There was a blur of lights, familiar voices, shouts, a very long beep, and a bright flash of light at the end. Followed by shocks of electric light like a thunderstorm in her brain which turned into slow rhythmic beats.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and she lifted her head. “Wake up sleepy head. Your shift is almost done, but at least show you're working.”
It was Grace the head nurse. She was strict with the others, but always nice to her. Phoebe felt her stomach. It was still intact. “Oh, sorry, yes.”
Pushing her self off the desk Phoebe got up and wandered shakily into the ward. Everything seemed extra bright. The last thing she remembered was being stabbed and a stranger helping her.
Using her hand to guide herself up the stairs she made her way to the doctor's office. Dr. Jones would be able to help. Just as she was about to knock on the door Nurse Maggie came busting out. Crying.
“Maggie!”
Maggie disappeared down the stairs.
Phoebe stood at the door. Dr. Jones was busy adjusting his clothes.
Phoebe's voice went deeper. “What did you do?”
“None of your concern, get back to work, Phoebe.”
“No,” said Phoebe stepping up and standing in front of the doctor. “I'm not moving until you tell me.”
Dr. Jones pushed her. Phoebe bumped into a filing cabinet. A box fell off the top and emptied it contents across the floor of the office. She couldn't believe her eyes. It was photo after photo of her fellow nurses in compromising positions. Often in very little clothes.
“You monster!”
She had never felt so warm. It was like she was on fire. She looked in the mirror on the wall. Somehow she was now in her River Fire costume.
“You will tell no one about this!” said Dr. Jones. “Or you will experience worse than Maggie just got.”
River Fire laughed. “That's what you think.”
“No! What is happening to you?”
“I'm your end.”
Dr. Jones pulled his arm back to strike.
River Fire grabbed him by the shirt. Suddenly flame engulfed him.
“Ahh!”
River Fire stepped away as he burnt to a crisp.
When people are burned to crisps in fiction, I always imagine a single potato chip being left behind. Is that deplorable thinking?
ReplyDeleteOnly if you eat it ;).
DeleteWow. Was she dreaming? Is she still dreaming? Or how is she going to explain the charred corpse in the office? I suspect there has to be more to this one…
ReplyDeleteYou're along the right lines Larry... and I think your suspicions just may be correct ;).
DeleteFire Monsoon! A great title. The doctor is a little creepy, and he deserves what he gets.
ReplyDeleteThanks Aidan! My current WIP is called Fire Halo. I think I may be a closet pyromaniac...
DeleteI agree.
I'm with John except that I see a pile of ash! Seems she is a superhero after all.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen. We will see this Friday ;).
DeleteFantastic ending! I thought from the last story that she was more like Batman, a human being fighting bad guys with some cool toys. But from the looks of the charred Dr. Jones, she has super powers. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard! It's comments like yours that motivate me to write more. I was thinking of using a flame-thrower but not the easiest thing to lug around and chase bad guys with.
DeleteSeems like he's getting what's coming to him!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't stop myself from humming "Dr. Jones, Jones, paging Dr. Jones..." It's an old(/rubbish) song, I'll grant you.
Haha! If it was a short film I would totally have that song playing at the end.
ReplyDeleteHeheh, I have this sneaking suspicion that her job has just gone up in flames too, mind you Dr Jones won't be there to gloat over it. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the way you've set this story up - the development works really well but it was over all too quickly. I hope there's more in this series.
ReplyDeleteThis is getting more interesting by the page!
ReplyDeleteIs she a superhero or not? Is she dreaming now or was she dreaming before...? Or is it all a mess in her head from the blood loss... Moving on to find out!
I'm starting to like River Fire!