Chapter 269 - 269: The fire at Lockhart__2
Chapter 269 - 269: The fire at Lockhart__2
By the time Phoebe parked her car, the fire had already claimed the western wing of the hospital.
Of all the Mayfair's that went to check out the situation, she was the last to arrive. Originally, the fire fighters at the scene refused to let her through but the Saxon spirit charmed them and they blindly let her cross the perimeter.
The closer she got to the building, the more heat she felt. The wind carried it, just as it had fanned the flames which were still blazing hot in some areas.
It was loud everywhere, the wind also carried the sounds of sirens from fire trucks and ambulances and wails of families that had loved ones in the hospital.
"Be careful." A firefighter pushed her away just as pieces of a shattered glass window which exploded and the emergency ladders came crushing down.
"My God!" Her hands moved to cover her mouth when she saw the inferno spread out of the window with unnatural speed almost like someone was fanning it.
A hand was placed on her back, helping to steady her because her legs were trembling. When she turned her head, Phoebe saw the rest of her family, some of them anyway. She did not know when they had reached or why but she did not ask and they did not ask her either why she was there.
"It's really bad, Luke has said that many people might not make it through the night. He is helping out in the survivor's emergency medical aid tent, let's go find him." Collin placed his phone back in his pant pocket.
His words scared them especially Edward who had no idea that Luke was actually at Lockhart. He thought Luke had seen the news on the fire on television and then informed Collin about it.
"Luke? Why is he here? Is he hurt?" His hand clutched on Collin's shirt around the neck, almost strangling him.
"Let's find him first." Jennie urged, worriedly.
They all rushed to the tent which was crowded, filled with patients and doctors plus other volunteers. Phoebe's eyes
"Ma'am you cannot go in there." A police officer that was guarding the tent stretched his hand in the bid to stop Phoebe from entering.
She tried to explain that she was searching for someone but all her efforts were in vain. The officer ordered that she be taken away.
"We will call you to identify the bodies later on, please leave for now."
Phoebe opened her bag to bring out her police consultant badge.
"Take your filthy hands off her." Came a stern female voice from behind her, it sounded familiar so Phoebe turned around only to see Luna Elithera.
She was gobsmacked, unsure on how to react. Never in her wildest dreams did she think that she was going to run into her at Lockhart of all places. In the city, sure, it could happen but here at Lockhart, it was improbable.
"Luna? Luna why are you here?" Phoebe asked her voice laced with shock.
The question remained unanswered for Luna's venomous gaze remained fixed on the officer
"Do you want me to beat you to a pulp? I said take your paws off my friend!" Her voice was loud, almost thunderous.
One officer whispered something to the one holding Phoebe's hand, immediately he let go of her arm and apologized to both women. He then scurried away like he had seen something terrifying.
"My shaman friend, I didn't want us to meet again under such horrible circumstances but I guess the universe had other plans." Luna smiled generously.
There were so many questions in her head but first she wanted to make sure that David was okay, Luna could wait.
Luna noticed that Phoebe was about to enter the tent and she stopped her by grabbing her hand.
"David is fine, he's searching for Ruth your former friend or should I say former sister?" A bitter chuckle slipped through her lips.
Just when Phoebe was about to ask why Luna was there and why she knew where David was when a loud noise called for both of their attention. Parts of the burning building were cracking, all the firefighters were fleeing for their lives and within a few seconds, the entire building collapsed inwards with a deafening roar.
Phoebe watched as the ghosts that haunted it were also released into the night. They fled with wails as if the fire was capable of harming them.
The ones that did not flee hung back and started to gossip about the fire, sharing theories on how it started and planning on where to move now that there home was gone.
Others were already looking for human bodies to invade or those to haunt.
"God damn it!" Phoebe sighed.
She thought of all the insane ghosts that were going to flood the city. No good ghost haunted a mental asylum, they were all problematic, 99% of them anyway. She took out her phone and called Amon whom she requested to come to Lockhart and it's surrounding areas with backup.
"Bring as many ghost exorcists as possible, it's a party over here."
She hung up when David emerged from the tent.
"Ruth isn't here either." He announced as he moved towards Phoebe and Luna.
The Mayfairs approached them, worry for Phoebe in their eyes. It only deepened when they saw Luna Elithera standing next to her. There was tension and everyone could see how disapprovingly grandma Mayfair was looking at Luna.
The old lady went so far as to put herself between Phoebe and Luna.
"First you sent Phoebe dangerous gifts and now you are here, it is no coincidence, is it?" Grandma Mayfair narrowed her gaze at her.
Luna chuckled softly. "No it's not but your attention should be elsewhere." She answered softly but assertively. "If Ruth Gabriel is not among the dead in here and also not in there being barbecued in the rubble then you might have trouble on your hands. Would you care to guess why?"
Her ruthless words forced almost everyone to dive into a suffocating silence.
si-mexico