A night of smoke. (Open)

[Martin Tome]

((Alright! Let the posting begin!))

Martin walked through the bright streets of the city. People ran around him buzzy, people in cars honked at one another, yelling from inside their cars. An old lady honked from inside her CRV and a taxi driver yelled at her in return.

'Heh, as if all the places she needs to go are so important.'

Martin stifled a chuckle. He noticed a man selling burgers. Martin bought one, the man grinned and nodded robotic. Martin was warm inside his leather jacket, wearing old dark blue jeans, and converse. He sat in an alley and continued his burger. Suddenly an adult, with a shaggy beard, wearing a filthy jacket and torn up jeans approached him. He flicked out a switch blade.

"Okay kid, I'm hungry, hand over all of your cash."

The man was sweaty, he probably wasn't too used to mugging kids. Martin just continued chewing his burger. He sighed and reached into his back pocket. He held out his wallet to the man. The man reached out for it, Martin dropped it on the ground and tossed the rest of the burger on the man's chest. The man's face went purple with rage and he stabbed at Martin. Martin lunged toward the blade and got close to the man. He pushed the man against the wall and grabbed his wrist of the hand with the blade. He slammed his elbow into the man's chest and then twisted the wrist, the man gave out a small 'Ow!'. The man was pressing away from Martin trying to get free, Martin pulled him in that direction and his face slammed against the wall.

Martin gathered his wallet, put it in his pocket and continued walking. After a while he pulled out a cigarette and let it sit in his lips. He pulled out a lighter and immediately smelled smoke, but he hadn't even lit his. He looked to his left, a building was on fire.

"Oh shit..."

He looked around no one had noticed, no one was really even around, it was only in one window. It looked like an apartment, there was probably people inside. Martin reached for his cell, to find nothing. He could have left it anywhere, his house, it could be in his other jeans, hell it could have been under a couch. Martin felt he would need to something. He thought he heard screaming inside the building, it might have been his imagination. Suddenly he was aware of someone near him. He turned.

"Yo, do you you have a cell?"

[Aden Allett]

Aden walked out of the convenience store, a diet soda in his left hand. It was nicer today than usual, allowing him to leave his house without his jacket. Aden wore his black jeans with a read long sleeve shirt with a blue T underneath, his old sneakers in tow. Off in the distance, a billow of smoke could be seen. Peaking Aden’s interest, he headed for the direction of what he assumed was a fire.

As he approached the fire, he could see the apartment building. Able to hear screams, Aden pondered with what to do. He didn’t know the address and didn’t see a street sign, but the cops could still help, he assumed. Reaching into his pocket for his cell, Aden’s ears caught the sound of a man behind him.

“You, read my mind,” Aden stated, not bothering to look behind him to see who he was talking too. Dialing “911,” Aden reached an operator telling him to “Please hold,” ever so nicely. Aden began to look annoyed. The fact that they even have an emergency number was for quick access. The operator picked up the line again, inquiring why Aden had called.

“Uh, yeah, I’m standing in front of a burning building right now. I don’t know the address, but I figure some cop in this city can see the smoke. I suggest you get someone down here now before people start to burn alive, if they haven’t already.”

Aden hung up the phone, not in the mood for questioning and turned his attention to the man behind him. Aden didn’t know the man from anywhere, but figured they went to the same high school. They looked to be the same age, roughly. Sticking out his hand to shake to introduce himself, Aden began to speak.

“Aden Allett, nice to meet you.” His voice was still slightly annoyed from the call. “Hopefully the cops will show up soon…”

[Martin Tome]

Martin watched as the boy called 911. Martin was sure he heard screaming, he could see a fire escape on the side of the building, completley unused, that seemed dumb...

“Aden Allett, nice to meet you.”

Martin turned, noticed that the boy was about his age, and that he probobly went to hircine. Martin shook his hand.

"Martin Tome, feeling's nutral."

“Hopefully the cops will show up soon…”

Martin had a thought about his sister, had the cops gotten there fast enough, she wouldn't be in a coma right now, and Martin wouldn't be scrambling for money every 5 seconds, and his mom wouldn't have to come home at 1:00 every morning, then leave at 2:00. Martin sighed and looked towards Aden.

