Hearts Alight

Lelia M. Silver

Chapter 1

The harsh tones of a klaxon bell rocketed through the firehouse dorms.

Collin’s feet hit the ground before he was aware he was awake, the hot surge of adrenaline through his system doing more for his state of consciousness than all the caffeine in his sister’s coffee shop combined.

He joined the fray headed for the engine bay, heart pumping and boots pounding. The locker that held his turnout gear was three from the left. He counted them without thinking and wrenched open the door, stuffing his arms and his legs into the heavy suit that would protect him for a time from the blazing fury of a fire.

There was no time to finish doing up the fasteners; his crew was already climbing into the truck. It was late at night, but firefighters were a nocturnal bunch. He was the only one who’d been bunked down for the night, and it set him a few precious seconds behind the rest of crew.

He’d have to do them up as they drove. Thank goodness he wasn’t the man behind the wheel tonight.

His decision made, he swung up into the cab. Joe, the engineer, had the rescue truck rolling before his door was closed. Dispatch squawked in his ears as they hit the pavement and Collin tried to listen over the wail of the sirens as he buckled himself in. His fingers knew the drill, having performed the task hundreds if not thousands of times, even if his mind was focused elsewhere.

“W-3. 144 West Main St. Restaurant fire, reports of smoke coming from inside.”

Collin exchanged grim looks with his colleagues. Joe’s hands tightened on the wheel.

He knew that address. The other guys did, too. The diner, their favorite go-to place for dinner when nobody was up to cooking, and one of his favorite haunts any day of the week, thanks to a certain young waitress, was on fire.

But it wasn’t just the potential loss of a few meals that had them concerned.

Restaurant fires were dangerous. Grease could build up in the exhaust hoods and send flames shooting up the ductwork to the roof, causing severe structural damage. Gas lines could be compromised. Clogged grease traps and cleaning rags could add fuel to the fire.

The diner’s new owners were meticulous about cleanliness and codes, but he couldn’t say the same about the former owners. There was no telling what could have caused the fire they were about to face.

He started to mentally prepare himself, going over the steps in his head they would take to douse the flames that greedily devoured the building. He knew his fellow firefighters were doing the same, the silence in the cab only broken by the siren shredding the quiet of the night.

He wished futilely for the light of day to illuminate the skies. The midnight gray of the night sky didn’t give up any secrets. No smoke and the tales its color could tell about the fire’s source were visible, although the telltale tang of charred wood in the air brushed his nostrils the closer they drew to their destination.

The radio crackled to life again, jarring him from his reverie, and for an instant Collin swore his heart stopped beating. “Engine 312. We’ve got reports of a woman trapped inside.”