Chapter 14: Fire to the Story
December 23, 6:30 A.M
The one thing Darrion hated more than getting up early this morning, was getting up early this morning to do her turn of the rounds of checking up on people. Darrion usually was okay with doing her side of them, but Ryan decided he wanted to switch their order of people they see; which meant. . . Janie. See Darrion truly wanted to care for Janie and like her, she did. But there were so many reasons her subconscious made for her not to, and sadly it was winning.
After Darrion put on a light blue t-shirt, some jeans and brushed her newly blonde locks, she headed off to her dreadful morning. Darrion made sure she took as much time as she could in the other rooms she had on her list. The people were not bad, yelling in pain, but none tried to throw an alarm clock at her forehead.
Darrion looked down on her list of rooms, and there was only one left. Darrion let a groan slip from her lips as she stop in front of the door that lead to the annoy bed redden girl.
Carefully, Darrion opened the door, bracing herself for any projectiles that might be thrown at her. But when she noticed an unsettlingly sense of silence, she walked in the room to find a strange sight. There was Janie and Melinda sleeping. Darrion chuckled inwardly at the amazing scene she wished she could show Vicki. Darrion slowly crept out of the room, quietly shut the door, and shuffled to the kitchen a lot happier then when she woke up.
Ryan sat at the table that set up in the school's giant kitchen. Charlie said he wanted to cook breakfast this morning, and Ryan gladly let him, he defiantly wasn't going to stop a perfectly good chance of a great breakfast, and heavens know Darrion wasn't going to cook it for him.
'Darrion'. Ryan couldn't get her out of his mind. No matter how hard he tried he just kept thinking about her. Anything about her, but mostly two things. One; was her safety. He still hadn't forgotten that vision/dream he had, and defiantly didn't forget the message the angle gave him. He knew something was going to happen and in the pit of his stomach, he knew that the person that would be getting hurt would be her. Two; was something less dramatic, and it was his Christmas present he wanted to give her. He kept convincing himself the present was going to be an 'I'm sorry for everything I broke these last few weeks' gift and nothing more. But either way, he had no idea what to get her. He knew Darrion would never have been an easy person to shop for, but shopping for someone who has had everything in her life then trying to get her something she never had while during the Tribulation, would not be an easy job to say the least.
When Darrion walked through the doorway and hoped down and took a sit at the table Ryan noticed a newly profane glow that was spread across her face.
"What are you so happy about?" He asked her
Darrion smile grew wider "Oh, nothing"
"Really? Because I thought today you had Janie duty, and need I remind she despises you more the anyone else. . . well except Vick"
Darrion shrugged " I didn't have to deal with her this morning, she was asleep"
Ryan let a fake gasp of shocked " Janie. Asleep. Couldn't have been"
" It's true, go have a look for yourself, Melinda is sleeping too" Darrion told him then turned to Charlie
"What are you making Charlie?"
"Oh, eggs, and waffles. But just for us though. There's not enough for everybody, I hope that's okay"
Ryan licked his lips when Charlie set down his plate on the table in front of him. " Oh, yes Charlie. I'm sure that the others wouldn't mind if we eat this delicious food." Darrion rolled her eyes, sometimes she just wondered about him.
After they prayed Ryan started devouring his plate like Phoenix when he forgets to feed him for a day.
Darrion gave him a disgusted look "Can you slow down, please?"
Ryan didn't even look up from his food " Nmmomm Drrmm" he said with his face stuffed with food
"Ryan likes my food?" Charlie asked with a gleefully smile, Ryan nodded furiously.
As they finished eating Darrion realized just how cold it had gotten in the room, like frigded cold. " Does it seem cold to you?"
The boys looked around, acting as if they could see the cold air around them. "Yeah, it does seem really cold in here" Ryan stated
"Did one of you turn off the generator?" Darrion wondered rubbing her forearms.
