I'll Never Leave Here

[Serinity Dawson]

Had it not been raining profusely, Serinity would have been drenched in sweat. Even with the rain she could feel beads of salty water forming over her body only to be washed away the second they formed. Grey blue eyes peered out only capable of seeing a white wall of torrential down pouring rain. She gasped for air with her body relaxed, trembling with fatigue. Clothing tightly stuck to her skin making her feel restricted and somewhat violated. Walking around would be a bitch.

Serinity stood inside one of the Simulation Rooms trying to control her powers. The particular simulation she ran forced her to lose control of her powers. In order to regulate them, she would need to know what she was capable of. She needed to know what kind of damage she could do if her powers went crazy while she traveled the world. Controlling them would be the only way to travel the world. Gritting her teeth, Serinity tried again. She had been at it for an hour now with little to no results. On her second try she almost managed to dissipate the storm, but it overpowered her at the last moment. Now it was rampantly flooding a city. Lightning was striking every building setting them all on fire. A tornado was sweeping up and demolishing some other area. It was heading straight for her.

Serinity watched the tornado tearing up houses, skyscrapers, people, and cars as it headed toward her. Nothing could withstand its monstrous force. A groan escaped her lips as she raised her hand toward the tornado. It needed to be put under control first. The lightning and rain could wait. Closing her eyes and concentrating as hard as she could, the world went quite. Outside of her mind the storm raged on, but inside it, all was silent and still. This part, at least, she had under in the bad. Her teeth gritted together as she tried harder to concentrate on dissolving the tornado. A small peek with one eye told her it wasn’t working. Her mind and body were tired. Beyond tired. It took a lot to continuously run a program and try to beat it. Unsuccessfully, mind you.

Another peak told her the tornado was too close now. It was now or never with a last ditch effort to dispel it. Serinity focused as hard as she could and tried one last time. It was a no go. In seconds she could feel the wind lifting her off the ground and into the air. She screamed, but it didn’t make a dent in the sounds the tornado exhibited. “QUIT, QUIT, QUIT!” she screamed hoping the program would recognize her voice and end the simulation. Thankfully it did. Serinity plopped onto the padded ground with a heavy thud and a groan. For a moment, she stayed there not capable of moving. Her clothes were dry, but her body was weary. The physical exertion was real. The visuals were not.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Serinity curled up where she was and bit her lip in anguish. Tears watered at her eyes. “I’ll never leave Silas,” she whispered quietly, miserably.

[blake]

Blake walked around outside the simulation rooms, curling a strand of hair around her finger while humming to herself. She was about to enter a simulation room but she stopped herself, hearing someone shouting in the room three doors down. Blake tilted her head as she listened to the sounds of frustration coming within the room. Never being one to want to leave someone in distress, she walked over to the door.

Blake quietly opened the door, relieved that the simulation was turned off. Now that she thought about it, perhaps she should have knocked first before entering. Blake bit her lip as she thought it over, but then realized that she had already opened the door and there was no point thinking over something she couldn't change.

Instead of puzzling herself over a simple question, Blake turned her attention to the girl curled up on the floor. "Are you okay?" Which was kind of a dumb question considering that the girl was obviously crying. She recognized the girl as the headmistress's granddaughter, though she couldn't recall her name. Blake walked over towards the girl, stopping herself from trying to freeze one of the girl's tears as they slid down her cheeks. She stood there, watching the girl and waiting for a response.

[Serinity Dawson]

Under normal circumstances, Serinity would have noticed the door opening and someone stepping into the room. Instead she still lay on the floor silently letting the tears slip down her cheeks as she lay where she were not capable of forcing herself up. The room was booked for two hours. No one should interrupt her for another hour. By then, she would have herself under control and leave. No one would ever know the difference. A voice rang out causing Serinity to spin around to face the voice’s source with a gasp. Her body uncurled itself and faced the person still staying on the floor but with muscles tensed ready to flee if needed.

It was just another student, another blonde chick. Serinity’s face went flat as she pressed her lips together. “Fine,” she muttered hotly irritated with having been interrupted. Serinity shoved herself to her feet and brushed her pants off carefully. Next, she cleaned off the tears but refused to acknowledge that she had been crying, especially in front of someone else. “What are you doing in here? This room is booked for another hour.” The girl ran a hand through her hair and brushed it back with a frown. It was just her luck. One of her only public breakdowns and she was caught.

