelsea stepped closer to Derek and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Professor Radik has stopped using last names around me and Juan. Does it mean anything?”
“He drops the formalities once he decides a candidate will make a suitable Chaser.”
Chelsea let out a suppressed squeal and did a little happy-dance. “Sorry, I’m a little excited.”
“Really? I couldn’t tell.” Derek’s laughter sounded rich and warm. “I’ve seen you in action at various martial-art events, though I kept a low profile to avoid recognition. I also know you made the volunteer firefighter squadron. You might be petite and a bit quirky at times, but you have guts. We’ll make good partners.”
“Tell that to Kim,” Chelsea muttered.
“I intend to. In the meantime, don’t let her get to you. She’ll come around, eventually.”
Chelsea stared into Derek’s eyes and suddenly no longer cared about what Kim thought. He’s right. We have a good connection, and I feel as though we’ve known each other for years even though we just met. And I’ve trained for this. I won’t let him down.
* * *
Several weeks later, Kim woke in a sweat. Travis’s screams still echoed in her ears, and the nightmare left her trembling. She got out of bed and headed for the bathroom where she ran the faucet and splashed water on her face. Her reflection in the mirror made her grimace. Dark circles showed under her eyes, and her hair stuck out in all directions.
I must find a way to stop the nightmares. If Radik discovers I’m having them, he’ll make me leave the island to ensure the same situation doesn’t happen again. That’s what Derek’s former partner did after he had dreams about Travis’s death. But Brad had family elsewhere. I don’t. The island is the only home I’ve ever known. My parents are buried here, and if I can’t have them in my life, I at least want to visit their graves. Besides, someone needs to watch out for Derek. Chelsea doesn’t count.
She turned off the faucet, changed into a pair of pink and black nylon shorts with a matching t-shirt, and pulled her hair into a ponytail. After brushing her teeth, she left the apartment and walked down the hall to the elevator. She pushed the button to summon it.
As the elevator doors opened, an alarm on Kim’s watch went off. She looked at the screen. The flashing red dot caused her to shudder.
* * *
Juan hadn’t slept very well. A sense of dread had grown throughout the night. He hadn’t felt this way since the day his parents died, and it made him jittery. Though he enjoyed finally having his own place after years in crowded foster homes, he wished there was someone to share his concerns with.
He considered calling Kim, but he worried she would see it as a sign of weakness. And he had quickly learned Kim didn’t tolerate weakness in others. He also thought about visiting Chelsea or Derek. They both had apartments on the fifth floor, two stories above him. Kim resided on the top floor of the ten-story building.
I’m practically surrounded by my team members, but it’s too early to bother them. Besides, I have no basis for my fear.
Juan sighed and dragged himself out of bed. He took a shower and longed for the water to wash away the feeling of impending disaster, but to no avail. He prayed to God, begging Him to protect the Chasers.
As Juan towel-dried his hair, the watch he’d set on the counter beeped. His stomach clenched when he saw the flashing red dot. It meant that somewhere on the island, a fire had broken out, and the Chasers had been summoned to assist with it. He threw on a faded grey t-shirt and a pair of rumpled shorts before he grabbed the watch and headed for the door. On his way out, he picked up a duffel bag that contained his basic Chaser equipment.
When he reached the stairwell, Juan pressed a button on his cell phone. It sent a signal to the phones Kim, Derek, and Chelsea carried to let them know he was in the apartment complex and would meet them at the Chaser van. His device clicked three times in response. Good, we’re all here.
Juan reached the van right after Kim. Derek and Chelsea arrived a moment later.
“I’m driving.” Derek waived his keys.
“Shotgun,” Chelsea called.
“Sorry, but newbies ride in back.” Kim yanked the front passenger door open and plopped onto the seat.
Chelsea shrugged, and Juan opened the back door for her. After she climbed in, he slipped onto the seat beside her.
Derek got situated and fastened his seatbelt. The two-way radio crackled to life when he started the vehicle.
Kim spoke into the mike. “What’s the situation?”
“Former fire chief dreamed of a fire in his apartment complex on Barbury Lane.” Professor Radik’s voice came over the line. “He didn’t remember the dream until the fire started, and he can’t recall many details yet. But people are trapped inside. Regular control methods not working to stop the flames. Situation highly volatile. I’ve got a truck on the way with your fire gear, but I want Juan and Chelsea to stay out of it. Kim, use your best judgment as to whether or not you can handle going in. I want you to stay safe.”
