Young Writers Society

A Note: So, I've changed some things since the last chapter. Jeff didn't die in the house, he decided to leave with his family. I'm pretty sure that's all I changed. Also, comments on the title? Does it fit or should I change it again? thanks for looking at this! :-) 

EDIT: Finally posted the new parts of this chapter, edited! Still rough draft, just re-wrote what I had before! It stops in an awkward place, I just broke it up, so it wasn't as intimidating ;-)

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A gas leak. All the news stations gossiped about the horrible accident that happened last night, and how it was lucky that the family had moved out of the house hours before. They debated over whether it was an accident or if the family had planned for it to happen. Jae said that I could go home today if Jeff and his family got to the white house in the morning, so I was just watching the news and making a cup of coffee. I felt like everything went over well yesterday, and I was glad for this new promotion. I was unsure at first, but I realized that I needed to do something different, but similar, and this was it. It was refreshing, and it came with such a rush, I craved it.

The coffee burnt my throat as I sucked it down, looking at the animals in the oak tree by the window. I watched as a bird played with it’s mate, chirping happily. I felt a whole in my stomach, loneliness taking over. I had never really bothered trying to date, it wasn’t something I had in my schedule. All the girls looked the same to me. I mean, I had those stupid immature relationships in school, but nothing more outside of that. Although I don’t like to admit it, I was lonely. Being alone all the time took a toll on you, but it also makes you stronger. Those birds won’t always be happy, they’ll get tired of the other, and they’ll go their separate ways. And when they don’t have the other to lean on they won’t know what to do with themselves. I wouldn’t be one of those birds.

A shrill noise filled the room and made me drop my coffee mug. “Shit,” I said under my breath, running to grab my phone. “Hello?”

“Garrett hi. Family here, you come.” Jae spoke, his tone neutral.

“Sure thing, boss.” I answered quickly. I looked at the mess on the floor and bit my lip.

“Driver be there in twenty minutes,” Jae hung up, and I shook my head. I quickly cleaned the mess on the floor and grabbed what little I had brought with me. The driver was there exactly when Jae said he would be, and for that I was grateful, I was a little home sick.

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After three months of carrying out the law, you’d think I’d get bored of the fire. But it was quite the opposite, every time I burned another house I felt more and more excited for the next time it would happen. My 37th house was today, and I quickly wrote another tally in the notebook I carry with me on the job after it was burned. I tried different methods of starting the fire, just to keep it interesting. The only time that the accused had decided to burn with the home was an old couple that didn’t want to be apart of this “corrupt” world anymore, so they gladly volunteered to die with the house and their books. I was a little shocked after they had said that, since everyone usually went with their family to be tried, but this old couple did not. I quickly got over it, they probably would’ve died from old age soon anyway.

I knew I would need to go to the market today. Because this was such a small city, Jae wanted me to make sure they weren’t going to figure out what was really going on. Bigger cities don’t really care about these “accidents” because, more than likely, they never knew the person. But in smaller cities, everyone knew everyone, it seemed. I told the driver to pick me up in two hours, so that he could take a break from driving me everywhere.

Bright, vibrant colors filled the vendor's baskets, and I quickly bought an apple to hold me over. I walked, eating the tender apple while looking at food and people as I walked by them. There was a family buying strawberries, the parents were digging out money as their two children seemed bored out of their mind. Next to them was a man, maybe in his twenties, smoking a cigarette. On the corner of the street there was an old man, begging for money to help feed the small girl next to him, and a petite woman talking to them. I walked over to the man, digging some money I had leftover in my pocket out. The woman’s voice drifted through the wind towards me, her southern accent talking quietly to the child, “I hope that this money will help you with your food, little Samara. I’ll be back again soon.”

She then looked up at the man, who was looking at me. She turned and I tore my eyes from her, trying to not let her know I had been staring, but I wanted to see the face that matched the voice, so I glanced up and found myself speechless and foolish. She was beautiful, more beautiful than I had ever seen. She wasn’t the type of beautiful that would make her a model or actress, but in such simple ways, she’s was absolutely breath-taking.

I finally looked towards the man and the child, “Hello, would you like to spend a night in my home?” I had noticed the girl was shivering from the cool breeze that whispered of fall, and I figured that the best way for me to help them. The woman next to me raised her eyebrow, and I pretended I didn’t know she was looking at me.

