My mini comic for 24 hour comics day this year! It’s my first time participating– I usually just stick to Hourly Comics Day for my marathon comics projects, but I had an idea and I wanted to see if I could execute it.
on January 2nd around 6:30 pm i was sitting in my living room, deciding whether or not to play katamari, watch king of the hill or read a book. suddenly, i heard a series of really loud noises, like someone in the apartment above mine was knocking over furniture and breaking glass. my apartment was shaking violently to the point i could see my ceiling vibrating…. i then heard the fire alarm go off for a few beeps and then it stopped. the noises stopped and i then noticed the smell of burning plastic. i opened my door and heard the crackling of a fire….i then saw that my neighbors christmas wreath was on fire. i grabbed the fire extinguisher in my kitchen, called 911 on speaker phone and ran, barefoot to the second level. i frantically knocked on my neighbors doors as I ran up. i saw that the wreath fire was spreading to the apartments overhang, and put it out half of the fire with my extinguisher. i then knocked on that apartments neighbors door and asked if they had another extinguisher/anything else to put out the fire. they were stunned and didn’t know what to do, so i ran downstairs, got the metal part of my girlfriends drum stool, and broke open the glass of the fire extinguisher in our hallway. some of my neighbors finally came out when they heard the glass break and i told them to get out of their apartments because there was a fire. after this, I ran upstairs to put out the wreath and, luckily, the fire department arrived immediately after.
when the fire fighters opened the door, i was surprised to see flames and smoke emitting from the apartment. for some reason i thought it was a burglary/vandalism and only the wreath was on fire. i ran downstairs to the yard and huddled with my neighbors. the fire fighters put out most of the fire….i thought everything was ok, but then i heard someone scream “oh god someone is in here.” the firefighters quickly carried out a person….it was my upstairs neighbors boyfriend. he died at the scene of smoke inhalation. i then found out the fire was most likely caused by a dry christmas tree and a still unknown heat source. the fire was so intense that it caused the smoke alarm to melt and the metal apartment door got hot enough to cause the christmas wreath to combust. the sounds i heard was my neighbor trying desperately to escape the fire, possibly trying to get my attention to come help him. his body was found by his front door, and I have built an altar for him in my apartment to soothe his soul on his journey.
i’m too scared to go home and i and my gf and our cat have been staying with a friend. i don’t know what to do. housing is so expensive in the bay and idk where we are going to live. i can’t go back there. we tried to stay at home the day after the fire but ended up fleeing in the middle of the night. it’s too much. the last time i went a few days ago the victim’s blood was all over the pathway in front of my apartment. there is a sooty bloody smear under our window. the shroud they covered him until the coroners arrived. in is still in our yard. one of the shoes he was wearing is outside my door. all of the burned furniture and carpeting and ashes are piled up right outside my window. ash still rains down and it still smells like smoke. even if they clean things up, i don’t want to go back. i can’t. besides, there was a non-fatal electrical fire in my apartment 6-7 years ago and i can’t risk this again. i can’t stop hearing those noises. the ceilings begin to shake and move when i experience trauma related vertigo.
i went into crises counseling and was given a diagnosis of ptsd. i’m in the process of getting therapy but its really really hard as I wait for help. i’ve been calling crises centers and my mom a lot :( i have this super intense fear of a foreshortened future/survivors guilt thats been causing me to have random meltdowns and hyperventilate to the point of blacking out. i’m convinced i’m going to die any second. i keep getting really anxious and scared and scream crying. i’m trying my best to function and calm myself down but it’s just…..its so hard. every day around 6:30 pm i have flashbacks, panic attacks and become convinced that i am going to die. i’ve been working with the red cross to get resources and they are super helpful but the waiting period until i am in therapy!!! the constant anxiety attacks !!! i cant sleep! or eat! i don’t feel good at all!!!!!
can you all send healing vibes/reassurance/testimonies of your own struggles with trauma? i feel really scared and broken and i’m afraid i’ll never feel better. i’m terrified that more bad things are going to happen to finish me off because i was too lucky. i’m really scared. please send the best feelings my way,
Seraphine is stunned for a moment by the fire bursting towards her, but she pulls out her wand to handle it. She’s furious, thinking that one of the students was reckless. She closes the door again and rushes back to Helga.