Kim paled, and her hand shook as she returned the mike to the holder.
“Why aren’t the normal control methods working?” Juan asked.
“Dream-fires are different than regular ones.” Derek gripped the steering wheel tighter. “We’ll need the immobilizers to control the flames. Furthermore, the fire reacts based on how the person dreamed it to, so even when we do put it out, the fire could roar to life in the blink of an eye.”
From what Juan could see of Kim’s face, he thought it looked like she was about to get sick.
“Kim, as team leader, I’m ordering you to stay away from the fire as well,” Derek stated. “You’re not ready to face it yet. Find the former fire chief and see if you can get him to remember more details. I’ll either wait for additional Chasers or go in with a team of firefighters.” Derek glanced in the rearview mirror. “Juan, Chelsea, you heard the professor’s directive. This is no time to try to prove yourselves.”
“Message received loud and clear,” Juan replied.
“But I have training as a firefighter.” A scowl formed across Chelsea’s face. “It might be useful.”
“Or it might get you killed. Look, Squirt, I believe you’ll make an excellent Chaser, but the scope of this situation goes beyond what novices should try to deal with. Stay close to Kim.”
“Fine.” Chelsea sighed.
When they reached the scene, Derek parked the van, and all four Chasers got out. The vehicle Professor Radik sent was already there. Derek jogged to it and quickly removed his fire equipment. Juan glanced at Chelsea and watched as she scanned each firetruck before she pulled out her cell phone. She tapped at the screen a few times and put it away.
It didn’t take long for Derek to get his turnout gear on. As he checked the oxygen levels in his tank, tested the radio, and verified the immobilizer was fully charged, Juan motioned for Chelsea to come closer.
“I have a bad feeling about this, and I don’t think Derek should enter the building. Any idea as to how we can stop him?”
Chelsea shook her head. Her cell phone chirped, and she checked the screen. “The squadron I volunteer with has just left the station. I sent a friend on the team a text and asked him to bring my gear, just in case. Looks like he got the message in time.”
One corner of Juan’s mouth turned up. “You don’t listen to orders very well, do you?”
“Not when they go against every instinct I have,” Chelsea replied.
“How did you manage to get through the firefighter physical endurance tests anyway?”
“Wasn’t easy, trust me, but I proved too stubborn to give up. My dad also helped me train for them. He was a volunteer for years.” Chelsea shrugged. “I figured I could make it a career in the event I didn’t become a Chaser.”
Derek met with three firefighters, and after a brief consultation, they headed for the building. Juan felt as though a rock landed in the pit of his stomach as Derek disappeared from view. Shoving aside his concern, he glanced around for Kim and saw her heading toward a man who sat on the edge of an ambulance. The man appeared to be in his late fifties, and worry etched every line of his rugged face.
Juan touched Chelsea’s arm. “Come on, let’s catch up with Kim.”
As they approached, Juan discerned a forlorn expression in the man’s eyes and assumed he must be the former fire chief. His heart went out to him.
“It’s all my fault,” the chief repeated over and over again.
“Mr. Mulligan, listen to me.” Kim’s tone was sharp, but it had the desired effect. The former fire chief looked up at her. “You once fought fires all over this island, now pull yourself together.”
“I never wanted any of this to happen. It’s my worst nightmare come true.”
“You can’t change the dream, but you can save lives. Try to remember the details of what happened. Walk me through it from the beginning.”
“The other day, I was talking with the neighbor in the condo next to me, and I observed an outlet overloaded with extension cords and power strips. I mentioned it to him but felt he had no intention of correcting it. Well, I slept in yesterday and had a dream an electrical fire broke out in his apartment. I didn't remember any of it when I woke up, otherwise I would have called the Chaser hotline right away. Details are coming back to me. I know I tried to evacuate the building, but the fire had already blocked the top floors. The exact same thing happened today.”
“Did the people survive in the dream?” Kim asked.
“I … I’m not sure.” Mulligan pressed his lips together as he tried to recollect the details.
“Close your eyes,” Kim instructed. “Take a deep breath. Ignore everything around us. Imagine you’re lying on your bed and place yourself in the dream. Tell me what you see.”
