Page 70 of Shadows of Obsession

His voice came through immediately, tense, breathless. "One of the empty cabins is on fire. We called the fire department, but we're trying to keep it contained until they get here. Get over here, we need all the help we can!"

Shit.

Without wasting a second, I shoved the radio into my pocket and sprinted outside, my boots pounding against the earth as I headed straight for the source of the smoke.

I could see it now, a dark plume rising from behind the old barn where the cabins were.

Adrenaline kicked in, my instincts taking over. My lungs burned, but I pushed through the pain, forcing my legs to move faster. I had to move.

The air was thick with the acrid scent of burning wood as I rounded the barn. The smoke had already begun to cloud the evening sky, blending into swirling gray and black clouds. The glow of the fire illuminated everything in its reach, casting an eerie orange light that danced across the nearby trees and structures.

When I reached the cabins, the sight that greeted me was worse than I imagined.

The cabin was fully engulfed in flames, burning with a ferocity that sent sparks and embers flying into the air. The crackling and roaring of the fire was deafening, the sound of wood splintering and collapsing adding to the chaos.

Jesus Christ.

Denny and a couple of others were already there, frantically using hoses and buckets to keep the fire from spreading to the adjacent cabins. They worked in coordinated chaos, shouting instructions and dousing the flames with everything they had.

The heat was intense, even from a distance, it made the skin on my face feel taut and dry. The air was thick with ash, visibility poor, my eyes already watering from the smoke.

Without hesitation, I joined them, grabbing a hose from Denny and aiming it at the base of the fire. The water hit the flames with a sharp hiss, sending plumes of steam into the air. The smoke stung my eyes and nose, making me squint and blink to see clearly.

My muscles tensed as I fought against the hose's pressure, keeping my grip steady as I directed the water where it was needed most. Sweat mixed with ash on my skin, the heat making every breath feel like inhaling sandpaper. Our one job was to keep it contained.

Nearby, a couple of guys were using shovels to dig a trench, trying to create a barrier that would stop the fire from spreading farther. The fire department's sirens wailed in the distance, a faint sound over the roar of the blaze, signaling that help was on the way.

But for now, it was up to us.

As I worked, I saw the cabin's roof start to collapse, the flames licking at the sky as the timbers gave way. Debris rained down, and the fire burned even hotter. The exterior walls were charred and crumbling, with smoke billowing from the windows and doors.

The ground beneath my feet was littered with ash and debris, and I had to watch my footing as I moved around to find the best angle for the hose.

"Jaxon, over here!" Denny shouted, gesturing toward the side of the cabin closest to the barn. "We need to focus on that wall!"

I redirected the hose, my arms burning from the effort of holding it steady. The men shouted to each other, coordinating our efforts, but it was clear we were fighting a losing battle with the cabin itself. We just had to keep it from spreading.

We needed to keep it from reaching the other structures. It was disheartening to watch the cabin's destruction, seeing it crumble before our eyes, but if we could save the barn and the other cabins, that was what mattered.

When the fire department's trucks finally arrived, the professionals took over. I stepped back, my heart racing, my body coated in a thin layer of ash. My lungs felt raw, my throat scratchy from breathing in smoke.

Their equipment made quick work of the remaining blaze, their hoses far more powerful than the ones we had on hand. I watched as they systematically attacked the fire, extinguishing it bit by bit until all that remained were smoldering embers and the charred skeleton of what once had been a cabin.

The firefighters moved in with axes and other tools, carefully clearing the area to ensure no hidden flames reignited.

I stood there catching my breath, watching them work, when I felt a presence beside me. Turning, I saw Anna. Her face was pale in the firelight, Chester at her feet. She must have seen the commotion and come running. I wondered how long she had been standing there.

Her eyes were wide, taking in the destruction. Worry etched deep lines across her features. I wanted to reach out, to reassure her, but my hands were filthy with ash and soot.

"It's okay," I said, my voice rough. "No one's hurt."

She nodded, but I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her arms wrapped around herself. This was the last thing she needed after yesterday.

Two grueling hours later, the firefighters had fully extinguished the blaze, leaving behind the blackened remains of the cabin. Thin columns of smoke still rose, swirling into the cool evening breeze, while the fire marshals moved in to assess the damage and determine the cause.

Anna stood beside me, her arms crossed, rubbing her shoulders against the chill that often followed a fire. Chester sat at her feet, panting and alert, his gaze tracking every movement around him.

I stood close, occasionally wrapping an arm around her shoulders to offer reassurance. She was shivering despite the lingering heat from the ruins, and I could feel the tension radiating off her.