"No, no, NO!" I ran from the car, but my friend Tommy had gotten ahead of me and held me back. "Alice, there's nothing you can do," he hugged me. All around me were police, and firefighters. My house was burning, the flames licking up it's walls, red, orange, and yellow destroying everything. Everything I had ever known, my whole life, my family- I broke free from Tommy's grasp and ran to the chief of police. "what happened?" I asked. "Please, tell me." "They're still working on putting out the fire. But, we did find chains across both doors." I sobbed. "My parents were inside. My parents were home, and if they didn't get out-" I cried. "I'm sorry, miss." the police chief sighed. "But nothing could survive this." he gestured to the inferno that was my home. I sank to the ground, and Tommy kneeled next to me. "Hey, Alice, if we hadn't gone bike riding on the trail, you would've been home. You would be dead now too." I cried and cried, and all he could do was stay next to me and hug me. Pity I didn't notice the man hiding in the woods. Hiding from me. Maybe if I had, Tommy wouldn't hate me now. Then again, he does have a very good reason to. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> So, this is my first fanfic/story on here, and I hope y'all enjoy! It will be getting a bit science fiction in a while, but don't worry, it won't get to crazy- I hope...
Hours later, after the firefighters had finally stopped the fire, it was growing dark. My home was burned to the ground. Everywhere was black ashes and the charred remains of my house. They had not recovered my parents bodies yet- some wanted to get out spotlights and such to search for them, but the police chief said everyone needed rest, and they would find them tomorrow. Tommy stayed with me at my house the whole time- while the fire was still going, and after they put it out, I still didn't want to leave. But he managed to call Daphne, who is Tommy's twin, and said that I could sleep at their house. "Thank you so much, Daphne," I said and hugged her. "You're such a good friend." "You can stay over anytime," she waved her hand dismissively. "Although in these circumstances I wish you didn't have to." "Yeah," I said softly. I had cried all I could cry, every last tear, already, and I just couldn't cry anymore. Daphne led me up to her room and I dropped my backpack- which I had had because of the bike ride Tommy and I went on- onto the fold out cot she had. Daphne disappeared into her closet, and came out with an armful of clothes. "What are you doing?" I asked. "Well you're about the same size as me," she put the clothes next to my backpack, "so I figure, you need more clothes than the ones you're wearing." I picked a white sweater out of the pile. "This is your favorite sweater," I said, puzzled. "Yeah but I know you really liked it," Daphne smiled. "Come on, you're all messy from the fire. Go and take a shower. Here," she handed me jeans and the white sweater. "And change, too."
Several days passed. The police had asked me about everything that I knew about the fire, which was nothing. They found my parents bodies-apparently, they couldn't get out the door, because of the chains holding it shut, and they- gulp- died of smoke inhalation. I stayed at Tommy and Daphne's house instead of going to school. Their mother was very nice and kind about that. But after several days, I remembered that my dad worked at the only bank in town, and he did say something about keeping some money there. He kept the rest of my families money at home, in a safe which apparently, for some reason, was not fireproof. Go figures. I grabbed my purse and set out walking to the bank. It must have been four in the afternoon. It was very windy that day, I remember the wind whipping my dark blonde hair into my eyes and all around. I got to the bank and found the secretary. "Oh, Alice!" she said. "I heard what happened!" The secretary's name is Sophie Bernard. She was friends with my mom, and they had met at one of those company picnics dad made us go to. "Dad said something about his having an account here once." "Oh, yes." Sophie walked around her desk. "It's a private company one, I believe. The money would be in his office. Come, follow me." We walked over to the elevator and Sophie pushed the up button. When it showed up, a man with a suit walked out. He stared at me for a moment, then walked past. When we got to the office, Sophie showed me the safe. She found the combination and opened it. "How much do you need?" "Um, how much is in there?" Sophie counted quickly. "Seven hundred and fifty dollars." "Yeah we weren't the best off." I muttered. "Should I clear out his account?" "Well you can if you want." Sophie shrugged. "I guess I'll take half of it now, and leave the other half." "Okay," Sophie gave me the money which I put in my purse and we went back down to the lobby. "Don't worry, I'll fill out the paperwork for you." Sophie said. I waved goodbye and went outside and found Daphne standing in front of a black car. "Alice, run!" "Daphne?" I stepped towards her. "They want to kill you!" she shouted before a man dragged her into the car and they sped away. I tried chasing them, but it was useless. That man was the one I saw in the elevator.