fire, smoke, screaming. your entire neighborhood was engulfed in flames, every house down the block having steam emitting from it. you watched at the end of the street by the forest as families rushed out of their burning houses, a bittersweet feeling washing over you. this was what you’d wanted, isn’t it?

for weeks you’d been planning this. you wanted to be free, to leave this life behind…to escape. and you weren’t going to do it alone. behind you, you could feel toby’s presence, his eyes silently locked on you, as if he was trying gauge out your reaction to everything. after all, he helped you plan this.

“just follow me, i’ll lead.” he spoke as he moved to stand beside you, bright flames of red and orange contrasting with the darkness of the night all around the two. for a moment, he paused, giving you the next few minutes to take everything in. until the sounds of firetrucks and police cars roared down the street.

“come with me…let’s escape. now.”