Seraphine: Gather all of the students.
Seraphine:No.
Helga follows Oliver without hesitation.
Seraphine:Helga…*she pauses, looking towards the jester.*
Seraphine:…You.
Godric suddenly runs in, pulling Seraphine’s attention away.
Seraphine: Fire. Yes, I know.
Seraphine:Standing here? Good question. Here’s a better one. Did you send this jester?
Seraphine looks to where Peeves just was, but he has run off.
Seraphine:Unbelievable.
Seraphine: Sentences. Yes. I know. I do it on purpose to infuriate you.
Seraphine looks around and catches a glimpse of Peeves.
She grits her teeth and draws her wand.
Seraphine: There you are.
Elsewhere in the castle
Rowan chases after Terryn until they find themselves at a dead end.
Terryn: I always did have a flair for the dramatic.
They stare each other down for a moment before Terryn quickly darts to one side. Rowan draws his wand and throws a spell sending Terryn flying backwards.
Quickly approaching footsteps draw their attention.
Godric throws a spell at Terryn…
But Terryn ducks in time. The spell hits the wall, causing a flurry of rock dust which allows Terryn to slip between them. Godric makes to go after the witch hunter, but Rowan reaches out to stop him, never having seen Godric so furious and unpredictable.
Everyone escapes the castle unharmed, but all they are too few, too inexperienced to tackle the large blaze that now engulfs great sections of the castle. Helga and Seraphine managed to protect some areas before they fled, but now all that they can do is watch as their new home burns…
Seraphine walks through the castle but stops as something catches her eye. A stranger, dressed as a court jester, stands in the castle entrance. She looks him over and folds her arms.
Seraphine: Can I help you?
Seraphine isn’t amused or impressed by the parlour trick.
Seraphine:Leave, jester.
Seraphine: I didn’t ask for a name.
Two of the students, Mary and Connor, come around the corner with Helga.
Seraphine: No, this isn’t -
Seraphine rolls her eyes and pulls out her wand ready to put an end to this. Helga halts her with a hand on the shoulder.
Seraphine: Where did he even come from?
Seraphine: Of course.
Seraphine swats his hand away as he reaches out for her chin.
Seraphine: Fine. Gather the students and let them have their fun.
Helga gathers the students while Seraphine keeps an eye on Peeves. She feels unsettled still by this stranger’s sudden appearance, but she doesn’t want to spoil everyone’s fun. When the students arrive, Peeves starts his act. The students laugh and cheer while Helga and Seraphine stay nearby.
Elsewhere in the castle
Terryn and his men split up, starting small fires across the castle.
Back at the entrance
A student, Beatrice, runs in, breathless.
Helga’s smile fades a little, from watching Peeves to looking over at Beatrice.
Seraphine: Stay. I’ll take care of it. I’ve never cared for jesters anyway.
Seraphine: It’s alright. You need to be more careful with your magic.
Seraphine: Ah, another miniature Gryffindor then.
Seraphine opens a door and fire flies toward her sending her staggering backwards.
Characters:Max Evans, Isobel Evans, Michael Guerin, Liz Ortecho, Noah Bracken, Rosa Ortecho, Jenna Cameron, Alex Manes, Jesse Manes, Nora Turman, Kyle Valenti, Maria DeLuca, Wyatt Long, Flint Manes, Louise Truman, Mr. Jones
Music:My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark by Fall Out Boy
Characters:Liz Ortecho, Maria Deluca, Isobel Evans, Rosa Ortecho, Jenna Cameron, Charlie Cameron, Alex Manes, Max Evans, Michael Guerin, Kyle Valenti, Mimi Deluca, Wyatt Long, Travis Gunther, Michelle Valenti, Steph, Nurse Kate, Helena Ortecho, Arturo Ortecho, Nora Truman, Louise Truman, Blair, Ann Evans
i work at a children’s hospital. as per hospital regulations, all employees have to go through regular fire safety trainings. most of it is pretty standard. and then there’s the Baby Vest.
it looks like this:
it fits six babies. and in the event of a fire we’re literally supposed to just put it on, fill it with babies, and then evacuate the building.
fire alarm (ringing)
me, stuffing babies into my vest: sorry excuse me i have to leave immediately
