Chapter Seven: It Begins

Arnold sat up abruptly out of his nightmare, "AHH!" he was panting and covered with sweat. He remembered what he had seen and it made his blood boil.

Flames licked at his feet as he ran through the neighborhood. He searched everywhere but could not find her. "Help!" he heard her cry and ran as fast as he could to where he heard her voice "Arnold help!" her cries were desperate. He heard a demonic laugh echo throughout the city and clenched his fists. He began pulling at the rubble that kept Helga and the rest of his friends trapped in the burning building "I'm coming, stay low to the ground and try not to inhale any of the smoke!" he cried.

"They're all dead Arnold… I'm the only one left… please hurry"

He continued to pull at the boards that covered the only exit and finally broke through just enough to slip into the house "are you hurt?" he asked when he finally made it to her. She stood up but immediately grabbed her leg "aah!" she screamed in pain and he picked her up. He started to carry her out when the exit he had just made collapsed. "SHIT!" he cried and they both fell to the ground.

They were trapped "Helga… I'm sorry… this is all my fault. If I had never provoked him, this would have never happened"

"It's okay, babe… if we should die tonight… at least we're going to die together right?"

Arnold shook his head "it can't end that way… I have to get us out…" he started to pull at the rubble again, knowing, he had mere minutes before the entire structure started to collapse. His heart was racing. He heard a scream as a beam fell from the ceiling along with a pile of bricks, separating him and Helga "NO!" he cried and started to work at the pile of bricks "Helga!"

He heard coughing "I'm here… but I'm stuck… I can't move… it's so hot… I think… I think this is the end for me"

"NO! I won't let that happen!" he looked up just before another truss fell from the room, hitting him in the head…

He felt his head where a knot was forming and found that his father's journal had fallen off the shelf, hitting him in the head. What kind of dream was that? So real… he kicked the blankets off of his legs and slid out of bed. His heart was still racing as he looked around the room. He walked to the ladder and climbed out onto the roof. The sun was just barely starting to peek over the horizon. He slid out of the skylight and took his usual spot laying down and staring at the sky.

The dream was so vivid that it scared him senseless just thinking about it. He rubbed his head once more and let out a sigh. He was just grateful it was only a dream. He closed his eyes and drifted into a light sleep in the cool, early morning air.

Days had passed without even a threat from Jake's part. Arnold was beginning to feel a bit more at ease after waking up so abruptly that morning.

As he entered the high school building, he was immediately greeted by his girlfriend, Helga. "Are you okay?" she asked as he looked at her with almost no emotion at all before taking her into his arms.

"Just glad to see you after the night I had…" he admitted and kissed her softly, "how did you sleep?"

"I slept great" she smiled and messed with his hair, "I'm judging by the bags under your eyes that you didn't?"

"I had a nightmare that I died…" he said and she tilted her head, lacing her fingers between his, "I see… and how exactly did that happen"

Arnold took a deep breath and explained that a fire started in the school and spread throughout the neighborhood. He told her of all of them being trapped in the boarding house as it had caught fire. He was off dealing with Jake. He told her of his attempt to rescue them but ending up getting trapped inside as well, and then of the beam striking him in the head. "Needless to say… it was very vivid"

"You're thinking too much on it… it was only a dream. Jake hasn't said a word to us for almost a week. I think we're in the clear, for now" she nuzzled under his chin, "from what I can tell, anyway"

"I'm just relieved it was a dream… I don't know how I'd ever be able to cope if I lost you" he stroked her blonde hair and smiled taking in her sweet scent. She smiled and kissed his neck softly.

The day went by fast. Jake, as usual, didn't say a word to them all day. He simply went about his business as he planned his attack. They don't suspect a thing. My truce was a perfect cover to give me time to plan this out. He walked by them as he heard Arnold telling Gerald about his dream. He smirked that's it! I'll cause a distraction, and when Arnold rushes to the scene to help everyone like he always does, I'll take action. He continued walking and pulled out his cell phone "Yo, get me Marty… I have to discuss something with him"

Arnold took Helga's hand and started to walk her home. They were busy talking about plans for the prom and deciding what color scheme they should go with.

There was a very loud BANG, followed by the ground shaking beneath their feet. Arnold looked up and watched as smoke billowed into the sky in the direction of the supermarket. His eyes widened and he started to run in the direction, Helga following close at his heels "what do you think happened?"