“Ah, never mind, it doesn’t matter. If you want to use this room, go right ahead. I’m done now.” Her voice was soft but there was a hint of embarrassment there. Grey blue eyes turned toward the door calculating how far away it was. Weary legs still trembled. Serinity couldn’t help but wonder if she could make it to the door without falling to her knees in exhaustion. Dilemmas dilemmas. Should she chance making herself look weak in front of this other girl, or take a stab to her pride and ask for help?

[blake]

Blake felt taken aback at the girl's sharp words. "You don't look fine . . ." Her voice slowly got quieter, realizing that this girl probably didn't need her arguing. The girl looked like the suffer-in-silence type anyway.

As the girl angrily asked what she was doing in the booked simulation room, Blake went back to twirling a strand of hair around her finger as she was unsure of what to say. "I'm sorry, I-" She was cut off as the girl said that she could use the room anyway.

Although Blake was thankful to have been saved from trying a sad excuse for an apology she didn't feel it was right for her to just let the girl walk off looking so distressed. She struggled to think of a way to have the girl stay so that she may cool off. "Umm, I don't know how to use the simulation rooms, so could you perhaps show me?" This wasn't true, Blake had been a student at Silas Academy for about three years and knew perfectly well how to use the simulation rooms, but it was the only thing that she could think of in order to get the girl to stay. "Oh, and I'm Blake. What's your name?"

[Serinity Dawson]

A request was made causing Serinity to balk with the idea. It was the last thing she had expected the other blonde to say. If anything, she expected to just leave, part ways, and probably never talk to the girl again. Instead the other girl asked her to stay and show her how to use the simulation rooms. Serinity eyed Blake for a moment with narrowed, suspicious eyes. “I know I’ve seen you around, you’re not new here.” Her speech faltered as she thought about it. It was possible this girl, Blake, hasn’t used the room since coming to Silas. Only a couple of the teachers regularly used it and some students didn’t bother with taking the intro class which allowed them free access to the place.

“I guess I can help you. I know a few tricks that other people don’t know, too.” Blake had asked for her name a full minute ago and Serinity hadn’t replied. In due time she would, but for now she wanted to get the program started. “What’s your power? The program caters to each specific power.” To their left stood a small, technologically advanced station where the programs were plugged in and started. The station had numerous buttons and screens that would enable the user to customize and set their program. Programs could even be saved to the user’s file for later use. “I would recommend starting off easy. Some of the simulators can be rough.” Serinity suppressed a shiver thinking back to her previous experience.

The walk to the station on shaky legs was hard, but Serinity did her best to hide any pain she felt. As far as she knew, she did a good job of it too. Pressing the button that would prompt the customization screen, Serinity selected “Easy” for the level and searched through the list for Blake’s power. “My name is Serinity, by the way.” It was such a casual comment, as if her name didn’t matter. In truth she hated telling others her name. If they didn’t know her by looks, they knew her by name. That was when they suddenly decided to back off and not bother with her. Their fears were always the same. If they goofed up or did something against the rules, she’d go and tell the Headmistress.

That was what everyone thought, anyhow. Serinity actually wouldn’t. If anything, she’d be the first to agree to do something that was against the rules. No one believed that though.

[blake]

When Serinity mentioned that she had seen Blake before her heart almost skipped a beat. She hadn't even thought of the fact that the other girl may call her bluff. But once Serenity changed the topic by asking what her power was, Blake relaxed. "Oh, I freeze things . . ." Blake suddenly realized how basic that sounded and made an attempt to make it sound more impressive, "I mean I can manipulate ice." Yeah that sounds better.

Blake nodded when Serinity began to talk of how she should start on easy, and that some of the other programs could be a little intense. Blake remembered all too clearly her first time on the simulator; she had accidentally set up the simulator so it was on a more difficult level that she wasn't ready for. That particular level included her having to freeze burning projectiles before they hit her. It started off simple, the projectiles were things like burning pencils or clothing. But the machine suddenly ramped it up to things like flying burning tables or doors. She barely managed to turn off the simulator before it reached burning houses. But now that she was fairly good with her power she knew that she would have to try to tone it down a bit if she was to really play it off as though she had never used the simulator before.

Blake was caught a little off guard as Serenity finally told Blake her name. She was so absorbed in her memory that she almost forgot that she had even asked what the girl's name was. Blake then mouthed the girl's name, hoping it may stick in her head unlike the other things that seemed to go through one ear and out the other.