Both boys shook their heads. "Well, can you check on it and see what happened? There should be enough gasoline to run it for at least another month." Darrion asked turning to Ryan
" Why me?"
"Because, you keep saying you're a 'man' how about start acting like one."
Ryan had to admit, Darrion was good. There wasn't one thing she didn't let him get away with. "Alright, I'll be right back."
As Darrion watched as Ryan left the room she started cleaning the dishes.
"So, Charlie, have you figured out what you are going to for your Secret Santa gift?"
"No, Not yet. But Charlie will! I promise!"
Darrion laughed "Alright Charlie, but I have to ask you something, okay?"
"Yeah, okay. What is it?"
"I was wondering, do you think Andy would mind joining in on our exchange?"
Charlie was silent for a few seconds before answering her "Yeah! I think he would love it, but Ryan doesn't like Andy."
"Yes, I know, but maybe we can switch names huh? Just us three?"
"Okay! Charlie's going to tell Andy right now!"
A few seconds after Charlie left Ryan ran back in the kitchen, out of breath and shocked.
"Ryan? What happen?"
"Gas. . . tank. . . gone." Ryan huffed out
"Gone, but how-
A blood curdling scream came from up above them. The two teen looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. "Janie" They said at the same time.
The room stunk with gasoline. There was a trail of fluid following all the way to were Janie told, the same fluid was drenched all over her, "Stop her!" Melinda belted "She's trying to kill herself"
"Shut up Melinda!" Janie hissed at her "And you two! Stay away from me!"
"Janie, what are you doing!" Ryan asked hastily
"What does it look like! I'm getting rid of the pain!"
"Janie, you can't get rid of it, and you can't kill yourself, not now" Darrion told her trying to keep her voice calm
"Liar!" Janie screamed "You're lying! Why would I never believe you!"
"She's not lying Janie. It's true, you can't kill yourself now. You can do whatever you want, but you won't kill yourself. You'll just hurt yourself even more." Ryan said
"How do you know. And don't say it's in your 'Holy Bible'!"
"Okay fine, I won't but there's reports everywhere stating people trying to kill themselves. Shooting themselves, jumping off of buildings"
"Any one setting themselves on fire?" Janie jeered out
"None that I have read, but that does-
"Well, let's just see then if it works!" Janie said about to lighting the match
"Wait!" Both Ryan and Darrion shouted out
"Wait! Janie, you don't want to see all the people in here die too do you? If you light that the whole school house will get go up in flames in an amount of minutes." Ryan said
" So?"
"So, let everybody have time to get out. A few minutes to get out of the house."
"How do I know you're not going to trick me!"
"I'll stay here. With you, Darrion and Charlie will get everybody out, I'll stay. And because you aren't going to die, I'll stay here till you figure it out and I'll put you out " Ryan offered. Darrion turned to him and gave him a death glare even Carpathia himself would be jealous of.
"What! No, you are not doing that! You'll die, you-
"Oh, look at this, blondie is trying to act heroic. Fine! But only ten minutes. That's all I can wait." Janie interrupted
"Fine" Ryan agreed, he then turned to Darrion " Get everybody out as fast as you can. Get them in the tunnel, I don't think the bugs are still out there but just in case take them there and get away a good distance between you and the house okay"
Darrion shooked her head "No, I'm not leaving you. I'm stay-
"Darrion, please go, I'll be right behind you I promise, I just have to keep Janie company"
"Whatever Blondie" Janie mumbled
"Darrion. . ." The two teens locked eyes for what seemed like minutes. Ryan wished to stay like that forever, but knew they couldn't
"Tick-Tock" Janie said waking the young teen out of their trance.
They slowing broke apart. Darrion ran to Melinda and put her head under Melinda's arm. She stopped at the doorway to look at Ryan once more. It looked as if she waited to say something to Ryan, but just couldn't get it out.
"Go, I'll be right there" Ryan gave a weak smiled.
Darrion gave a small smile back the scurried out of the room to get the other.
