Let's Watch It Burn
Prologue
A black '97 Mercury Cougar made its way down the winding streets of Los Angeles. The windows were cracked slightly, allowing the cool night air to flow through the car. Loud, pounding music could be heard as it stopped at a stoplight. When the light turned green, the tires squealed on the wet pavement as the car pulled away. The back end fishtaled before the driver straightened it out and continued down the road.
The car turned right down a smaller street, getting closer to its destination. The driver stopped for a moment and rolled down the window, rain pelting their face as they stuck their head outside. Smoke could be seen pouring into the air a few blocks down. The driver quickly pulled their head back inside and took off down the street, tires squealing once again.
She drove frantically, barely stopping at any of the stop signs in the old neighborhood and speeding down the streets. As she got closer and realized where the smoke was coming from, she mumbled, "No..."
The smell of burned rubber filled the air as the car drove even faster. She slammed on the brakes and slid a bit, but managed to somewhat park the car down the block. She shut off the car and jerked the lanyard with the keys on it out of the ignition before jumping out of the car and running down the street.
"What happened!?" she asked breathlessly to one of the firefighters standing nearby.
He spoke without taking his eyes off of the scene in front of them, "Screwy electrical system. It's a shock it didn't start a fire sooner."
She stared at the sight before her. Hypnotic flames danced around and inside the place she once called a home. Most of it had turned to ashes by now, but firefighters were trying to preserve what remained.
The fireman from before turned to look at her. A look of disbelief was plastered on her young face. He didn't believe this girl could be very old, and yet from what he had heard she was living here on her own.
"Everything," she said, mesmerized by the flames, "everything is gone."
He nodded sadly, "Afraid so."
The two were getting soaked, but continued to watch the valiant efforts of the firefighters. The fire had already spread to the vacant house beside hers and threatened to set the house belonging to a family of 3 on the other side alight. It was as if the fire was invincible. Not even the rain could calm it.
Water flew from her shoulder-length hair as she shook her head, "It's all my fault. People are losing everything because of me!"
He gingerly put a hand on her shoulder, "It's not your fault, it's whoever owned the house before you. There was nothing you could do. You're lucky you weren't inside when this happened. You would've been toast."
She laughed sadistically, "Toast, huh?"
Another firefighter came over, this one older than the one beside her, "We found this inside; perfectly intact."
The girl stared at the charred metal sign in his hands. It was a stop sign she had stolen years ago on a dare. She was so young and stupid back then.
She gave him the best smile she could muster and mumbled a 'thank you' before taking the sign from him. The middle-aged man nodded and went back to helping the others.
The young fireman turned to her again, "What now?"
Tears were silently cascading down her face, falling onto her already wet clothes. Sniffing, she smiled sadly and looked from him to what was left of her home.
"Let's watch it burn."
The car turned right down a smaller street, getting closer to its destination. The driver stopped for a moment and rolled down the window, rain pelting their face as they stuck their head outside. Smoke could be seen pouring into the air a few blocks down. The driver quickly pulled their head back inside and took off down the street, tires squealing once again.
She drove frantically, barely stopping at any of the stop signs in the old neighborhood and speeding down the streets. As she got closer and realized where the smoke was coming from, she mumbled, "No..."
The smell of burned rubber filled the air as the car drove even faster. She slammed on the brakes and slid a bit, but managed to somewhat park the car down the block. She shut off the car and jerked the lanyard with the keys on it out of the ignition before jumping out of the car and running down the street.
"What happened!?" she asked breathlessly to one of the firefighters standing nearby.
He spoke without taking his eyes off of the scene in front of them, "Screwy electrical system. It's a shock it didn't start a fire sooner."
She stared at the sight before her. Hypnotic flames danced around and inside the place she once called a home. Most of it had turned to ashes by now, but firefighters were trying to preserve what remained.
The fireman from before turned to look at her. A look of disbelief was plastered on her young face. He didn't believe this girl could be very old, and yet from what he had heard she was living here on her own.
"Everything," she said, mesmerized by the flames, "everything is gone."
He nodded sadly, "Afraid so."
The two were getting soaked, but continued to watch the valiant efforts of the firefighters. The fire had already spread to the vacant house beside hers and threatened to set the house belonging to a family of 3 on the other side alight. It was as if the fire was invincible. Not even the rain could calm it.
Water flew from her shoulder-length hair as she shook her head, "It's all my fault. People are losing everything because of me!"
He gingerly put a hand on her shoulder, "It's not your fault, it's whoever owned the house before you. There was nothing you could do. You're lucky you weren't inside when this happened. You would've been toast."
She laughed sadistically, "Toast, huh?"
Another firefighter came over, this one older than the one beside her, "We found this inside; perfectly intact."
The girl stared at the charred metal sign in his hands. It was a stop sign she had stolen years ago on a dare. She was so young and stupid back then.
She gave him the best smile she could muster and mumbled a 'thank you' before taking the sign from him. The middle-aged man nodded and went back to helping the others.
The young fireman turned to her again, "What now?"
Tears were silently cascading down her face, falling onto her already wet clothes. Sniffing, she smiled sadly and looked from him to what was left of her home.
"Let's watch it burn."
♠ ♠ ♠
New HU story! :DSorry it's a bit short, but it's just a background to what happened to dear Letty.
C'est Letty
I was listening to City when I wrote this... since I found it fitting. Hope you like how it turned out!
Comment and tell me what you think! :)