Naia's POV

"You have five more minutes," Mr. Osgood, my science teacher told everyone, drawing my attention away from the test for a split second.

Name the five main points of Particle Theory.

I racked my brain, trying to remember what I had studied last night. Matt and Gabby had even helped me, making flashcards and then quizzing me, but I couldn't remember even one of the points.

All matter is made up of particles.

There is space between particles.

Since I couldn't remember the other three, I flipped back to the multiple-choice questions and tried to fill out the ones I skipped earlier.

"One more minute."

Sighing, I decided to just randomly pick an option and the moment I coloured in the last bubble, Mr. Osgood told us to put down our pencils. While he came around to pick up the tests, I looked over across the classroom at Nate and we shared a smile.

The lunch bell rang and everybody got up to head to the cafeteria. On my way, I stopped by my locker to pick up my lunch. It was then that I noticed the notes scattered on my books.

"What's that?" Nate asked from behind me as I read them.

I crumpled up the note I was reading and got my lunch bag.

"Nothing important," I told him and that seemed to satisfy Nate and we went to stop by his locker so Nate could get his lunch.

Once we got to the cafeteria, Nate and I took a seat at our usual table and started eating our lunches.

"How do you think you did on the science test?" Nate asked me and I made a face.

"I guess most of the multiple-choice questions," I admitted and took a bite of my sandwich. "And I couldn't remember all of the main parts of particle theory."

Nate nodded, "I don't think I'm gonna do well."

I laughed, "Honestly, I'm just happy if I pass."

"How was the test?" Herrmann asked me the moment I walked into the room.

I smiled, "My day was great, thank you for asking."

Stella chuckled, "You get 'em kiddo."

"Right, sorry, how was your day?" Herrmann started over.

I nodded, "It was great besides the science test."

"Is science not your thing?" Shay asked and I laughed.

"Definitely not my thing. I had to guess most of the multiple-choice questions on the test so I'm just hoping for the best," I showed my crossed fingers before dropping my backpack down on the floor and taking my coat off.

Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambo 61, Ambo 23, Engine 51, Battalion 25, apartment complex fire at 385 John Street

"Grab whatever you want to eat!" Herrmann called out to me and I saluted him before he took off.

Once everyone had left, I let out a sigh and dragged my backpack over to the back table before taking out my homework and sprawling it out over the surface of the table.

It was stupid how much homework we got.

Reluctantly, I started organizing my homework by subject and decided to start with geography.

The ground started to shake and crack. Suddenly, it started to split and I quickly jumped on one side and peered over the edge into the deep valley that was created. I almost fell in when I saw what was at the bottom.

Not only was Jane dead at the ground of the valley but so was Gabby and Matt and every other person important in my life. Shakily, I stood up and started to take a few steps back when a force suddenly moved me over the edge.

I was falling.

Waking up with a start, I looked around to see the dark firehouse. I wasn't scared of the dark but tonight, it seemed like the shadows were hiding something.

Someone.

Taking a deep breath, I swung my feet over the side of the couch and started walking towards the bunk room. Something stopped me though and I just ended up walking around the dark and silent firehouse.

Every single room was eerily quiet and it took a while for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Unsure of where to go, I just followed my nose and it ended up leading me out to the apparatus floor. All the trucks and both ambos were parked but the light from outside gleamed off of the shiny surfaces.

The belt came down once.

Twice.

And then again and again. I was biting my lip so hard, trying to prevent myself from crying, I could taste blood. Ellie was on the ground next to me with a busted lip. The two boys were in the corner of the basement, clinging onto each other.

Once they left, Ellie pushed herself onto her feet and came over to me.

"You okay?" She asked, her voice barely audible.

Slowly, I nodded and let Ellie help me to my feet and lead me to the corner where the boys were.

"Naia's hurt," Shane's voice was pained.

I tried to put on a smile but the truth was, it really hurt.

"I'm just a little bruised, I'll be okay," I assured the boys and hoped that they would accept that. Thankfully, it seemed to work and they changed the topic of conversation.

"I'm hungry."

Unsure of where I was going, I wandered aimlessly around the apparatus floor, my feet taking me to the door. I peered out the window and that's when I noticed it.

A body.

And that's when I screamed. I didn't scream when I heard the gunshot that killed Jane but I screamed now. Maybe they were alive, I don't know, but I wasn't just going to stand and watch.

"Naia?"

I heard Gabby call my name but I couldn't process everything right now. Not only had I woken up Gabby, but I had also woken up all of Firehouse 51. I heard their footsteps as they searched for where my screams came from.

"Naia, where are you?" Shay yelled and at that moment, I flung open the door and sprinted towards the body.

There was a lot of blood everywhere and I was unsure of what to do. I was no paramedic, far from one actually, but I knew how to check for a pulse and that was the first thing I did.

When I found one, I let out a sigh of relief and then turned my attention back to the blood.

There was so much of it.

"Everything's going to be okay."

"Naia?"

I turned around to see everyone running towards me and I quickly stood up and moved out of the way so the paramedics could tend to the man.

"I don't know what happened, I just found him like this, I don't know," I blabbered, backing away, my eyes wide.

"I'll grab the jump bag," Sylvie announced and ran back into the firehouse. "I'll pull the ambo out while I'm at it."

"Come on, let's get you back into the firehouse," Stella put an arm around me and started guiding me back into the firehouse.

"I just...I...had a nightmare and then...I just started walking around...I don't remember what I was doing," I stammered while Stella leads me into the common room and pushed me down on the couch.

Stella took a seat next to me, "You stay right where you are and I'm going to get some hot chocolate going for us two."

"You drink hot chocolate?" I asked, acting kind of like an idiot at this point. Why wouldn't Stella drink hot chocolate?

Stella laughed, "Hot chocolate isn't my preferred beverage but it's a little too early in the morning for the good stuff if you know what I mean."

I smiled a little and then the image of the bloody man popped into my mind again, wiping the grin on my face in a flash.

"Is he going to be okay?" I asked Stella as she came back to the couch.

"I don't know but I know, and you know as well, is that the best paramedics in Chicago are looking after him," Stella took a seat and I snuggled against her, the warmth of another person was oddly calming. "He's in good hands."

I nodded and let out a slow breath.

"Yeah, he is."