Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognized only the plot and the ocs
"Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm"
The colors seeped in whirling in blues, blacks, and purples, Inky black water lapped against the pale sand while the wind whipped through the darkening purple skies hot white spurts of lightning flashing on the horizon.
The sharp scent of salt lingered in the air joining the heady scent of rain.
The wildlife remained still filling the blackness with eerie silence. Something tragic was destined to occur tonight.
A young girl staggered through the sand falling to her knees at the water's edge. Her grief filled screams split the night.
June 1974
32 year old Michael Stoker jerked awake with a start heartbeat echoing like a freight train in his ears. Mike rubbed his eyes blearily as the images played out under his eyelids.
Noiselessly pulling on his turnout pants, the engineer aimlessly wandered toward the kitchen fretting over the nightmare's resurgence.
The klaxons blared and the smooth warm baritone of Sam Lanier filtered into the station" Battalion 14, Truck 10, Engine 35, Engine 51, Abandoned Warehouse 3892 Harbor Road Cross Street Arbor Timeout 0230."
The nightmare was soon forgotten as pairs of boots clattered across the the floors to assume their duties.
Warehouse 3892 had been built back in the forties to store surplus fuel for ships but due to it's un ideal location it was abandoned before the paint had finished drying. The elements had not been kind to the structure over the years.
The fire had been started by a local resident after he dropped his cigarette upon being caught by his wife. The cigarette was forgotten as the irate woman chewed out her husband for indulging in his filthy habit.
On the ground the cigarette lay smoldering next to a greasy rag forgotten by a dock worker. No fuel tanks remained in the warehouse but copious amounts of fuel laid upon the floor. Warehouse 3892 was a disaster patiently waiting to strike.
To the untrained observer the scene was mass chaos hoses were strewn about like spaghetti noodles and fireman hurried back and forth.
Mike watched the scene quietly from the control panel. The ground trembled slightly as Warehouse 3892 gave a forceful creaking shudder. The explosion rocked through the area. Burning debris rained down from the sky, Probies hit the deck and the experienced stood their ground.
Mike bent down to inspect the hose couplings never seeing the chunk of metal headed straight for him. The metal slammed into Mike's back hurling him against the side of the engine. Explosions are a funny thing they sound like the end of the world he mused as darkness clouded his vision.
Awhile later the fire winded down"All right boys, shut it down" The Battalion chief's voice echoed from the megaphone.
The Fireman began the weary duty of clean up. Marco Lopez looked down at the hose in his hands perplexed at why Stoker hadn't shut off the pressure.
"Yo Mike, Ya sleeping back there " Marco called over his shoulder. When there was no response his stomach dropped further.
Exchanging a worried glance with Chet Marco handed him the hose and jogged towards the engine hoping everything was alright.
Rounding the engine the lineman found the engineer crumpled on the gravel blood trickling down his face.
"CAP" Marco cried barely aware the words had left his lips.
Dropping to the ground Marco felt for a pulse holding his breath. He sighed relieved upon finding a steady pulse, Marco began mumbling a prayer in spanish.
"What the hell happened?" Hank Stanley demanded. "Desoto! Gage! Get over here" he boomed.
The two paramedics raced over, They all gathered worriedly around their friend "Mike must have caught some debris" Roy concluded as he inspected the Stoker's head.
Johnny appeared over his partner's shoulder "Rampart says to get the bleeding stabilized and bring him in" he quietly informed.
'"Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form"
Stoker found himself walking along a familiar desolate road, though it had been many years since the last time he was there. Stoker recognized it immediately for it haunted him in his nightmares.
The night was chilly and the harsh wind smelled of rain. Stoker continued forward searching for some sort of shelter from the approaching storm.
Around the bend he happened upon the crumpled wreck of a car. "Hello? Is anyone there?" he called the wind stealing his words away.
In the front seat lay a young boy the pale moonlight illuminated his light colored shirt which was now stained a dark crimson. Slowly the boy's eyes opened taking in Stoker, A slow smile spread across his gray face "Mikey" he whispered softly. Stoker's breath caught in his throat.
Mike shuddered and flitted his eye's open, "Easy Stoker" John said placing a hand on Mike's shoulder.
Mike blinked blearily at the paramedic, "You had a nasty blow to the head, We're taking you to Rampart" John explained gently.
Fear seized Mike he hated hospitals with all his being, he sat up straight ready to bolt. "Whoa there you're not going anywhere pal" John exclaimed.
Another more terrifying thought struck Mike, "Where's Tommy" he asked.
John frowned worriedly, "Uh.. who's Tommy?" he questioned becoming more concerned for his friend.
Mike looked at John incredulously as if Johnny was the one asking stupid questions.
Mike gritted his teeth, "T-o-m-m-y!" He drew out the word stressing each letter.
"Did you get him out?" Mike demanded.
"Of course we did, he's with Roy, Don't worry about it" John reassured
"Okay" Mike replied suddenly very sleepy.
Johnny watched the sleeping engineer worriedly. They needed to get to Rampart soon something was seriously wrong with Stoker.