[megan]

The second level basement was quite possibly her least favorite place in the entire academy (aside from the broom closet). Buried deep below the surface with no real windows or means of escape but up, she could already feel her chest tightening. The walk down two floors worth of stairs hadn't helped, but she would have been worse off if she'd taken the elevator. Despite how spacious it was, SL2 never ceased to set off her claustrophobia.

So Megan kept her steps quick, a good amount of mental energy focused on her breathing. So long as she didn't let her thoughts spiral out of control, the walls wouldn't start creeping up on her. Unfortunately, the panic had already started to settle in, her actions a little reckless as her heals clicked down the hall. If the Simulations Professor had been in his office, she wouldn't have had any problems. But he conveniently decided that now was not the time for office hours, which meant the she would have to hunt him down in order to discuss a certain student they had in common.

Doors rattled loudly as she forced them open, poked her head into empty room after empty room, and then let them swing shut with a bang. The fruitlessness of this search only managed to quicken her pace. She wanted to get this done and over with as quickly as possible; the sooner she was back on the surface level and out in the sunlight, the better. Pity she didn't stop to think that her current search method had a few flaws. Forcing another simulator door open, the art professor froze, not expecting to find it in use by two students. It was just her luck that she'd find someone other than the simulation teacher down in the sim. rooms, and even luckier that they seemed to be starting up all the gizmos just as she'd intruded.

[Serinity Dawson]

“That’s cool,” Serinity said absentmindedly as she plugged in the info on the consol. “I bet you have some interesting simulations. There. Everything’s set. Ready?” Serinity paused for a moment to look at Blake and then pressed the button to start it up. For a second, everything was quiet. Then, a whirling sound began and everything blacked out for the quickest second. When the simulation came up the two girls were standing in the middle of a busy city. Horns honked, cars whizzed by, and the weather was smoggy. “New York City,” the blonde murmured as she looked around. It was one of the many cities on her list she intended to visit. Given its proximity to the city, it could be the first as soon as she got out of Silas.

“I don’t understand, though. I don’t know what we’re supposed to do.” Tilting her head slightly, the girl looked around at the people who walked by without a second glance. Standing not too far behind them was another woman, one who looked a wee bit familiar. “Professor Zamorski?!” she exclaimed in surprise. “How did you get here?” It didn’t make any sense for the program to throw the art teacher into the mix, so it had to be the one and only.

As Serinity spotted the art professor, the simulation program was calculating the new variable and adjusting to accommodate it. It was trying to start up Megan’s Precognition ability and place an image in her mind. The image would be that of a two story building several blocks down that was on fire. Inside was a small child clinging to her pet dog. The firemen were outside nervous and frustrated. The little girl was in an area that was too dangerous to get into. Coupled with the heat of fire and the threat of smoke, their job was put on a temporary hold as officials tried to come up with a safe way to get to the girl.

The program went on to show that the building was close to collapsing in on itself. Once it did, the child would not stand a chance. It was up to the three Silas residence to reach the building, make a way inside the building, and get the girl and dog out safely. This program seemed to be a more difficult level than Serinity had set. Biting her lip, Rini couldn’t help but wonder if this was a good idea after all. She was already spent and here she was in another sequence.

[blake]

Blake nodded, ready to take on whatever simulation was thrown at her. Her computerized surroundings began to morph into a bustling city. Tall skyscrapers towered over her, and various cars and taxis blared their horns as they each tried to pass one another on the street. Blake instantly recognized the city of New York as her family had taken trips to New York City before she chose to enroll in Silas Academy. Blake scanned the area yet she was unsure of what to do next. Most of the simulations she had run were pretty straight forward but this particular one was rather intricate.

As she pondered what to do next she heard a name shouted behind her. Blake whirled around to see the art teacher, Professor Zamorski. She smiled and waved, almost forgetting that they were in a simulation and that the art teacher being here was fairly odd. "Hi Professor, what are you doing here?" Whatever answer the professor would give her wouldn't be heard though as Blake soon found herself distracted by a trail of smoke billowing up into the sky. Without another thought Blake took off in the direction of the smoke, as she knew that in some simulations time was limited.

[megan]

Panic seemed to seize her heart as the room was plummeted into pitch blackness. For a moment she thought she was blacking out. Truth be told, it wouldn't have been the first time... There had been a few times she'd gotten too drunk to remember much of anything beyond her own name. And, of course, there was that rare occasion where her claustrophobia got the best of her. Once or twice she swore on her mother's grave (though her mother wasn't dead yet) that the walls of a room had completely closed in on her and the next thing she knew she was waking up someplace not where she last remembered being.

