Home Fire By Kamila Shamsie Novels & Stories

WARNING-the content of this book is VERY graphic and VERY dark. Do NOT read if you cannot stomach graphic violence or explicit intimacy. HYACINTH (AGE 15) "Daddy!" I sputtered and coughed in the upstairs hallway, lungs already dangerously full of smoke. The fire crackled all around us-my childhood home going up in flames.

“Emma, we need to leave because the house is on fire. If we stay here, we both will die “But how did you get here Daniel?” she asked in confusion. Daniel knew in the back of his mind he should have let her die, but somehow, he couldn’t let her go. Emma looked around seeing her house was on fire. Emma could feel the heat of the flames on her skin and smell the smoke. She watched as her house around her was burning down just like it did when she was younger.

they asked me, as if it were impossible for someone not to know what was happening. “And I just arrived in town, you know. My fiancé and I were on a retreat, and we couldn't keep our cell phones. You know how these men are; they think the internet is a waste of time and stuff,” I said to them with a slight smile. “I understand, but it was fire around here last weekend, you see,” one of them replied. “With Kris' heavy exposed and everything. You should see it,” the other said with a laugh. “Oh, my God... I feel so sorry for Amber...” I said with a heavy heart that I didn't know that my daughter was going through such a difficult time. She must definitely need me...

I may not have much but I'd like to keep a hold on my dignity. I kick a small pebble that skitters into the darkness of the pavement as I walk down, I hear festive sounds coming from the pub at the end of this street but I ignore it. No use hoping to have something you never will. Even though I have magical blood, I'm a fire slifer. I have no clue how to harness my power so it's basically useless. I've only had one or two incidents of nearly burning a house down but other than that I feel basically human.

As the little bell on top of the door rang out a sweet tune, both Lani and Blake twisted around expecting another package but were instead faced with Jax' angered face. "Jax? What's wrong?" Lani asked. "The feds, they're here." "What?" Blake said with his face etched in confusion, "What'd they want now?" "They're here to snoop around, they know about the fire and they want to know what happened," Jax spoke in a bored tone. "What? The fire that happened nearly a month ago? I call bullshit," Blake laughed as he placed more paint in Lani's hair. She giggled shortly before returning her attention back to Jax, "He's right, there's nothing to investigate," Lani added.

He takes a deep breath and pulls his shoulders back, “Where to first?” “Do you know where she’s keeping your family?” He nods in reply. “Then let’s go,” I say as I walk over and pull the door open only to be met with bright flames. I stare out of the library stunned as I watch my home burn down. This place has been more of a home to me than the one I grew up in. These past few weeks, all my happy memories were made in this home, and now I’m watching them all burn down, just like Izzy had all those years ago. That rage inside me increases to a whole new level when I realise just who is behind this. Burning one of Izzy’s homes wasn’t enough for that bitch. No, she had to burn down a second. Sh

lied Sumico jumpily and nervously. “But, that was a great fire… That was a greatly horrifying fire, Sumico… You said you were also within the great fire to save your elder sister but you couldn’t because the fire got greater and bigger as the tick-tock of the seconds passed by. Wasn’t it?” narrated Mrs. Yulia Kammal vastly inquisitively.

Sanchez said, “their house caught on fire last night.” Sue was horrified by how close she came to saying, “No, it was only the garage.” She bit into her tongue hard enough to draw blood, trying to swallow down her stupidity. She recovered quickly, hoping the horror she was sure showed on her face was taken for horror at what had happened. “Their house caught on fire?” she repeated as if the words didn’t even make sense to her. “Is . . . I mean, was anyone hurt?” She knew the answer from Workman’s grave expression even before he spoke. “Yes, ma’am. Dr. Bukhari and his wife suffered mild smoke inhalation, but their son Hank . . . ”

I can see the shimmer of sweat that aligns her forehead and can smell her hair as it kisses the surrounding flames encircling her body. The smoke detectors start blaring as the few house workers come running out to see what is going on. Seeing Emma trying to extinguish the flames they all run in different directions to get different items to try and help her but it is no use. Nothing is putting this fire out. The floor around me starts steaming and I notice I am just getting hotter by the second. Exhaustion over takes me and just as my body gives up and hits the floor, I watch the whole house catch on fire. (4 hours later)

“We need to bring the warriors home. This was a foolish trip. Her vision was wrong.” “Humor me. Leave one car to follow Scott for a couple more days the other two cars can return,” I ordered. Camerin nodded in agreement. “I also have an update on the fire,” he added. “The firefighters said it looked like an accident. It started in the kitchen by the stove, but they also said it was set up to look like an accident. They’re still investigating to see if they can find out who did it.” Camerin smirked for the first time that morning. “We need to discuss what’s going on at the packhouse. We’re being invaded.”