AN: So I've decided to start yet another multichapter fanfiction (I seriously don't know why) but here it is anyways.

Mercedes barely made it out of her apartment when the building went up into smoke. Windows shattered, people screamed, dogs barked, sirens called off in the distance. All hell appeared to be breaking loose as other tenants joined her on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. She glanced up at the window of her apartment silently; through the window she could see the fire, licking up everything in its path, roaring deviously as it devoured her brand new couch. A stray tear slipped down her cheek as someone roughly pushed her backwards, it was a cop. He was saying something to her, but she couldn't hear him.

Her hand was fastened tightly to the collar of her jacket, trying not to let the winter cold seep through. Her feet wobbled uncertainly underneath her as her legs decided whether or not to let her crumple to the ground. "Ma'am please step back" the officers' voice finally registered in her brain and she complied with his command. Julia, Mercedes next-door neighbor appeared by her side and she led Mercedes to a crowd of familiar faces. Mr. Lukas the old man who lived just three doors down was among the group and he clutched her hands in a kind gesture of comfort. Mercedes stared into his old worn face, taking in his leathery skin and sunken blue eyes.

"I'm glad to see you made it out" his voice was no louder than a whisper, so soft that Mercedes had to lean in to catch it before it floated off in the wind. She scarf blew around her face and she pressed it down as she smiled at the old man. "Did Eloise make it out okay?" she asked, referring to his daughter. Mercedes knew Eloise from the bakery downtown. The petite blonde girl would always give her free bagels as she rode the train to work every morning, both women had slowly become friends over the years and Mercedes would collapse if she knew that Eloise was consumed by the raging fire. Mr. Lukas nodded, "She wasn't even home at the time thank goodness. But she's on her way now"

Mercedes nodded, turning to the red headed Julia whose full lips were pursed into a grim line. "Do you know who started this?" she asked and Julia shook her head, her eyes flickering confusedly between the apartment building and her companion. Her emerald colored eyes were filled with sadness; Mercedes wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders, squeezing her gently.

"Where are we going to live now?" a startled voice called out from the crowd as people began to gather. Newscasters were soaking up the chaos, their bright smiles so sly in comparison to the woeful faces all around them.

Julia buried her face in Mercedes shoulder, letting the small sobs fall from her mouth and escape into the air. Mr. Lukas searched the crowd for his daughter as chaos reigned in all around them. The three stood apart from the others, their sorrow was more deep, less focused on the fact that cameras were pressed close to their face as newscasters tried to get their input on what happened at the scene.

A small burst of tears sprouted around Mercedes eyelashes and she let them fall to the pavement. Her home was gone; everyone who lived in this building would have to uproot their lives to move elsewhere. It wasn't fair, but life wasn't fair either.

Mercedes would have to start over.

All

Over

Again

AN:

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