Then, seconds later, the simulation room seemed to surge back to life. Inky darkness (that had lasted a much shorter time than Megan would like to admit to) swirled into the bustling, bright lights of New York, complete with rude taxis, ruder foot traffic, and that awful smell that always wafted up from the subway. The art professor had spent a number of weekends in NYC when she was younger, even having completely skipped town once and being found there by her two very disapproving older twin sisters. The tattoo on her shoulder was a permanent reminder of that particular trip.

Needless to say, the sudden change from basement classroom to busy city was a bit unsettling. Megan caught herself on the lamppost that had materialized next to her, stabling her balance while she tried to get her bearings. The simulation rooms were something she'd never experienced before; whether the sharp location change or her claustrophobia was worse had yet to be decided. Which is why she failed to form a coherrant answer, sounding more like a lost student than the proper professor she was supposed to be (hah! As if Megan Zamorski was an example of proper professor-like behavior!). "I um, uh... I'm sorry, I was just... uh..."

To make matter's worse, her power decided to kick in right then and there. Expression going blank, her movements were somewhat mechanical as she darted a hand into her shoulder bag, pulling out a sketchpad and slipping the pencil from it's spiral bind. Ignoring the dingyness of the curb she was standing on, she sat down and flipped to a clean page. Then she began to sketch what she saw, barely looking at her work as her hand ghosted over the paper.

Minutes later, the sketch had been completed. Her eyes refocused and she stared down at the drawing in her lap. It was a bit obtuse, looking more like something out of an old black and white Mickey Mouse cartoon than anything. A skyscraper wannabe had arms and legs, rows of windows forming eyes and a mouth. Smoking cigar jutting from it's opened window teeth, it rocked a giant sized baby in its arms. At the base of the image a dog was lifting it's leg to peeing on the leg of the personified building.

Megan glanced up at Serinity Dawson, the only one of the two blond girls that seemed to stay where she was. The professor was thankful for this, exhaling a sigh of relief as she strode towards the student. Where Blake Sterling had dashed off to she didn't dare wonder, knowing she only need one person to explain what exactly it was that was going on. If she was lucky, Serinity would have an answer. "Look, I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to be here, and frankly I don't really want to be here, but I'm here now so... Care to explain what's going on, and why there's a child trapped in a burning building?" Somewhat sheepish and still a bit unnerved, she held up her sketch to support her assertions, hoping the premonition was just a fluke as smoke pooled in the distance.

[Serinity Dawson]

Serinity was completely dumbfounded by the teacher’s appearance in their simulation. Her grey blue eyes twisted over to peer at Blake knowing she was the last to enter the room. Blake asked her question and Professor Zamorski stammered over her words. Rini didn’t blame her. This had happened to her once, a long time ago. It was unsettling to expect one thing only to open a door and find something completely different. Suddenly, the art professor began to rummage through her bag, pluck out a sketchbook, and sit right where she was to sketch. “Professor, I hardly think this is the time to…” Serinity’s words trailed off as she noticed the trance like state the woman was in. Serinity bit her lip in worry whilst Blake decided now would be a good time to take off full force toward the plume of smoke rising from a building. Serinity threw up her hands and growled not liking the whole ‘Let’s ditch Serinity and leave her utterly alone’ feelng.

Frowning dramatically, the girl watched the other blonde’s retreating figure until she disappeared. Her eyes then turned to Professor Zamorski as her hand flew across a blank page. The pencil gushing out lines that eventually began to form images. Curious and having nothing better to do, Serinity stood over the professor’s sketchbook and watched her work. As the ability wound down and Megan returned to normal, Serinity stared at the picture with a mix of amusement and bewilderment. The picture was a strange one indeed, definitely not the type of thing she expected to appear on the paper. Abstract. Serinity couldn’t make heads or tails of the futurely drawn image.

Professor Zamorski stood up and inquired as to why they were here or rather why there was a child trapped in a burning building. “Well, Blake asked me to show her the simulation room, so I started up a program. You must have come in as soon as I started it up.” Her eyes flittered to the picture taking in the details, “I’m guessing this sim wants us to save the child from the building. Blake already ran off. I guess we should follow.” Lips pressed in a tight line, the girl started off after Blake, paused to make sure the professor was following, and continued on.