The chief did as Kim requested. “The Chaser, Derek, clears the way to the twelfth floor. Three firemen I personally know go with him. They use immobilizers to control the flames, but the fire erupts again. We try to radio to warn them, but their equipment malfunctions. Kim, you go in after them.” Mulligan gasped, and his eyelids flew open. “The floor collapses. No one makes it out.”
To be continued …
He chuckled to himself. Who named these things anyway? You’d think they’d come up with something more creative than LEP.
“Why do we even bother with the LEPs?” Kim’s voice broke into his thoughts.
Derek shrugged. “They can hit a target farther away than most weapons.”
“Yeah, but the beam is so small it does little good against the larger creatures, which are the ones we normally have to deal with.”
“True, but we’ve been over this. The rules state we have to be comfortable handling all available equipment, including the LEPs. They might seem useless, but they have come in handy against smaller venomous creatures we can’t approach.”
Kim rolled her eyes.
Ignoring her response, Derek strode to where Radik stood. “Take a look at this.” He held out his hand for the professor to see the globular form.
“Hmm, it resembles a lump of red gelatin.” Professor Radik peered at it from under his white, bushy eyebrows. “Have you had it assessed?”
“Still waiting for the analysis to come back. Would you believe I had to hit the little blighter with an immobilizer? It kept squirting goop at people. The lab tech, Nathan, took a sample to analyze, and I expect to have the results any minute now.” Derek set the globular form on a nearby counter. “Since the creature didn’t appear dangerous, I put the setting of the immobilizer on temporary. If Nathan discovers anything of concern, we’ll need to hit it again. Most of the time I’m glad dream-creatures only last for twenty-four hours, but it’s a shame when it comes to ones like this. We could have fun letting it slime people if the substance proves harmless.”
“Would you care to add its shell to the permanent collection of interesting dream-creatures?” Professor Radik asked.
“Nah, I don’t think it quite qualifies for the honor.” Several used paper targets hung nearby, and Derek walked over to study them. Burn holes clustered around the center. “Impressive. Which recruit do these belong to?”
“Chelsea, but Juan performed just as well.” The professor stroked his long pointed beard. “In fact, they have met my expectations.”
“But?” Derek raised an eyebrow. “Your tone indicates a problem.”
“Nothing too worrisome, but you’ll need to take the lead on any situation involving spiders until we can desensitize Chelsea to them.”
“What? The new girl’s afraid of spiders?” Kim snorted with laughter. “Doesn’t sound like she has what it takes to join the team, since Chasers should be fearless.”
“We all have our fears, Kimberly.” The professor gave her a pointed look. “Even you.”
“Yeah, but mine are at least rational, like fear of drowning, or …” Kim crossed her arms and shuddered. When she spoke again, her voice came out in a whisper. “Or burning to death.”
“Kim …” Derek placed his hand on her shoulder. “What happened to Travis was a terrible tragedy. You have every right to be bothered by it still, but don’t take your emotions out on Chelsea. Give her a chance.”
Kim glared at Derek. “I don’t want her potential incompetence to cause you to get hurt, since she’ll be your partner. Sorry for caring.”
Chelsea and Juan finished their session and came out the door. They were laughing with each other, but Chelsea’s giggles stopped short after one look at Kim’s face.
“Hi.” Chelsea waved nervously.
Kim stalked off.
“Have I done something wrong?” Chelsea glanced at Derek and then at the professor.
“No. Kim’s struggling. It has nothing to do with you.” Derek gave Chelsea a smile but concern about Kim’s behavior kept it from being sincere.
“Derek, I was about to show Chelsea and Juan the creatures stored in the warehouse,” the professor said. “Why don’t you join us?”
“Sure.” Derek noticed Chelsea’s blue eyes brightened, and her pink cheeks turned a deeper shade.
She quickly looked away from him, and her gaze strayed to the glob on the counter. “What’s this?” She went to inspect it.
The creature’s eyes popped open.
“Uh, I wouldn’t get too close …” Derek grabbed at Chelsea to pull her back, but the warning and action came too late. A string of gooey slime shot from the creature and coated Chelsea’s head, neck, and shoulders.
Chelsea stood frozen in horror. As the shock wore off, she reached up to wipe the substance away from her eyes and mouth. Her hands were quickly coated. She held them out, and the gunk formed a sticky line between her fingers. “Yuck! What is this stuff?”
