It was raining heavily. The ambulance screamed through the puddled streets, racing toward the convenience store beside the gas station.
**"Fire! Fire!"** the crowd shouted—voices echoing, thick with fear and panic. Flames clawed at the building, smoke curling into the dark sky like angry fingers.
**Person One:** (Weeping) "Help! My daughter is in there, please!"
**Police:** "Ma'am, stay back! They will save your loved ones."
**ER Members:** (Rushing inside the store, pushing through the debris) "Move! Move!"
People were being pushed out; some were injured, and some were badly burnt. Newscasters from different departments were everywhere.
**Person Two:** (Crying) "Oh my goodness... everything is burning!"
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**Part Two: St. Aurelius Medical Center**
The sound of heavy rain fades, replaced by the sharp, rhythmic beeping of heart monitors. The lights are bright and sterile. ER members rush a body covered in ash toward the trauma bay.
**Louis:** (Snapping on gloves, voice authoritative) "What do we have?"
**ER Member:** (Edges closer, looms as the lights fail) "Female, mid-20s. Pulled from the gas station fire. She's barely breathing."
**Louis:** (Leans in closer, eyes scanning her calmly while checking her pulse) "Everyone stand back for a moment. Give her some air."
**Nurse One:** (Confused) "Doctor? We need to intubate immediately!"
**Louis:** (Calm, eyes scanning her) "No. Her vitals are stabilizing. Look at the pattern of the ash. She was found under the store, tucked behind the heavy crates. That structure actually protected her from the worst of the heat."