It only took a minute or so to reach the appropriate area. Blake stood outside. Serinity walked up beside her and allowed her eyes to sweep over the building. It was simply a two story building but the flames rose much higher into the air as if they craved to touch the heavens themselves. A shiver ran down the length of Rini’s spine causing an army of goose bumps to rise all over her body. Somewhere, sometime ago she had seen something and been a part of something like this before. She tried to swallow but a lump had formed in her throat.

Pushing that from her mind, she focused on the task at hand. “Professor, where was the child? Did you see the best way to get to her, or are we going to have to charge in blindly?” Serinity turned back to the building and then looked at the sky. It was clear as day, but the harder Serinity focused, the darker it became. Soon, a torrential downpour began. Oddly enough it focused solely on the building and a few feet out from it. In moments the trio was soaked through and through. “Sorry,” Serinity confessed with a sheepish smile, “I was trying to not get us wet.”

[blake]

Her black converse pounded against the crowded pavement, and the filthy air of New York filled her lungs as she pushed her way through crowds of people. Elbows and shoulders hit her as she forced herself to move through the bustling people. With each step the smell of smoke became more defined and within a few minutes she could almost feel the heat from the fire. The crowds became smaller and smaller the closer she got to the burning house. The two story house finally came into view and the fire seemed to roar like an animal about to eat its prey, the little girl.

Blake looked left and right and after hearing no sirens began to wonder where the firemen were. The thought eventually struck her that technically she and the others were the firemen. She gulped when she looked at the burning house. It wasn't the size of the house that scared her, no she had frozen things bigger than that. What really worried her was the fact that it was on fire, and things on fire were much harder for her to freeze. When Blake froze anything she had to use the water molecules in the air before the ice was allowed to form. But with a raging fire in front of her, she knew that the water would be limited.

She looked to her side once Serenity and Professor Zamorski reached her. Serenity asked the professor if she could pinpoint the child's location and Blake listened eagerly for an answer. The sound of falling water reached Blake's ears and she looked towards the house to see rain falling above it. She knew that wouldn't douse the fire on its own but it may keep in from getting any bigger. Blake was thankful for that, but she wasn't exactly pleased to be soaked with the rain.

With more water around her Blake realized that it would be easier for her to freeze the fire but one of the major problems wasn't the fire itself but the fact that it burned the house so badly that the foundation was close to collapsing. She suddenly realized something she could do to prolong the house for falling onto the little girl. "I think I can freeze some of the walls supporting the base of the house. That might hold it up a little longer."

[/size]

[megan]

Dumbfounded was probably the best way to expression that had worked its way onto Megan's face. Her eyes searched Serinity's, a silent "You've got to be kidding me?" being asked. But as the girl turned and headed off in the direction of Blake, the professor couldn't help but sigh. "Well isn't this just my luck," she mumbled, sprinting after the student. The whole superhero thing was not her idea of an exciting time, and as she passed by a bar on her way to the scene she couldn't help wondering if the drinks were as real as everything else in the simulation.

Her pace finally slowed as the burning building came into view. It was smaller than the one that had been in her sketch, only having two stories. It also had flames spurting from more than just an oversize cigar. It almost looked as if someone had placed the thing in a heart, the way yellow hot flames licked at it from all sides, climbing towards the heavens. The scene would have been less unsettling if the sound of a bathroom caving in hadn't just added to the background noise.

Megan took a step backwards, eyes wide fear gripped her. If the girls thought she was getting anywhere near that building, they were sorely mistaken. With the walls physically falling down around them... She want to so much as think about it, heart rate picking up at the idea of being trapped within flaming, caved in walls. There was nothing she wanted more than to get out of there, or better yet sit down. But questions were being thrown her way again; she had to try and focus. Luckily, she wasn't all that concerned with looking like a fool in front of the students. This whole scenario was so far out of her realm of comfort that she didn't care about being a poor leader or making them do all the hard work, professor status be damned.

"It doesn't work like that..." Her voice was a bit flat as she continued to stare at the flames. "I draw what I see, and it's far from an exact science. Chances are not everything in that sketch matters, or I could have interpreted it wrong. I can't choose when to activate it either. This," and here she held out the sketch again, having kept in in her hands during the short run, "is about as useful as I get. I um... You're not going to make me go in there, are you?"

Dumbfounded had morphed into hopelessness as she stared at the two blonds. To make matters worse, right then the skies decided to cry. It was good for the building, yes, but she could have done without the drenching. The blouse she was wearing wasn't exactly water friendly, it's pale pastel blue and thin material threatening to become see-through.