"Yah know... cops have a tendancy of showing up late, and I can hear somone screaming up there."

Martin paused and pointed toward the fire escape.

"We could easily get in through that fire escape and into the building if we go fast enough. I bet we could even save a life if we did, probbobly wont feel to good but..."

Martin pulled the ciggarete out of his mouth, it had been hanging there for some time now. He listened hard for sirens, but none came, a crowed had gathered. People pointed to the building and gasped and little kids clapped, amused. Martin looked towards Aden for an answer. Going into a burning building was completley reckless and stupid, and it would realy get him no where, in fact, it could kill him, it could ruin his intire life and he could gain nothing from it. But then again, Martin liked pulling shit like that.

[Aden Allett]

Martin introduced himself, listening as Aden explained he called the authorities, but he had to agree with Martin’s statement. The cops could take too long to get here, especially without an address. It seemed to make sense to go in, see if anybody could be helped and get out. Aden looked at the building, the fire was getting larger and the smoke was getting thicker. People might have died already. It wasn’t something Aden wanted to think about.

Aden turned his attention to the fire-escape Martin had previously pointed out. Yes, it currently, was free form the flame, but the current heat would eventually hit the metal bars, heating them to a point where they would be trapped up there with the rest of the people. All in all, Aden figured they could get in and out fairly quick, but they wouldn’t be able to go all through the apartment building.

“If you want to go up there, it has to be quick. I mean very quick. You can’t expect to spend more than a couple minutes before the fire gets close enough to those bars to heat them up.”

Aden looked at Martin, who was obviously ready to go in. He merely sighed, rubbing his temple with his index and middle fingers. This wasn’t what he expected to happen today and now he was expected to risk his life to help people he didn’t know? But with the screams from the building, it was clear he didn’t have much of a choice.

“Alright, let’s go, but we will not take too long.”

Aden jogged up to the fire escape. The heat was definitely getting worse, meaning they didn’t have a lot of time like he assumed. Not looking to see if Martin was following, Aden grabbed onto the bar of the ladder and climbed up one arm and one foot at a time. He reached the first balcony, peering into the window, but no one could be seen. He didn’t spend too much time looking in, knowing the fire could easily cause the glass to break.

Aden put his hands on the second ladder, finally turning to see if Martin was following, he was, after all, the one who wanted to do this.

[Martin Tome]

Martin grinned as Aden agreed. He followed him up the ladder. He knew Aden was right, if they didn't hurry, the bars would get hot. As they climbed Aden turned to make sure Martin was still following, Martin threw him a grin. He passed by one of the windows, looked in, and saw no one, he reached for the second ladder to continue his climb, he waited, hoping to hear the sound of police sirens. No such luck.

As they continued their climb, the distinct sound of screaming was defined. He rose his voice, Aden was pretty close to the window, he probably heard it.

"Hey! Sounds like we're getting close to the screaming, I think it's coming from that balcony, when we get up there, wait up for me."

Martin double timed it to catch up with Aden. Suddenly he couldn't move his right leg, he looked down and his pant leg was caught on a small screw, sticking out of the ladder, he couldn't reach it without falling so he simply pushed forward until the pant tore. Nothing major, just a pant leg. Martin turned his head to notice that a large group had formed below, some gasped and covered the mouths pointing to him and Aden, many where on their cell phones. Martin grinned and shook his head.

'Sure, it's pretty easy to watch it huh?'

Then he noticed a familiar face, his dad stood in the audience, he stayed still for a while, then moved on, acting uninterested. Martin's grin faded. He looked up and continued up the ladder, a little pissed off.

[Aden Allett]

Aden, still climbing the ladder, looked at the window above him. It was in view now and he would be there in a couple seconds. It was obvious that was where the screams were coming from, like Martin had suggested. Taking a look at the group below, Aden merely sighed and continued on. He had no time for them. It was bad enough he was up here.

Making his way to the window, he saw no one near the window, but figures moving from a distance. He tried opening the window to no avail. It was obviously locked. Kicking the window with his left foot until the glass shattered; Aden carefully placed his hand in afterwards, trying to find a lock without burning anything. Finally finding it, Aden, unhitched the window and opened it so he and Martin could make there way inside.