Ryan watched as the girls left, he himself wanted to tell her things, like his dream, or how much of a friend she is. But now, he might not ever get the chance. If Ryan could tell you, this would be how he would have wanted to die. Well not exactly, but the part of dying to save people he cares about, that would be it.
When the time limit had almost passed Ryan rushed to window wishing he was able to see if Darrion and the others got out in time. When he realized time was almost up he let out a sigh and sat at the end of Melinda's bed readying himself for what was coming next.
"Times up" Janie stated blandly holding up the match and Ryan took a deep breath
"Wait!" Darrion said run to the room.
Ryan quickly stood and rushed over. Hold her shoulders and tried to push her out of the room "Darrion! Get away, get outside now!"
"No, I'm not! You're not Judd Ryan, stop trying to be the hero and save yourself. Now come on!" Darrion said taking Ryan's hand pulling him
"I'm not trying to! Darrion, I promised I would stay here, you have to get out now"
"Not without you" Darrion squeaked
"Oh for the love of, shut up!" Janie yelled. She took the match for the last time to lit it, a spark came up from the end of match. Ryan blocked Darrion with his body. Just as Janie was about to light herself Charlie came sprinting in with a buck of water and threw it at Janie, causing whatever fire that was ever there to die out.
"Good thinking Charlie" Ryan exclaimed still holding Darrion
"Good work Charlie" The teens looked at each other then looked down at how they we holding each other, then jumped a few feet back and looked awkwardly at the floor
Janie looked shocked, holding the match in the air still not totally realizing what had happened. "What, did you do! The match it's wet! That was the only one! What's wrong with you!" She barked at Charlie
"Hey, leave him alone, it's your fault trying to kill yourself, which wouldn't have happened, you should thank Charlie" Ryan said trying to protect his friend
"I can't believe you!" Janie said as she lashed out and about to attack Charlie, but Ryan grabbed her
"Let go of me!" She screamed
"Charlie, get the rope" Ryan commanded
"Okay, be right back" Charlie said as he ran out of the room. Darrion walked over to Ryan and tried to help him hold Janie down.
"What are you going to do with the ropes?"
"Tie Miss kill-myself over here up so she doesn't burn the house down"
"I wasn't going to burn anything down! I just want the pain to go away!" Janie wept
"It will Janie, but it's going to be a long time. You can't do anything to stop it" Darrion told her
"Don't tell me what to do Stahley!"
Just as Ryan was going to scold her for screaming to Darrion when she was just trying to be helpfully, Charlie ran back in with a handful of rope.
"Okay Charlie help me tie her up." Ryan told him.
The two boys picked Janie up and tossed her on the bed, and began tying her up. After a long battle the boys finally were able to hold the angry girl and tie her up, with limited bruises.
"I can't believe you're tying me up!" Janie protected worming around in her bed trying to get the ropes off
"They are staying on until you stop attempting to kill yourself" Ryan said as he ushered everybody out of the room and closed the door behind them.
Darrion took a deep breath "Well, that was overwhelming"
"Yeah, we should probably start getting everybody back in the house, don't wait them to get worried" Ryan stated. They all agreed and headed to the tunnel.
Darrion carefully laid Andy on his bed, he let out a grunt of pain.
"Sorry" She told him
"It's alright, not your fault"
"Yeah"
Andy raised an eyebrow "Everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything's fine, I'm just-
"Tried?"
Darrion looked at him strangely wondering how he knew what she was going to say "Yeah, how did you-
"We all knew that chick up stairs was trying to kill herself, that and getting everybody out and back in bed can get pretty exhausting."
Darrion walked over to the doorway and rested her head on the frame, "Yeah, well bye"
"Bye"
"Bye Dylan" Darrion said
"Yeah, right" Dylan grumbled turning his back to Darrion as he laid in his bed
Darrion shut the door, she didn't really fell like talking to anybody at the moment, even Andy. She just wanted to lay down and take a nap.
