Hey guys. I just came up with this, and you know that feeling when you just HAVE to get something down, yeah? Well I just got it. I think I've heard of a saying "Out of the Fire and into the Fray". I know it's different from that "Out of the Frying pan, into the Fire" one, I just thought this one matched better. Plus I rhymed the last word with something actually relevant! Woohoo! Anyway, hope you like it. :3

The Beginning

Setting: Amongst the now barren islands, scorch marks weaving their way around what once was a town.

Time: Since only few live folk are left, and they are generally unconscious at the moment, we don't know.

As I came to, I realized that I was incredibly lucky to be alive. Vaguely, I looked around, not expecting to find anything. I could feel the mattedness of my hair, and the lack of clothing I had at certain points where I should have had my soft yellow shirt. I saw around me what appeared to be my farm.

"Oh my Lord…" I whispered to myself, my voice carrying off along with the breeze, gone as quickly as my home was.

Where my house was supposed to be was ash. A lot of it. Beyond that, what used to be my luscious field filled with pumpkins, corn, and tomatoes, was more ash. And where my stable was was, you guessed it, more ash.

I stood up slowly from my spot against the shore of my island, protected from The Fire by the ever-crashing waves from the ocean. I wasn't harmed too much. From what I could tell I had a concussion, and my ankle hurt like heck. I still managed to hobble over to the bridge that connected my tiny island to the mainland.

"Let's see who's still kickin'," I said as I slowly started my traverse across the bridge. My only guess as to why the bridge was still up-and-about was that it was drenched by the storm that produced the horrible lightning which started The Fire.

Hobbling along, I make it to about halfway, where my already shallow breath was taken. The entire town I knew was gone. Ash was everywhere, and nothing was salvaged.

"It must've been longer than I thought…"

"Ch-Chelsea! Here! Over here!" came a man's voice. Rather weak it was, but nonetheless there.

"Who? Where are you!" I called, back-switching. I figured that if I could find where the voice came from, I could find out where to go to help them.

"Here!" came the voice. Except this voice was different. It was younger: Charlie's.

I hobbled over quickly to where Chen's old merchandise shop was, scraping madly and trying to push away the rubble covering up the man and his son. Easier said than done with a concussion and damaged ankle, though.

Soon enough, I uncovered a hand. Which scared me, to say the least. It's owner was sweet, 8 year-old Charlie. He always helped out with helping improve my tools. I managed to clear down to his lower torso.

"Chelsea!" He cried out to me as I tugged him out. He tumbled into my arms and buried his face in my tattered shirt. "I-I don't want to h-hurt anymore!" he wailed into my shirt. It was heartbreaking, but we had to keep going on.

"Charlie honey, it's going to be okay. Help me clear your daddy out of this, and then we can just sit down, and everything is going to be okay, alright?" I said as I attempted to calm him down.

"O-okay," he hiccupped, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "Daddy, w-we're coming!"

I started to clear out the rubble as to where I thought Chen might be. Charlie was frantically scraping at the debris as well. Within moments of our digging, we exposed the top of Chen's head. He took in several deep breaths before he managed to get out, "Thank… you…" in a wheezy breath. We managed to get the rest of Chen out when I questioned him.

"How did you manage to get out of the fire's way Chen? You too Charlie…" I asked in amazement. I was unconscious in the sea, but they were still in ash and debris from their home.

"Since Daddy owns the store, we threw one of those blanket things over us. It did get really hot, but we didn't burn," Charlie said for his father. Chen just avidly nodded as I looked at him for clarification.

"Well, that's awesome then. Do you know of anyone else who's made it?" I ask with little hope. Fire is hard to escape from, unless you are in water, or flame-retardant material.

"We did sell another… -cough- fire blanket," Chen said, rubbing his intact beard.

"Who?" I asked with renewed hope.

"Natalie Brewer, from across the street. I do not know why she purchased such an item, but I hope she used it well," Chen said, his voice returning to the well-enunciated Chen I used to know.

"C'mon, then, we have no time to lose," I say, hobbling over to the Brewer's house.

In it's rightful spot was debris similar to the Chong's house. Slightly to the right of where all the main rubble was, was a tiny spot that shook ever so slightly.

Darting over as fast as I could, I lifted about 3 pieces of scorched wood before I was met with the side of Natalie's beat down apron. Thank goodness she was still alive.

Natalie opened her eyes, fear clearly evident, yet a spark of relief flashed over them when she registered who I was.

"Chel-sea?" She whimpered out from her spot beneath the rubble. It was then that I saw the hand restricting her from proceeding to get out of her spot beneath her house. The hand was gloved. In black.

"Is that Vaughn down there with you?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes- help me out… I'll explain…" she muttered, working on getting herself out from the pile.

Encouraged by this, I helped her out further by uncovering Vaughn completely. He was curled up, as though protecting Natalie from the vicious flames. From what I could tell, the back of his leather vest was torched. As we worked on him, he lightly stirred.

"Natalie, no… back… flames…" he said, as though still stuck in the nightmare.

"Chelsea, help me pull him out here," Natalie said, taking hold of one of his arms. With Chen and I taking hold of the other, and Charlie helping by grabbing his hat, we heaved Vaughn out of there. He was suspended almost puppet like by layering his arms across Natalie's and Chelsea's shoulders.

"We need to find a place for us to get everyone together, even if it's just for now," I told everyone. "Let's go over to where the Diner used to be, and get everyone situated. Silent nods followed, and we moved everyone to go set up our makeshift "camp".

Well. That's the first chapter. I'm definitely planning on doing more, hopefully before the end of spring break, so expect more before the end of the week. I think that's it, so au revoir, and best wishes from my writing to yours.
~hendrixthenicecow