The screams could still be heard. They weren’t that of pain, which had a higher tone to it, but of fear. Hopefully that meant no one was hurt yet. The smoke emerging from the building was thick and black, spreading all over. Aden bent down to try to keep his head out of his and prevent lung damage.

Aden took a look back down at the crowd, still no one helping. Aden didn’t care. People didn’t like to risk there lives. The human nature was greedy and the majority of people cared about their own lives first. It made sense, Aden was of the same. He was only helping out because no one else was around, he felt obligated, but now that two people were out to “save the day” the others felt they didn’t have to and wouldn’t.

People usually cared, but they never really helped unless absolutely necessary. If they found an excuse, they most likely used it. It seemed to be basic human nature and nothing really ever changed that.

Aden looked down at Martin who was close behind him. When he arrived they were to head inside and look for anyone that could get immediate help out of the building before the fire escape was too hot to use as an exit. Aden motioned to Martin in a form that said “hurry up.” The fire escape was still cool, but wouldn’t last that way for long with the way the flames were coming.

The screams were coming less frequently, making Aden assume the smoke was getting to the person. They only had a short amount of time as it was as this didn’t make things any easier. As Martin made his way up, Aden headed inside, ready to help whoever was in there.

[Martin Tome]

Martin climbed into the window and stayed low, the smoke made his eyes water, and his brow sweat. The sound of screaming rang in his ears, it was a little annoying actually. Soon the screaming toned down, the smoke must be getting to the person. Martin walked by a door and heard a scream from inside.

"Aden! Over here."

He got close to it and put the backside of his palm in front of it, it was hot, fire was probably on the other side, he heard someone screaming he yelled.

"Stand away from the door!"

He turned and landed a round house kick on the door, it was beginning to break, he let out another kick and broke the door, it was only a small hole but he could see through it, something was blocking the door.

"There's something blocking the door. And that something seems to be on fire. Any ideas?"

The screaming started up again, Martin called out several times, the screaming only stopped when a few sudden violent sobs set in.

Martin tussled his own hair in frustration, he let out a groan then looked towards Aden, Martin wasn't the guy who had a lot of bright ideas.

Then Martin got a stupid idea, the thought about lighting a smoke.

[Aden Allett]

Aden entered the room with Martin following close behind. As they both stayed low to dodge the smoke, Martin was able to tell the screams were coming from the room before the door in eyesight. Martin walked up to the door, warning whomever may be on the other side to stay back and kicked the door two consecutive times, causing a hole to be formed. Martin could see that there was something blocking the door, keeping it closed, but Aden was already looking around the apartment for something to support his own idea.

Right now, they were in an apartment; someone’s home. There was the living room, a dining and a kitchen. The bathrooms and bedroom must have been beyond the door. Searching through the kitchen drawers for a sturdy object, Aden came in contact with a screwdriver. The perfect tool needed for his idea.

Walking to the door where Martin stood, Aden inserted the screwdriver under the head of one of the hinges, smashing it downwards, causing the hinge to dislodge. He did this consecutively until all the hinges were out, being careful not to touch them with his bare hands because of the heat. Stepping away from the door as it feel to the ground, being pushed by whatever was blocking its path, Aden felt a sudden rush of smoke that had accumulated in the rooms ahead. A bookshelf on fire was what was obstructing the path. Aden didn’t know how it ended up there nor did he care.

Watching his step on his way in, Aden began to look around, making out a figure, possibly two or more, in the corner. It was almost impossible to tell how many because of the smoke. Aden walked towards him/her or them trying to get to there as fats as possible so they could escape. Before he could do anything however, the ceiling began to collapse, sending large fragments of it down in flames, blocking the main path.

Aden could see over near the figures. The door beside them most likely led to a bedroom. Looking in the bathroom not far away was another door inside, leading to the bedroom stated previously. “Lucky,” Aden muttered to himself.

“We can get to them through there,” Aden stated to Martin, pointing to the bathroom.

[Martin Tome]

Martin watched as Aden came back with a screw driver, Martin instantly caught on to his plan.

"Thats using the old noodle."