Rini's sheepish apology confused her for a moment, before it clicked into place that the storm was a result of her powers. That would explain why it was only raining over the burning build. The flames had receded a bit as well, still blazing brightly but no longer spiraling out of control. Blake was speaking not moments after, the first time Meg heard her speak since running towards the fire. She offered the girl a weak smile, still not at all comfortable with this whole situation. "Why don't you two do what you think is best, and I'll, um, stay here and let you know if I get another vision?" The fire was capitalizing on a few of her greatest dislikes and fears: small spaces, extreme heat, and heaven forbid she enter that building she'd add to the list being buried alive.

[Serinity Dawson]

The idea was good enough in Serinity’s eyes. She really had no other option to offer. This was Blake’s simulation after all. Blake should be the one to take charge. Serinity and Megan were tag alongs, one of who wasn’t even supposed to be here. “You’ll have to make sure to make them good and thick, Blake; otherwise they’ll melt too quickly. You can try using the rain to help, but don’t focus too much on that. The kid is still trapped inside.” Her spill done, the blonde turned to the professor who seemed to be having a slightly difficult time with the situation. Maybe it was just the idea of a kid trapped inside of a burning building that had her nervous. Maybe it was something entirely different.

Serinity listened to the art professor attentively. Her heart sank when she learned that Megan didn’t know anything more than what she had already told them. That meant it was up to Blake and Serinity to get inside, find the best route to locate the kid, and get her out safe and sound. Serinity sighed heavily and hung her head for a moment before looking back up at Megan who asked if they were making her go inside the house. “No, professor. I think you did your part. Thanks.” Her attention was then turned back onto Blake who should have started going at the foundation by now. They had no time to waste.

Blue, stormy eyes observed the building watching the flames lick at the rain water. Unlike before, the flames had been beaten down to a manageable size. They were no longer widely out of control. However, they were still dangerous. The rain had little chance of leaking inside of the house. There, the fire still burned hot. Pressing her lips together she thought it over for a moment. “I think, the girl would be hiding in the closet more than likely. Her bed room would be on the second floor. Blake, I think that would be the best place to start.” Her eyes watched the other blonde for a moment before turning back to peer at the front door and the steps that led up to it.

A thought occurred to her. Before charging in, it would be best to cover their mouth and nose with wet cloth to keep the smoke out. It would kind of suck if they got so far only to quit due to smoke inhalation. Serinity rapidly tore off the two sleeves of her military styled light jacket. It wasn’t the best material to use, but it would be better than nothing. She held them both out so the rain could thoroughly soak them through. When they were, she tossed one to Blake. “Tie it around your nose and mouth, like a bandana.” Doing as she told Blake, Serinity tied it off behind her head and glared at the front door. “Alright, let’s do this.”

Serinity walked closer to the doorway and peered inside. The flickering orange of the fire cast shadows. Its roar met her ears the instant she crossed the threshold. “Stay close!” she shouted at Blake looking around. The stair case was just a little to their right. Fire burned along the rails and several of the steps were burning in spots. Serinity wondered if it was safe at all to use. She tested the first step. It held her weight. This would be the way up, but would it be the way down?

[blake]

Blake noted Serenity's advice; if she spent too much time freezing the house itself she wouldn't get to save the girl before she died from smoke inhalation or the fire itself. The young blonde then turned towards the professor who looked very anxious and like she might pass out from the stress. Blake quickly began freezing the base of the house while Serenity talked to the professor. She began aiming specifically at the major pillars and walls and tried her best to keep the ice thick so that the fire would not melt them as fast.

She had got as much ice as she could on the foundation by the time Serenity started talking to her again. When Blake thought about what the blonde said, she decided that it would make sense for the girl to be on the second floor though the her being in the closet she wasn't sure about. But either way it was a place to start and she tied the piece of Serenity's jacket around her nose and mouth like a bandana. With a big gulp of air Blake stepped inside the burning building, squinting her eyes to see through the smoke. She too saw the burning staircase and watched as Serenity texted her weight on it. Blake was surprised when it held and wasn't too sure about how safe it was. Just in case, Blake froze the side of the staircase in the hopes that it would give it some more temporary support.

After she finished layering some ice on the side of the staircase she followed Serenity up the stairs, but made sure to give her some space so that the charred wood wouldn't give in under their weight.