Ignis trees

By the time I stepped outside the leaves were on fire. Great, how am I going to get to work through all of this? It was Autumn, which meant all of the Ignis trees were going through abscission. Ignis trees were beautiful trees, but deadly in Autumn. They only grew in this part of the world, and no matter how hard anyone tried they could never be cut down. When their leaves fall they catch on fire, resulting in a lot of dangerous accidents. Even better, I’m a firefighter. There’s no hope for a break in Autumn. I groaned as I went back inside and grabbed my fire proof boots. My phone began to ring as I groaned and saw it was Pete, one of my coworkers. 

“Hello.” I muttered into the phone while trying to manage getting into my boots. 

“Betty where the hell are you!?” Pete shouted into the phone as I sighed. 

“I’m on my way I just had to go back to get my fire proof boots.” I said as he groaned loudly. 

“Stay there I’ll swing by your place and pick you up, get changed in the truck we have no time!” He shouted before hanging up the phone. I chuckled and secured the boots on my feet and stood outside of my door and waited for Pete. I looked around seeing endless smoke and fire around the city as I sighed. 

“Why did I become a firefighter?” I grumbled softly before I heard the familiar sound of a fire truck. I looked down the street to see Pete driving like a maniac towards me. Pete was an attractive man, tall dark and handsome as they say. Tall, dark brown hair, freckles. You would think he had a girlfriend. But Pete was, well, a little crazy. 

“Get in Betty!” He shouted at least two miles away from me. He slammed on the breaks in front of me as I sighed and ran into the back on the truck. 

“Pete you drive like an absolute maniac.” I said as he sped off and I went flying back and fell on my butt. 

“Dude chill!” I shouted. 

“The whole city is on fire! Get changed!” He shouted as I groaned and grabbed my bag of Firefighting equipment and clothing. 

“How in the world am I supposed to get changed while you’re driving like a maniac!?” I shouted as I began throwing my clothes off and trying my best to get into my uniform without knocking myself unconscious. 

“If these fires don’t kill you Pete, I will!” I shouted as I got on my shirt and jacket. Now for the pants, this’ll be fun.

Pete took a corner a little too hard and I went flying again and slammed into the left side of the truck. 

“Pete!” I scolded as I quickly got my pants on over my boots and quickly sat in the passenger seat and strapped myself in. 

“How many reports?” I asked as Pete looked at me in shock. 

“Watch the road!” I shouted as his head swung back to the road. 

“How many reports!? Like 1500!” He said as I chuckled a little. 

“How is this funny?” He asked as I sighed. 

“I’m sorry, it’s just funny seeing your crazy side come out.” I said, he scoffed and stopped abruptly in front of a small town house that was completely taken over by flames. 

“Jesus. We’re gonna need more than just us two.” I said as we both hopped out of the truck.

“There’s too many fires, it’s just us.” Pete said as you grabbed your helmet and placed it on. 

“Please! My baby is in there!” A woman shouted as my eyes widened. 

“Your child?” You asked as she shook her head while sobbing. 

“My rat!” She said as I raised an eyebrow and looked to Pete for help. 

“It’s ok ma’am we will do our best to get him out.” Pete said as he started the hose and began spraying the house. 

“Betty get in there and find the rat!” Pete said as I stared at him in disbelief. 

“Are you kidding me Pete?” I said as he glared at me. 

“Ok geez, I’ll go in.” I muttered as I sighed and secured my helmet. 

“Going into a bloody fire to get a bloody rat, I hate this job.” I muttered under my breath as I stormed into the fire. I coughed and instantly crouched down as I ran up stairs and found the cage where the rat was. 

“Come here you little crap bag.” I groaned as I grabbed the whole cage and ran back outside to Pete and the distressed lady. 

“I’ve got your damn rat!” I shouted as she ran up to me and snatched it away from me. 

“You’re welcome, geez.” I muttered as I ran back and helped Pete with the hose. 

After a gruelling hour we finally had put out the fire. 

“Get in the truck, we can’t diddy-daddle!” Pete yelled as I chuckled. 

“Did you really just say that?” I asked as I hopped into the passenger seat and he went speeding off. I held on for dear life. 

“Pete look out!” I shouted as I saw a small car heading straight for us. Pete swerved off the road and crashed into the road railing. I caught my breath as I looked over to see Pete alright in his seat. 

“You idiot!” I shouted as I hit him of the shoulder. 

“Betty.” Pete muttered as I looked at his pale face. 

“Pete what’s wrong?” I muttered as I looked down to see a metal pipe had come throw the windshield and hit Pete in the stomach. 

“Shit.” I muttered as I fumbled for my phone. 

“Just hold on. I’ll call an ambulance.” I muttered as I call the emergency number. 

Things went by in a blur. I stayed by Pete’s side and waited for the ambulance to arrive. They rushed him to the hospital and I was left waiting for the police and fire department to show up. I stood staring at the ground, numb. Pete was never close to me, but he was still a friend. I still saw what happened, I don’t think I’d ever be the same. 

“Betty?” I heard a voice ask as I looked up to see one of my coworkers. His tan skin covered in black soot, his usual light brown hair dark with dirk and his blue eyes turned red from smoke. 

“John.” I muttered as I looked around, everything was so hazy. 

“Hey, let’s get you home. I’ll give you a ride. Did the paramedics check you out?” He asked as I nodded slowly. 

“Ok good, let’s get in my car and I’ll take you home.” John said as he gently led me to his car. 

“Did you see it happen?” John asked as I sat in the passenger seat and nodded. 

“Yeah.” I muttered as I looked out the window and up at the rising smoke of the city. 

“Cold.” I muttered as John quickly took off his jacket and placed it around my shoulders. 

“You’re suffering from shock Betty, I’ll take you home and stay for a bit to make sure you’re ok.” He said as he started up the car. 

“Today went south so quickly. I thought it would be a busy day, but I didn’t think anything like this would happen.” I mumbled as John began driving me back home. 

“It’s gonna be ok.” John whispered. He drove me home and kept checking on me every few seconds. I was closer to Pete than John, I had only said a few words to John. But in this moment I could see how much he cared, even if I was just a coworker. 

We finally made it back to my place and I hopped out of the car and fished my keys out of my pocket. I opened the door to my small flat and shuffled my way to the couch where I sat and stared down at my hands. 

“Why don’t you go get changed out of your uniform and I’ll get you some water and blankets?” John asked as I nodded and shuffled into my room where I took of my blood stained uniform and placed on a simple purple nightdress. I came back out to my living room and sat back on the couch where John placed a blanket over my shoulders and handed me a glass of water. 

After drinking the glass I laid down and rested my eyes. My body relaxed into the soft couch and I fell asleep. 

I woke up two hours later to John gently shaking me. 

“Where am I?” I muttered. 

“You’re at home.” He said as I nodded and looked around. 

“Betty. He didn’t make it.” John whispered as I looked at him in shock. 

“No.” I whispered as he sighed and sat beside me. 

“Nothing like this has ever happened to me.” I muttered as I looked over at John. 

“Me neither.” He whispered sadly. 

“He was a good man.” He said as I nodded slowly. 

How did it all go so wrong?