He said sarcasticly as Aden broke off the henges. The door fell down and a book shelf remained. Then a flaming stick of somthing fell to the ground, blocking the path to about two screaming people not far away. Martin turned to the room that led to the bathroom, as Aden had pointed out, it lead to the bedroom. Martin entered the bathroom, turning the corner to the door that led to the bed room.

The back of his palm hovered over the door, it wasn't hot, the door was fine. He grabbed the handle, they had locked it from the other side. Martin groaned in anger.

"Hey! Open the damn door!"

He heard more crying. They weren't opening it. Martin sighed, yelling for them to open, and cursing, lots of cursing. Martin took another step back and lashed out another kick, this one slammed open the door.

"I always have wanted to do that."

There was always room for smartass remarks, even if you are in the middle of a burning building. The two people where as follows: a middle age woman, and a small girl, maybe about 10. They sat in the corner, yelling in spanish. One of the few languages that Martin was fluent in.

"¡Venga en tiene que salir de aquí! ¡Ahora!"

They cried in the corner in return. Martin sighed. He was ready to yank them out by their hair, they where getting him pissed.

"¡Apuro! ¡Necesitamos ir!"

He turned to Aden.

"Do you speak spanish? Maybe you can convince them to come along."

[Aden Allett]

As Aden and Martin made it to the door leading to the area behind the wall of fire, Aden worried about the spreading of the fire and their only escape route. The fire would be extremely close to reaching the escape by now meaning they had almost no time anymore. Martin proceeded with kicking the door open, along with a less than witty remark in Aden’s eyes.

The two entered the area where they found two women, one middle aged and the other only a child. They were speaking a language Aden had no association with. He was Japanese-American; Spanish never really interested him. They were running out of time and the fire was coming more ferociously now. Aden gave Martin an annoyed look when he asked him if he knew how to speak the language.

“Do I look like I can speak Spanish?”

Aden turned his attention towards the middle aged woman. He began stating basic words, seeing if she could understand them. “Fire, hot, hello, names,” the usual. Even if they were Spanish, he expected they would know a little English to get them through American life. The woman nodded at a few of the terms, and with hand gestures, he began describing how to get out.

“We need to leave,” He said, pointing to the exit. The woman looked at the exit, and then back at Aden and Martin, slightly nodding her head, as though she understood. That made things easier. Aden laid his hand out for the woman, who held onto the little girl with her life. Aden turned to Martin.

“Let’s get out of here before we’re stuck.”

Aden led the woman and girl through the first door and into the bathroom, watching out for flames and falling debris along the way. Reaching the window, Aden helped the women out, one at a time, helping them watch for shards of glass. Once they were both on the balcony, Aden was ready to follow. Aden stepped aside, allowing Marting to go first.

“….It’s hot…” He said in a dull tone.

[Martin Tome]

Martin smirked to himself, he had spoken their language, and they didn't listen, Aden makes some gestures and several words, and suddenly they can move again. Martin continued behind everyone, the heat making his brow sweat. Martin narrowly avoided pieces of burning debree. As he continued moving, he heard distant sirens.

"Perfect timeing, those lazy bastards."

As they continued to run, they made it to the window, the girls went out first, Martin was about to leave when he noticed a closet door open. He looked over toward it, inside he saw what he thought was two small metal trashcans. Closer inspection revealed that they where tanks. No prizes to anyone who can guess that the tanks held propaine. Martin rolled his eyes. and ran a hand down his face.

"...It's hot..."

As Martin reached the window he said to Aden, while pointing at the tanks:

"Its about to get hotter."

He hopped out of the window, spotting the red and blue flashing lights of sirens below. It was getting warm on the ladder. He looked down and watched the girls go down the ladder. He followed with a vengance. He got to the first window they had passed by and looked up at Aden.

"Hurry yer' ass up!"

[Aden Allett]

Aden sent Martin a glare as he ordered him around. Aden waited for the two women and Martin to head down the ladder before he did, making sure everyone was safe. The warmth surrounding them was getting worse and parts of the outside wall were beginning to crumble. Some of those parts just happening to be close to the ladder’s bolts. If they didn’t get off soon, they could fall to their death and this would all be in vein.

“Shit.”