Ryan walked into what was now living room. Before the Trib-force arrived it was the first room in the schoolhouse you would walk into from the outside doorway. Ryan found Darrion sleeping, curled up in a ball her head on the arm of the couch. Ryan just watched her, she looked so peacefully, something she never looked like before. Since they met Ryan and Darrion had never been in 'peaceful' circumstances so it was a refreshing deference seeing her as she was.
Darrion stated stirring and her eyes fluttered open. She looked around as if she is trying to remember where she was, then she looked up at Ryan. Ryan looked away while rubbing the back of his neck. Embarrassed Darrion saw him watching he while she was asleep.
"Hey" Ryan said
"Hi" Darrion said " Did you clean yourself off? After tying Janie up you and Charlie were covered with gasoline."
"Yeah, but I can still smell it. We should make Janie wash the entire schoolhouse because of what she did" Ryan grumbled
"It's not that bad. I took Janie's bed sheets and clothes, we're going to burn them later. And Charlie washed the floor in their bedroom. The smell should go away by tomorrow"
"Well it's still giving me a headache" Ryan said rubbing his temples while sitting down next to Darrion.
"Oh, it's not as if Janie hasn't given you one before, I know she has for me."
"Yeah, she does seem it have it out for you. I wonder why? I mean, it's not like you have done anything to her."
Darrion stayed silent for a minute before replying "Well, it could be because of who I am"
"Because you're a Christian? Darrion, we all are Christians"
Darrion shook her head "Not because of that, though I'm sure that's a contributor."
"Then what is it?"
"Well, maybe because of my family. The news made my Dad out to this GC murder"
"But Janie has clearly stated that she's not the biggest fan of the Global Community. Rules and people having authority over her is something she does not like"
"Yes, But she loves Carpathia, and remember, people said my Dad wanted to totally take Carpathia down."
"So, because she thinks your Dad hates Carpathia, she hates you?"
"Precisely" Darrion said
"Or, it could be because she just truly hates you" Ryan joking said
"Hey, she hates Vicki more than me any day."
"True, but a lot of people hate Vick more than any of use."
Darrion chuckled "Well, we can't all be that lucky"
Ryan opened his mouth, about to say something when they heard faint screams of pain coming from above. Ryan's stomach knotted making him release a disgusted grunt.
"I cannot believe she tried lighting herself on fire" Ryan said harshly
"Yeah, but can you blame her? If I was going through that amount of pain I surely would want to kill myself"
"I don't care. She endangered everybody. What if we didn't get to her in time? The house could have burn, everybody stuck in the house could have gotten hurt, and you could have died." Ryan said the last part a bit quieter
Darrion blushed hoping Ryan wouldn't notice "Well, yeah I could have but so could have you or anybody else in the house. And you didn't have to do what you did."
"Do what?" Ryan asked dumbfounded
Darrion straighten up a stern look came upon her face "Volunteer to stay with Janie that's what! That I think was one of the most stupid things." Darrion to a deep breath "It was also the bravest things I have seen."
"Really?" Ryan's face lit up like a child on Christmas
"Yes, really. But don't get use to it." Darrion stood up and stretched. "I guess I better go make some lunch for everybody. Want to help?"
Ryan stood and walked to the front door "Nah, I'm going out. I'll be back in a little bit okay?"
"Ryan, where are you going?"
"Out. Dar, you really need to stop worrying about me." Ryan told her a cheshire-ish grin on his face. Ryan opened the door; a gust of cold wind came rushing into the house.
"Ryan" Darrion called out but it was too late, Ryan was already outside leaving Darrion wondering where is was and what he was doing.
Hello guys! Sorry it took forever to up to get up; my computer seemed to never want to save this file. Finally it saved after writing these for the fifth time, gah. I hope you enjoyed it, please leave your thoughts and any constructive advice would be appreciative also! Oh and I decided that I'm going to finish this story for I update any of my other stories, so it WILL be sooner the next time I update.