Page 145 of One Touch

And just like that, the dam broke. We held each other, crying together, all our pent-up emotions flowing freely. I wanted, so desperately, to be a hero for Ava. But I didn’t know how.

***

That evening, I headed out to the fire station for my scheduled training shift. Susie was sleeping at mine so she could take care of Ava. The training had cranked up a notch lately. After weeks of rigorous preparation, we were starting to go on some real call-outs.

So far, most of the emergencies I’d been allowed to assist with had been relatively minor. Small kitchen fires that were quickly contained. A couple of minor blazes in surrounding woodland that mainly involved cleanup and ensuring no hot spots remained. We’d even been called out to rescue a cat from a tree, which had been more challenging than I’d anticipated.

As I sat in the station going over protocols with some of the other trainees, my mind kept drifting back to Ava’s story. The image of the firefighter and the book fairy was stuck in my head. Along with my daughter calling me her hero.

When the shrill alarm pierced through the station, I jumped to my feet along with the others. My heart raced, a mix of adrenaline and nerves flooding my system. Every call was a new experience, a chance to learn and prove myself.

It was a moment later when the chief’s voice boomed through the speakers.

“Apartment fire on Maple Street! All hands on deck. Trainees McCoy and Rodriguez, gear up. You’re coming along on this one.”

I exchanged a quick glance with Rodriguez, seeing my own mix of excitement and nervousness mirrored in his eyes. This was bigger than anything we’d faced before. As we rushed to don our gear, I took a deep breath, trying to recall every bit of training we’d gone through. Tonight, I might finally get to put all that preparation to the test in a real, high-stakes situation.

Maple Street wasn’t far from Main Street in the center of Bluehaven Beach. There were a couple of small apartment buildings on the street. A fire in any of those buildings could be disastrous.

As we screeched to a halt outside the blazing apartment complex, chaos erupted around us. Thick, black smoke billowed from shattered windows, and terrified residents huddled on the sidewalk.

“McCoy!” Mitch barked. “Help Sam with the hose!”

I rushed to assist, my hands steady as I gripped the heavy equipment. As a trainee, I knew my role, and I was determined to prove myself.

Suddenly, a frantic woman grabbed Mitch’s arm. “Please!” she cried. “My neighbor—I think he’s still inside! Top floor, apartment four!”

Mitch nodded grimly. “Team One, we’ve got a possible victim inside. Top floor, apartment four. Let’s move!”

As Team One geared up, I focused on my task with the hose. Sam and I worked efficiently, providing crucial support as Team One entered the building.

Minutes that felt like hours passed. Suddenly, I heard Mitch’s voice crackle over the radio: “Victim located, but Johnson’s tank is running low. We need another oxygen tank at the entrance, stat!”

Without hesitation, I called out to Sam, “I’ve got this! Keep the water flowing!” I sprinted to the truck, grabbing a spare oxygen tank, and rushed towards the building entrance.

As I approached, Johnson emerged from the smoke, supporting an unconscious figure. My heart nearly stopped as I recognized that shock of bright blond hair. It was Vlad Stokes.

“McCoy! Tank, now!” Johnson shouted, his breathing labored.

I quickly handed over the oxygen tank, helping Johnson secure the mask on Vlad’s face. As we moved away from the building, Johnson stumbled, clearly exhausted.

“I’ve got him,” I said, taking Vlad’s weight. Johnson nodded gratefully and moved to help the others.

As I started to carry Vlad toward the paramedics, a sudden, ominous creaking sound came from the building. I looked up to see the roof above apartment four starting to sag dangerously.

“Look out!” I yelled, my firefighter training kicking in. I tightened my grip on Vlad and sprinted away from the building, my heart pounding.

Seconds later, there was a deafening crash as part of the roof collapsed, sending a shower of embers and debris into the air. The force of it knocked us both to the ground, and I instinctively covered Vlad with my body as hot ash rained down around us.

When I looked up, I saw flames erupting with renewed vigor from the collapsed section. I hefted Vlad up, noticing a nasty gash on his forehead from our fall. The oxygen mask had been knocked loose, so I quickly readjusted it as I half-carried, half-dragged him away from the danger zone.

“Stay with me, Vlad,” I muttered, feeling his chest rise and fall against me. As we reached the paramedics, Vlad’s eyes fluttered open, and he coughed violently.

“Easy there,” a medic said, helping him onto a stretcher.

Vlad’s gaze darted around wildly until it landed on me. Recognition dawned on his face, followed by confusion. “Ethan?” he croaked. “What are you doing here?”

“Saving your ass.”

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