Aden ran for the ladder. Grabbing on and beginning to climb down turning his head to Martin down below. They had to get the two women off of the fire escape first. That was top priority. Luckily, Martin and the women were closest to the ground, but it was still quite a fall and with all the debris…well…it wouldn’t be the prettiest of sights, would it?

“Martin! Get down, now. The fire escapes about-“

As Aden tried to finish his sentence, the wall holding one of the bolts collapsed, sending the fire escape in to a frenzy of rapid swaying, loosing the rest of the bolts to a point where they were also close to dislodging.

“…right.” Aden said in a nervous tone. “It’d be a great idea to get down now. “

Aden let go of the ladder and feel to Martins level. They were close to getting down now, but there was still the danger of the fire escape falling apart before they made it. If they weren’t more careful now than ever, they were going to end up a mess on the floor.

[Martin Tome]

As Aden called something to Martin, the ladder shook, groaned, and creaked, obviously breaking. Martin gave an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes. Aden landed close to him. Relived that he was okay, Martin called to Aden.

"I suppose I don't need to say how deep into this shit we are."

He looked down and began to go down the ladder quickly, really quickly. He looked up, Aden was close, they weren't too far from the ground now.

"Ok! Im gonna-"

Now it was Martin's turn to be interrupted. A giant 'BOOM' sounded from the room, fire spewed out of the window, flying glass and wood fell, a few chunks of the stuff landing on Martin's head, he could feel the heat from where he stood, no doubt Aden was getting the worst of it.

"Jump!"

He let go of the railing, a gasp came from the people below, an audience at a movie, thats pretty much what they where. He fell, he landed and rolled, he had seen that once in a movie, it didn't really help that much. Instead of finding himself completely fine, he found himself cut and bruised and bleeding. He began to look up to see if he could see Aden.

[Aden Allett]

As Martin tried to shout to Aden, an explosion cut him off. Aden lowered his head trying to prevent any injury from the falling debris, but the bars were heating up rapidly. Martin had already jumped, but Aden was too high to just leap for his life. In order to save himself, Aden put his arms on the sides of the ladder and slid down rapidly gripping it tightly before he hit the ground. Making sure he was close enough to there ground, Aden jumped down. Walking up to the women and Martin to make sure they were alright, he gave Martin a glare.

“Just because you were in danger didn’t mean you had to risk your life by jumping.” Aden scolded Martin, turning to face the crowd, but still addressing Martin. “At least you’re all right.”

Aden looked at the front of his left hand. It looked like it was slightly burnt from the rush of the flames. It wasn’t anything to worry about, luckily. The sirens were close now. Off in the distance, Aden could make out ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles. Aden turned to the women, pointing towards the shining lights and the crowd, trying to motion that they should move away from the building.

“I suggest we leave. I really don’t feel like staying for anything more.” With that, Aden motioned to the alley in front of them. It would lead to the other block. “Well? I wouldn't mind getting ice on this hand without filling out any paper work for the authorities."

[Martin Tome]

((OOC: Yes! I finaly got on! Ok, time is short so this post will suck. Terribly. But It's all I can manage to squeese out before my mom catches me.))

IC:

Aden slid down the ladder, the explosion was big, Martin could feel the heat from where he stood, the people had some of their jaws open in gasps, people where now running out of the building. Aden landed and Martin threw a grin his way.

“Just because you were in danger didn’t mean you had to risk your life by jumping.”

Martin rolled his eyes, still grinning.

"You sound like my mom."

Of course that wasn't totaly true, his mother would have probobly gasped at him, then got into her car and yelled somthing along the lines of 'if you plan on killing yourself, you dont need a ride home!' then ride off, leaving Martin to hitch hike.

“I suggest we leave. I really don’t feel like staying for anything more.”

Martin nodded at him and started following his lead.

"Amen."

People where talking, probobly wondering who the hell where those two kids who pulled those awesome ninja moves, rescuing a family from a firey doom. Or wondering who those two arsonists who burned down a building where.

Martin took off down the alley, hoping Aden could keep up.

[Aden Allett]

“I sound like your mom?”

Aden scoffed at the idea. He was just careful. It was better to have one less dead person than to let someone go on at they please and get themselves killed. It seemed like the logical thing to do anyway.

