All Chapters of Showing a Rule-Follower What Rules Really Are: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

I suddenly heard someone shouting from the outside. "You have to help me, Caleb! Please open the door right now!"I immediately jumped off the couch and rushed to the door. The moment I opened it, I was met by the pungent smell of gas, which forced me to take a step back.I then noticed Yvonne Cook, my neighbor from across the hall, standing in front of me in her nightgown, her hair messy and her face pale. She grabbed my arm, her nails almost digging into my flesh as she exclaimed, "I have a gas leak in my apartment! The smell is unbearable! I've already called the gas company, but they said the repairman will take at least an hour to arrive! I'll suffocate by then! "You're a firefighter, right, Caleb? You have to help me!"Yvonne trembled and collapsed against me.I steadied her, saying, "You should stay calm for now. Head to the hallway and open the windows to let the air circulate. You mustn't turn on any electrical appliances, no matter what."I went back into my apartmen

Chapter 2

I sat on the edge of the bed, my head spinning. I couldn't help but wonder why Yvonne was out to destroy me when I was the one who saved her.In the evening, Robert Warner—the coworker who brought my food—covertly handed me his phone. "You should take a look at the HOA group chat, Caleb," he said. I checked the group chat, where over 300 residents were messaging rapidly. Yvonne had tagged the whole group and shared a photo, showing the gas valve wrapped in Scotch tape and some unknown materials. That wasn't the Teflon tape and sealant I had used back at her apartment.Yvonne uploaded another photo of a long scratch across her marble countertop.I recalled distinctly that I was very cautious while repairing the valve; I had even laid down a towel on the countertop for protection.I knew then that she had falsified everything.Yvonne began posting her tearful grievances in the group chat."Do you know what our neighborhood's 'hero' firefighter did? He burst into my home at midnig

Chapter 3

I had bought the tools myself for home use, so I didn't have any receipts. I had no one to witness what happened since Yvonne and I were the only ones in the apartment.I was trapped in a corner because of Yvonne's evidence. Meanwhile, Yvonne's campaign for "justice" gained momentum with the full backing of the HOA.Tanya, acting in the name of the HOA, posted a notice on the community board. "Condemnation of Caleb Johnston, Owner of Unit 801 in Building 3, for Damaging Neighborhood Relations and Endangering Public Safety."That notice was very jarring on the community board, its language harsh and unforgiving.Mom and Dad somehow found out about what happened and called the station, prompting Fred to bring the phone to the entrance of the room where I was being held.Mom was sobbing hysterically on the other end. "What on earth happened, Caleb? How could you bring such shame to this family? Your father is so upset that his heart condition is acting up!"I held the phone, too c

Chapter 4

I noticed that it became quiet outside once I said my piece.A few seconds later, a scream rang out, followed by Yvonne's shriek and pounding. "You're a murderer, Caleb! You'll rot in hell for this! There are still people in my apartment! I'll haunt you for the rest of your life if anything happens to them!"I ignored her completely. I turned back to the bed, sat down, and leafed through the protocol book.I could hear the sound of sirens, followed by the roar of the trucks' engines and calls over the intercom, drifting in from outside. I could even hear the dispatch clearly, indicating that the fire was taking place at Everjoy Residences, Building 8, Unit 802—structural fire in the kitchen, confirmed entrapment. Unit 802 was Yvonne's apartment.I then heard Fred shouting as he assigned tasks. "Breach Team, grab the power saw and hydraulic shears! Get that door this instant! Truck One, hit the fire from the front with the two water cannons! Truck Two, cover from the side wind

Chapter 5

Fred patted me on the shoulder and said, "You can rest assured that the department will pursue full exoneration, Caleb. We have already referred the evidence of Yvonne's malicious prosecution and the fire investigation findings to law enforcement."I opened the HOA group chat, only to find various messages from lawyers, teachers, and other residents pertaining to this matter.Mr. Wright: "I heard about what happened last night. Mr. Johnston's decision, from a legal and disciplinary standpoint, was completely sound. He is suspended and under investigation, so acting without authorization would be a violation of protocol. He was simply looking out for himself."Mr. Jenner: "Exactly! Yvonne and Tanya were dragging his name through the mud just last week! Tanya even posted a notice on the community board to condemn him! They nearly cost Mr. Johnston his career, and now they expect a favor the second things go wrong! How shameless!"Mr. Lawson: "I was at the scene last night, and I over

Chapter 6

In the statement, the fire department highly commended my professionalism and humanitarian spirit. It also issued a stern condemnation against those who maliciously slander fire and rescue personnel. It spread like wildfire through the local political and legal circles and on social media, racking up over 100 thousand views.I knew this was only the beginning for Yvonne. I wanted her reputation to be ruined and for her to pay the price for her actions.I was told by a former classmate, who was working at the police department, that Yvonne's father's official cause of death was identified as carbon monoxide poisoning. I then learned that Yvonne completely broke down at the station after hearing the results. She held onto her mother's portrait and cried out that she had caused her father's death.Yvonne dropped off the radar once she handled her father's funeral. She left the HOA group chat and became a recluse, never leaving her home. She also made no effort to clean up or renova

Chapter 7

Tanya stammered, "I-I had no idea it would be this serious…"I averted my gaze and said firmly, "You've been informed now, so please take your gifts away. I'll be seeing you in court, Ms. Weller."I then opened the door and gestured for her to leave.I watched Tanya leave, looking completely shattered. I knew she would tell Yvonne everything I had just told her. I intended for them to suffer through every minute before the hearing, trapped in fear and misery.Yvonne finally showed up on the day of the hearing. In just a month, she had become so gaunt; her eye sockets were sunken, and her hair had turned dull and white. She was dressed in black as she kept her head lowered in the defendant's seat. Tanya was there as well. She was seated in the gallery with a haggard expression, repeatedly dabbing at the cold sweat on her brow. Mr. Wright presented a comprehensive chain of evidence that invalidated Yvonne and Tanya's claims. He presented surveillance footage of the initial respo

Chapter 8

Yvonne and Tanya had no way of getting away from the consequences once the court announced their ruling. That 200-thousand-dollar compensation was a staggering amount for Yvonne. She was already penniless from paying for her father's funeral and her fire-damaged apartment.In addition, the subsequent referral for criminal prosecution under the charge of malicious accusation left both parties in a state of extreme distress. Yvonne took the initiative to come to the fire station three days after the ruling. She spent the whole afternoon waiting outside my dormitory. As soon as I returned from my training, she groveled before me. "I'm so sorry, Caleb. I know I'm at fault here!"She grabbed my legs, sobbing uncontrollably. "I don't have 200 thousand dollars, Caleb! I'm already drowning in debt because of my father's medical bills and my fire-damaged apartment! Can you please have mercy and let me off the hook this time? "Can you tell the police that we've reached a settlement for tha

Chapter 9

Yvonne sat limply on the ground, staring blankly while whispering repeatedly, "I-I was the one who killed my father… I killed him… I am a murderer…"I turned away without a word and entered the dormitory. I then closed the door with a loud bang, shutting out all her hopelessness and regret.Yvonne and Tanya's public apologies finally hit the papers, taking up a full quarter-page on the front of both the Judiciary Daily and the Urban Morning Daily. They described in detail the entire process of how they had fabricated facts, made malicious false accusations, and attempted extortion. Their tone was humble and filled with remorse.Their apologies caused a huge sensation throughout the city.Tanya was unanimously voted out of the HOA committee following the scandal. Her chat records, which showed her instigating an online witch hunt, were uploaded by bystanders to major local forums and video sites. That turned her into a classic example of a villainous character.I later found out

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