A device in Derek’s pocket beeped. He pulled it out and checked the screen. “Well, I just got the test results from the lab. It’s pretty much a form of gelatin. No harm done, except red tends to stain, so you’ll want to clean it off right away. And you just earned yourself a new nickname, Squirt.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Hey, I tried to warn you.” Derek flashed a genuine grin. “Guess the tour will have to wait until you get cleaned up. I didn’t think we’d add the creature’s shell to the museum collection, but we have to now. We’ll tell all future recruits the story of how Chelsea ‘Squirt’ Devonshire got her nickname.”
“You probably think I’m going to make a terrible Chaser,” Chelsea groaned.
“Actually, I was thinking you look cute in red. It goes well with your strawberry-blonde hair.” Derek dodged to the side as Chelsea flung a glob of goop at him.
“Enough horseplay.” Professor Radik sounded serious, but his eyes showed amusement. “We keep spare clothes of many sizes here and have showers as well. Derek will show you where to find them.”
* * *
After Chelsea had showered and changed into a fresh set of clothes, she stood blow-drying her hair in the ladies’ locker room. She marveled at all the accessories available. A variety of combs and brushes were arrayed in neat rows inside of drawers, and there was a basket for used ones on the counter to be disinfected. The cabinets contained straighteners and curling irons, hairsprays and mousse, and even a large selection of hair-ties, clasps, and barrettes.
Just as she turned off the dryer, the door opened, and Kim sauntered in. Chelsea watched the Chaser’s reflection in the mirrors that covered the wall.
“Heard you had a little trouble.” Kim’s eyes were narrowed and hard. “Good thing that slime turned out harmless, or else your flesh might have melted away.”
“What’s your problem?” Chelsea whirled around to face her. Though Kim stood several inches taller, Chelsea wasn’t about to let the Chaser intimidate her.
“You don’t belong here.” Kim strode forward until she crowded Chelsea’s personal space. “Derek’s the closest friend I have left, and he needs a partner who can watch his back, not a bumbling bimbo like you.”
“You don’t know anything about me, Miss Kimberly Jacobson.” Chelsea’s jaw clenched.
“I know enough. If anything happens to Derek because of you, I’ll make you pay for it.” Kim jabbed a finger at Chelsea’s chest.
Before Chelsea could respond, a knock sounded on the door.
“Everyone decent?” Derek called.
Chelsea relaxed a notch. “Yeah,” she said.
“Good, because I’m coming in.” Derek pushed the door open, and his deep brown eyes focused on Kim for a moment before his gaze flitted to Chelsea. “Everything okay?”
“Sure. Kim was just checking on me.” Chelsea faced the mirror and ran a brush through her short-cropped hair. “Guess I’m ready for the tour now.”
The trio filed from the room, but the tension accompanied them.
Once in the warehouse, Chelsea forced herself to concentrate on the remarkable creatures Professor Radik pointed out. She saw a Minotaur that had breathed fire, a giant owl with bat-wings, and several goblin-like beings, along with many other oddities. All were empty shells without any life, simply remnants of creatures that had come into existence after someone dreamed about them. But Chelsea’s favorite display was an army of mice in full plate-armor with tiny weapons in their paws.
“Don’t let their size fool you.” Derek peered over Chelsea’s shoulder as she studied the mice. “Those little monsters put up a good fight. Their weapons couldn’t do much damage, but they sure hurt. All the Chasers got called out to get them under control. The blighters were fast too. I don’t think any of us escaped with fewer than a dozen pricks before we managed to immobilize them all.”
“Did you make them stay in a frozen state until their time of existence expired?” Chelsea asked.
“Of course not. We put them in a secure room with several stuffed animals for them to battle to their hearts’ content. By the time they finished, the room was covered in stuffing.”
Juan, Kim, and Professor Radik moved farther into the warehouse.
Chelsea stepped closer to Derek and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Professor Radik has stopped using last names around me and Juan. Does it mean anything?”
“He drops the formalities once he decides a candidate will make a suitable Chaser.”
Chelsea let out a suppressed squeal and did a little happy-dance. “Sorry, I’m a little excited.”
