A Is For Arson Novels & Stories

--- *Sunday | 7:30am | 9th Precinct* The precinct smelled like coffee and bleach. Agent Cole and Detective Ruiz were waiting in a small room with no windows. On the table was a manila folder. Thick. Detective Ruiz said, “We finished the preliminary report.” Elena sat. Detective Ruiz opened the folder. Photos. Reports. Witness statements. Detective Ruiz said, “Cause of fire: Arson. Point of origin: Chemical storage room. Accelerant: Industrial solvent.” Elena said, “And the suspect?”

Unknown number. “Mr. Vaughn, this is Fire Marshal Davidson. There’s been an incident at Vaughn Corp. You need to come down here right now.” ----- When I got there, the place was chaos. Fire trucks everywhere. Thick smoke pouring out of the fifteenth floor, our floor. The Fire Marshal met me at the barrier, looking serious. “It started around 10 PM. Fifteenth floor. They used accelerant. This was arson.” My stomach dropped. “How bad is it?”

They freeze in their tracks. We exit. The air is already thick with fuel, glistening everywhere. I nod once at Charles. He flicks the lighter. Flame arcs. Fire blooms, immediate, consuming. As the men shout to each other to put out the fire, we move. The house roars behind us. We don’t look back. What we don’t know, as we disappear into the distance, Mr. S arrives. He stands in front of Emma, fires once. A single bullet… center of her skull. He doesn’t hesitate. Power doesn’t forgive failure. It erases it. Clean and final.

Her armor gleamed with root-iron and firestone, etched with the sigil of the new order: the Crowned Flame. When she passed, warriors bowed. But she did not linger on reverence. Only readiness. --- That evening, Kael found her standing alone beneath the moon. “You should rest,” he said quietly. “So should you.” They exchanged tired smiles. For a while, they said nothing. Then she spoke. “When I was a child,” Aria whispered, “I dreamed of fire. Not destruction, but warmth. A fire that drew people in. That made them safe.” Kael stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. “You’ve become that fire.”

She made an attempt to run into the fire. Miss, you can’t go in. The man was confused but the report said the house is empty, because there wasn't anyone in the building when we checked. Were the chambers checked? Oh no He…..he always studies there! Let me go!” Before anyone could stop her, Aria broke free, dashing into the flames, the heat of the fire licking at her skin. Her eyes burned with rage not just from the smoke, but from the guilt that crashed down on her. Flashback

Fear for the unknown… Scanning the article, Hudson spoke as he read, ‘Based on evidence found at the scene of the fire, it was… arson,’ his head dropped and swore quietly again. Arson. Someone set that fire on purpose, intending to kill someone. The intention of killing babies? Or just a baby? Why? What threat could a baby possess? Unless, it was to send a message to the babies parents? More questions and concerns spiralling within me. I pushed my coffee away, feeling what was already lingering in my stomach churning and churning away, making me want to throw up.

Caraline turned up the volume on the television. "According to the information we received, Diego Fulhert and Caraline Emelia Wattson were in the building for a private meeting. The police explained that the arsonists deliberately set the building on fire on someone's orders. To further their plan, they used a dangerous substance that rendered people on all floors of the building unconscious."

“Only when you accept what you hate in yourself, when you let hatred and loss tear you apart, then the flame will come. Until then, you will remain ash.” Aurora took a deep breath, her body trembling. Her red eyes sparkled as she lifted her chin. “Ash is also dead fire.” Ashkar smiled slightly. “Ash is the beginning of fire.” Aurora closed her eyes and raised her hand. She felt her heart beating so loudly that it seemed to want to leap out of her chest. The heat rose quickly, a shock to her skin. A spark danced at her fingertips. For a second, it existed. And then it went out.

Set Fire and Burn Trigger Warnings: Abduction, Violence, Murder/Assassination, Strong Language, Sex, Death, Substance Abuse, Dismemberment, Blood/Gore, Mutilation of Corpse, Sexual Assault, Crude Language, Immolation, Imprisonment, Voyeurism, Illegal Activities, Bondage, Prejudice, and Miscarriage. Not all family is blood, some family is found. Wounds take time to heal. Now shut up, sit down, and read this book like a good little mortal.

My hatred towards this entire goddess-forsaken pack has grown exponentially. Ares has been roaring in my mind the entire time about how we are going to burn this pack down to the ground. And you know what? I’m already contemplating where to get the gasoline when I get out of here.