“Would you do that for us, kind sir?” the old man rumbled. I noticed he only had about five teeth and he looked like he hadn’t had a day of sleep in years. Age had taken him on, and he looked to be in his late 60s, but the child had similar features such as his brown eyes and the way his nose was angled, so I assumed it was his niece or granddaughter, and I wondered if she had lost her parents before she knew them.

“Of course, although I don’t know how much longer I am staying here, I’m here on business.” I said firmly, I didn’t want to put false hope into him in case I would only be able to offer him one night.

“You’re not the only one, it seems.” the women finally chimed in. The three of us looked at the woman, wondering what she had meant. She sighed, “I’ve heard rumors about another house being burned,” the man sighed, shaking his head. I held my breath, hoping they didn’t see my sudden change in my mood.

“Yeah, it’s horrible,” I said, hoping to distract them from the fact that I was in town on business, as If I had always been apart of the civilization in the town. I stood awkwardly, my hands in my pockets, my shoulders up, and my head down. I looked up to see the girl looking away from me, and wondered what she had been looking for in me, and if she found it.

The old man smiled, “Why don’t you invite this young lady over for dinner?”

He had noticed our glances, and I the awkward tension grew between us.

“Uh-” I started.

“I have plans, but thank you.” She looked down and smiled. The awkward silence between us thickened in the air for minutes that felt as if they were years until the small child’s high pitched voice chimed.

“Daddy, what is that pretty lady’s name?” She whispered in a way only a child could, quieter than what I was guessing her normal voice would be, but loud enough that everyone around could hear.

The woman laughed, her cheeks turning a faint hue of pink, “Audrey, sweetie. And what is your name?” she leaned over smiling, looking into the child’s eyes.

“Aysia,” she said in a tiny voice, nervous because the woman--Audrey--heard her conversation with her dad.

“It’s very nice to meet you Asya,” she smiled once more into Aysa’s eyes and then slowly returned to her normal stance. Aysa smiled, and soon tore her eyes from Audrey to look at me expectantly, smiling.

“Hello Aysa, my name is Mason,” I smiled, using all my willpower not to look and see if Audrey was watching me. Asya smiled back at me, forgetting about everything around her as she learned of two new people’s names. I stood back up, and quickly stole a glance at Audrey, to see her turning away from my face to the man, smiling.

“You’re all set then?” she asked him while digging in her wallet. Without waiting for an answer she turned to me and handed me a fifty dollar bill, “Get them a real meal, take them home, house them as long as possible. I try to help them whenever I can, but I don’t have all the capabilities to.” She gave me a long look, trying to make sure what she had said settled in. I nodded, and turned towards Asya and her father.

“Let’s go get some warm food guys,” they stood up smiling, and I reached out to shake the man’s hand, “I don’t believe I caught your name?” I questioned him, knowing he knew my name.

He smiled, “Mershon, thank you very much for everything you’re doing for us. Even if we can’t stay but one night in your home, it’s better than sleeping in the streets. I think I can speak for both Aysa and I that we are grateful.”

“Of course, I’m happy I could help. Where would you guys like to eat?” I asked, walking down the street.

“I don’t really know, we don’t always get treated to such an opportunity.” The man chuckled, thinking. I quickly swept up and down the street, looking at what would be the fanciest restaurant that I could afford to take them to. A red sign hung in front of a white building with some fancy french name. I was about to ask if they liked french food, but bit my tongue, realizing they probably had never eaten there.

“How about there?” I said, pointing towards the restaurant. The man stared in disbelief, and I wondered if he had french food before, and was offended I had offered. “Uh, I mean, if you don’t want to go to that one, that’s fine. We could find somewhere better if you want to,” I said, scratching the back of my neck.

“Really? You can afford to take us there? I’ve never set foot inside it before! I bet the food is delicious! Aysia, would you like to go to that fancy restaurant?” Aysa giggled and nodded, both of them giddy that they got to eat some real food. It was honestly sad that they saw this as something so luxurious, where as I had this provided for me regularly.

“Then let’s go!” I said. They feeling a got as I saw how much their smiles glow was something had never experienced before. I never realized how bad some people in this country had it, injuries kept people out of business, which made people lose homes and food. I had never worried about that, Jae always keeping me in a high rank in the government.

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(continued on part 2.2)