“Really? I couldn’t tell.” Derek’s laughter sounded rich and warm. “I’ve seen you in action at various martial-art events, though I kept a low profile to avoid recognition. I also know you made the volunteer firefighter squadron. You might be petite and a bit quirky at times, but you have guts. We’ll make good partners.”
“Tell that to Kim,” Chelsea muttered.
“I intend to. In the meantime, don’t let her get to you. She’ll come around, eventually.”
Chelsea stared into Derek’s eyes and suddenly no longer cared about what Kim thought. He’s right. We have a good connection, and I feel as though we’ve known each other for years even though we just met. And I’ve trained for this. I won’t let him down.
* * *
Several weeks later, Kim woke in a sweat. Travis’s screams still echoed in her ears, and the nightmare left her trembling. She got out of bed and headed for the bathroom where she ran the faucet and splashed water on her face. Her reflection in the mirror made her grimace. Dark circles showed under her eyes, and her hair stuck out in all directions.
I must find a way to stop the nightmares. If Radik discovers I’m having them, he’ll make me leave the island to ensure the same situation doesn’t happen again. That’s what Derek’s former partner did after he had dreams about Travis’s death. But Brad had family elsewhere. I don’t. The island is the only home I’ve ever known. My parents are buried here, and if I can’t have them in my life, I at least want to visit their graves. Besides, someone needs to watch out for Derek. Chelsea doesn’t count.
She turned off the faucet, changed into a pair of pink and black nylon shorts with a matching t-shirt, and pulled her hair into a ponytail. After brushing her teeth, she left the apartment and walked down the hall to the elevator. She pushed the button to summon it.
As the elevator doors opened, an alarm on Kim’s watch went off. She looked at the screen. The flashing red dot caused her to shudder.
* * *
Juan hadn’t slept very well. A sense of dread had grown throughout the night. He hadn’t felt this way since the day his parents died, and it made him jittery. Though he enjoyed finally having his own place after years in crowded foster homes, he wished there was someone to share his concerns with.
He considered calling Kim, but he worried she would see it as a sign of weakness. And he had quickly learned Kim didn’t tolerate weakness in others. He also thought about visiting Chelsea or Derek. They both had apartments on the fifth floor, two stories above him. Kim resided on the top floor of the ten-story building.
I’m practically surrounded by my team members, but it’s too early to bother them. Besides, I have no basis for my fear.
Juan sighed and dragged himself out of bed. He took a shower and longed for the water to wash away the feeling of impending disaster, but to no avail. He prayed to God, begging Him to protect the Chasers.
As Juan towel-dried his hair, the watch he’d set on the counter beeped. His stomach clenched when he saw the flashing red dot. It meant that somewhere on the island, a fire had broken out, and the Chasers had been summoned to assist with it. He threw on a faded grey t-shirt and a pair of rumpled shorts before he grabbed the watch and headed for the door. On his way out, he picked up a duffel bag that contained his basic Chaser equipment.
When he reached the stairwell, Juan pressed a button on his cell phone. It sent a signal to the phones Kim, Derek, and Chelsea carried to let them know he was in the apartment complex and would meet them at the Chaser van. His device clicked three times in response. Good, we’re all here.
Juan reached the van right after Kim. Derek and Chelsea arrived a moment later.
“I’m driving.” Derek waived his keys.
“Shotgun,” Chelsea called.
“Sorry, but newbies ride in back.” Kim yanked the front passenger door open and plopped onto the seat.
Chelsea shrugged, and Juan opened the back door for her. After she climbed in, he slipped onto the seat beside her.
Derek got situated and fastened his seatbelt. The two-way radio crackled to life when he started the vehicle.
Kim spoke into the mike. “What’s the situation?”
“Former fire chief dreamed of a fire in his apartment complex on Barbury Lane.” Professor Radik’s voice came over the line. “He didn’t remember the dream until the fire started, and he can’t recall many details yet. But people are trapped inside. Regular control methods not working to stop the flames. Situation highly volatile. I’ve got a truck on the way with your fire gear, but I want Juan and Chelsea to stay out of it. Kim, use your best judgment as to whether or not you can handle going in. I want you to stay safe.”
Kim paled, and her hand shook as she returned the mike to the holder.
“Why aren’t the normal control methods working?” Juan asked.
“Dream-fires are different than regular ones.” Derek gripped the steering wheel tighter. “We’ll need the immobilizers to control the flames. Furthermore, the fire reacts based on how the person dreamed it to, so even when we do put it out, the fire could roar to life in the blink of an eye.”