"I'm not sure!" he called back over his shoulder and once they got close enough, they froze at what they saw. The supermarket was engulfed in flames and there was rubble everywhere. The place smelled like burning flesh and it was so bright that he couldn't see if anyone might still be alive "was it an explosion?"

"I… I dunno… but here comes the fire department so I think someone called them"

A red firetruck with "Hillwood Fire Dept." on the side pulled up and several firefighters jumped out and started to hook the truck up to the fire hydrant. Arnold watched as one ran up to them "any idea what happened?"

"N-no sir… we just ran over here to see what had happened" he looked around seeing everyone crowding the street, "like everyone else…"

Phil sat at home flipping through channels when Arnold walked through the door with Helga. He smiled at him but Arnold looked troubled "what's wrong Shortman?"

"Go upstairs… I gotta talk to my grandpa for a minute" he kissed her cheek and she watched him walk into the den. "Grandpa… you haven't seen the news yet have you?"

Phil shook his head and flipped to the local news station. "… However, with due to lack of time there were no survivors… full story in a moment, stay tuned"

"They said it was a gas leak…" Arnold said, "Helga and I were walking home from school when we heard a very loud BANG! Smoke rose into the air and we ran to see what had happened. There was an explosion at Hal's"

"Oh my…" Phil watched as the commercial changed back to channel 7 news.

"Welcome back to Channel 7 News, Hillwood" the anchor said as she straightened the papers on her desk. "Now as we understand, they identified the source of the explosion. It appears that something had chewed through one of the gas lines and of course with the kitchen, it caught fire and caused the terrible explosion that had happened at three fifteen this afternoon. There were no survivors, but a candle lit vigil is to be held tonight to honor the deceased" Phil turned off the television

"So many people…" Arnold said, his voice filled with remorse, "dead… they're all dead."

"It's amazing how fast your life can be over… women and children, old, young… it doesn't matter. Everyone can die… just like that" he clenched his fists. He couldn't help but think of the woman who tried to run passed the firefighters screaming "My husband and son are in there!" tears started to fill his eyes and escape even though he didn't want them to.

"I was thinking of shopping for dinner earlier while you were at school…"

"I'm glad you didn't" Arnold threw his arms around the old man, hugging him tightly "I don't know what I would have done if you were inside when the explosion happened"

"We should go pay our respects… you go get your lady friend and meet me at the car okay?"

Arnold nodded and walked out, seeing Helga standing where he had left her. She looked at him "what a day, huh?"

"Y-yeah… c'mon… grandpa wants us to come with him to pay our respects to the people of the neighborhood that were lost…" He took her hand and they walked out to the old green vehicle. Arnold caught a glimpse of someone round the corner of the building but didn't see who. He shook his head, thinking maybe he was seeing things and helped Helga into the car, taking his place beside her.

Jake smirked at the tall man beside him "you know what to do… don't fail me"

The man looked down at him "sure boss…" he said before climbing the fire escape to the roof where he slipped into Arnold's room and silently into the attic where he placed a candle beside a few boxes and lit it. "I'll show that punk a candle lit vigil while my boss handles those friends of his" he snuck out and back into Arnold's room and through the skylight back to the roof. He climbed down the fire escape and smirked "as soon as that candle burns out, the place is going down…" he said to Jake who just laughed, "Perfect… let's hope that kid is inside when it does"

Arnold and Helga held their candles and prayed with everyone else as soft piano music played from the stereo that was set up. Everyone placed their candles in front of the former supermarket and then a moment of silence insued. They climbed back into the green car and headed back to the boarding house. They dropped Helga off first.

Arnold walked Helga to her door "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course, football head…" she kissed him softly, "I love you"

"Love you too" he smiled watching her walk inside and close the door. He walked over to his grandpa's car and got back in. They drove home and both went to their respective rooms.

Arnold kicked off his shoes and threw his shirt in the hamper before flopping on his bed "what a day…" he said and yawned, closing his eyes.

Phil knocked on his door pulling him out of his thoughts. He sat up and walked to the door "what's wrong grandpa?"

"I forgot to tell you goodnight…"

Arnold smiled "goodnight grandpa…" he closed the door slowly and then crawled into bed, falling asleep almost instantly.


I know you all already hate Jake, but you must REALLY HATE him by now… what's going to happen? I hate cliffhangers and I'm sure you all do too but… hey what kind of author would I be if I didn't put at least one in there :)

Don't forget to review!

-EMnEM23