Martin took off into the alley in front of the two, expecting Aden to follow. Sure enough Aden stepped off his left foot running up to catch up to martin as they made their way through the alley. The other block was already in plain view. Aden wondered where they could get ice for his hand to stop any blistering before that was a lost cause. He was sure it wasn’t too bad, but it was always good to be safe.

“Let’s stop by a convenience store. I want to get some ice for this hand and it will only take a minute.”

As the made their way through the alley, Aden looked up and down the street for a store where they could get a little ice. Lucky enough for them, there happened to be one across the street. Turning to Martin and motioning over to the store Aden took the lead heading across the street and inside.

Walking up to the clerk and handing him the money Aden was given a small bag of ice that’s he wrapped around his hand with some cloth. Leaning against the counter with his back and elbows and turning his head to Martin, Aden’s fun seemed to be over.

“So…is there anything you want to do?”

[Martin Tome]

Martin grinned as Aden got a little huffy over his remark, Martin enjoyed messing with people. Aden's hand seemed to be hurt, he was in need of ice, duh, they ran down the alley, until they got to the convenience store. As they exited the alley, Aden noticed a convenience store. Good thing too, Martin was thirsty as hell from the heat.

"Screw the ice, I need a drink."

The two ran across he street and into the store, the sudden change of temperature after they got out of the fire gave him a headache, the temperature inside didn't help. As they entered the door jingled with an annoying bell, as Aden got some ice Martin wandered over to a sliding door, not far from the counter and opened it. A blast of cool air punched into Martin's face abruptly. It felt good, even though it had been cold outside, and then cold in here, this felt good on his skin.

It was now that Martin noticed that he hadn't left unscarred. His shirt was torn near the shoulder, he now noticed his legs where shaky, he could see his reflection in the glass of the door, he had black smears around his face. He looked at his hands, they had what looked like rust on them, probably from the ladder.

He disregarded his burns for a second and picked out a sprite. Aden spoke. Without looking at him, Martin replayed while placing his drink on the counter.

"Yeah, a shower."

He opened the sprite and took a long drink and let go with a grin and an 'aah'. He looked over to Aden.

"You want one?"

The clerk told him the price, Martin opened his wallet and was relived to find that he actually had money in it for once. He pulled out the bill and put it on the counter. He pulled a box of cigarette's from his back pocket. He was ready for a smoke, the clerk would probably tell him to go outside, but he was in need of it, today's actions had inspired that. He pulled out a smoke to find that the entire thing was flattened, probably from the fall. He crushed the carton in his hands. He wasn't even going to bother buying another carton, a bird would probably fly in and take it away.

He sighed and dropped the smashed carton.

[Aden Allett]

Aden received the drink handed to him by Martin as he proceeded to pay. Aden looked at Martin as he reached for a cigarette only to find that the box had been flattened by the ruckus. Aden opened his drink, taking a sip of it and letting out a sigh. It felt good right now; the temperature of the air, the drink, the relief that they weren’t in a blazing building anymore.

Martin wanted a shower, so Aden figured he would plan to go back to his place. They were both a mess and Aden wouldn’t mind getting cleaned up either, before his uncle caught sight of his mess. Aden asked the man if he could use the stores bathroom. Heading in, he closed and locked the door behind him. Aden began to wash his face and the rest of the exposed skin. He patted some ash off of his clothes, but the smell of smoke stuff to his clothes with its disgusting yet nostalgic odor.

Aden wet his hair in the sink, drying it with paper towel, leaving it in a wet, but clean mess. Exiting the bathroom, Aden motioned to Martin, suggesting he do the same as he did. Aden was wondering what he would do now. The high point of his day was over. He was mildly clean, but wreaked of smoke and he was getting the agitating feeling of boredom once again.

Aden felt around in his pockets for money, feeling the urge to eat something. He felt his wallet and an old pack of cigarettes. He forgot he had them on him, as he was trying to quit and he was sure Martin would appreciate them. When Martin was done deciding whether he was going to clean up, and when he was back if he did, Aden would hand them to him.

They needed to decide what they were going to do now. Aden wasn’t particularly eager to go home, but Martin might want to go get himself a shower.