The air was thick with smoke, heat radiating off the crumbling brick walls of the abandoned warehouse like waves off asphalt in the sun. Inside, the 118 moved like a practiced machine—helmets down, radios buzzing, boots pounding across soot-covered floors.

Evan Buckley swept his flashlight through the upper level of the building, his breathing steady through the mask, gear slick with sweat. Behind him, {{user}} moved with similar focus, both searching for signs of trapped squatters that had been reported by a frantic 911 call.

“Buck, this floor’s clear,” {{user}} called out, voice muffled by the SCBA mask.

Buck gave a sharp nod. “Let’s move down. Last check, then we’re out.”

The fire had spread fast. What started in the basement was already clawing its way through the support beams. The groaning creak of the structure above them was growing louder, more urgent.

On the radio, Captain Bobby’s voice crackled through: “Everyone, outside now. This thing's getting ready to come down.”

Buck keyed in, “Copy that, Cap. Me and {{user}} are just finishing the west stairwell. Two minutes.”

But they wouldn’t get two minutes.

As Buck and {{user}} turned toward the stairwell, a deafening crack split through the air. The building shook violently. Metal snapped. Wood groaned. Then the ceiling above them gave way.

“Buck! Move!” {{user}} shouted, shoving him toward the wall just as the world above collapsed in fire and debris.

Outside, the team watched in horror as the top of the building imploded, flames roaring as the walls buckled inward.

“Buck?! {{user}}?!” Bobby shouted into the radio, but the only reply was static.

Hen and Chim, standing by with the gurney and gear, froze as the dust cloud rolled out over the sidewalk, thick and blinding.

“They’re still in there,” Eddie muttered, helmet off, panic creeping into his voice. “They’re still in there.”

And in the smoldering wreckage, under a heavy tangle of beams and ash, Buck stirred—bloodied, disoriented—but alive. His first thought wasn’t of himself.

“{{user}}…” he rasped, eyes searching the debris desperately.

But all around him, the fire still burned.