From what Juan could see of Kim’s face, he thought it looked like she was about to get sick.
“Kim, as team leader, I’m ordering you to stay away from the fire as well,” Derek stated. “You’re not ready to face it yet. Find the former fire chief and see if you can get him to remember more details. I’ll either wait for additional Chasers or go in with a team of firefighters.” Derek glanced in the rearview mirror. “Juan, Chelsea, you heard the professor’s directive. This is no time to try to prove yourselves.”
“Message received loud and clear,” Juan replied.
“But I have training as a firefighter.” A scowl formed across Chelsea’s face. “It might be useful.”
“Or it might get you killed. Look, Squirt, I believe you’ll make an excellent Chaser, but the scope of this situation goes beyond what novices should try to deal with. Stay close to Kim.”
“Fine.” Chelsea sighed.
When they reached the scene, Derek parked the van, and all four Chasers got out. The vehicle Professor Radik sent was already there. Derek jogged to it and quickly removed his fire equipment. Juan glanced at Chelsea and watched as she scanned each firetruck before she pulled out her cell phone. She tapped at the screen a few times and put it away.
It didn’t take long for Derek to get his turnout gear on. As he checked the oxygen levels in his tank, tested the radio, and verified the immobilizer was fully charged, Juan motioned for Chelsea to come closer.
“I have a bad feeling about this, and I don’t think Derek should enter the building. Any idea as to how we can stop him?”
Chelsea shook her head. Her cell phone chirped, and she checked the screen. “The squadron I volunteer with has just left the station. I sent a friend on the team a text and asked him to bring my gear, just in case. Looks like he got the message in time.”
One corner of Juan’s mouth turned up. “You don’t listen to orders very well, do you?”
“Not when they go against every instinct I have,” Chelsea replied.
“How did you manage to get through the firefighter physical endurance tests anyway?”
“Wasn’t easy, trust me, but I proved too stubborn to give up. My dad also helped me train for them. He was a volunteer for years.” Chelsea shrugged. “I figured I could make it a career in the event I didn’t become a Chaser.”
Derek met with three firefighters, and after a brief consultation, they headed for the building. Juan felt as though a rock landed in the pit of his stomach as Derek disappeared from view. Shoving aside his concern, he glanced around for Kim and saw her heading toward a man who sat on the edge of an ambulance. The man appeared to be in his late fifties, and worry etched every line of his rugged face.
Juan touched Chelsea’s arm. “Come on, let’s catch up with Kim.”
As they approached, Juan discerned a forlorn expression in the man’s eyes and assumed he must be the former fire chief. His heart went out to him.
“It’s all my fault,” the chief repeated over and over again.
“Mr. Mulligan, listen to me.” Kim’s tone was sharp, but it had the desired effect. The former fire chief looked up at her. “You once fought fires all over this island, now pull yourself together.”
“I never wanted any of this to happen. It’s my worst nightmare come true.”
“You can’t change the dream, but you can save lives. Try to remember the details of what happened. Walk me through it from the beginning.”
“The other day, I was talking with the neighbor in the condo next to me, and I observed an outlet overloaded with extension cords and power strips. I mentioned it to him but felt he had no intention of correcting it. Well, I slept in yesterday and had a dream an electrical fire broke out in his apartment. I didn't remember any of it when I woke up, otherwise I would have called the Chaser hotline right away. Details are coming back to me. I know I tried to evacuate the building, but the fire had already blocked the top floors. The exact same thing happened today.”
“Did the people survive in the dream?” Kim asked.
“I … I’m not sure.” Mulligan pressed his lips together as he tried to recollect the details.
“Close your eyes,” Kim instructed. “Take a deep breath. Ignore everything around us. Imagine you’re lying on your bed and place yourself in the dream. Tell me what you see.”
The chief did as Kim requested. “The Chaser, Derek, clears the way to the twelfth floor. Three firemen I personally know go with him. They use immobilizers to control the flames, but the fire erupts again. We try to radio to warn them, but their equipment malfunctions. Kim, you go in after them.” Mulligan gasped, and his eyelids flew open. “The floor collapses. No one makes it out.”
To be continued …
© Copyright 2015 E. J. Willis
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