The flames danced unnaturally, almost as if alive, casting a strange glow that sent shivers down everyone's spines. The examiner, usually calm and composed, looked shaken.
"It's... impossible," she murmured, her voice trembling.
"Is it some kind of chemical fire?" Tenji asked, but his voice wavered, betraying his fear.
"No," Khusi said softly, his gaze fixed on the flames. "This isn't normal fire... Something's wrong."
The class stood frozen, unsure whether to stay inside or flee. The blue flames seemed almost hypnotic, a dangerous beauty none of them could look away from.
"Students!" the examiner finally snapped, breaking the silence. "Move away from the windows. Now!"
But even as the class hesitated, a strange, unearthly sound emanated from the flames, a low hum that sent chills down their spines.
And for the first time in their lives, they felt they were witnessing something far beyond their understanding.
AT SCENE
"YAAAAA!" The screams pierced the air, sending shivers down everyone's spine. Outside, the chaos was unimaginable.
Dozens of people were trapped inside the burning complex. A mother, clutching her crying baby, struggled to navigate through the thick smoke and flames, her frantic pleas for help drowned out by the roaring fire. Families scattered in every direction, desperate to save themselves and their loved ones.
"Emergency exits are blocked!" someone shouted.
"The main entry is engulfed!" another voice cried out, despair clear in their tone.
The flames weren't just spreading—they were alive, devouring everything in their path at an unnatural speed. The air was thick with the acrid stench of burning materials, and the blue flames glowed brighter, their heat intense enough to make the rescue teams hesitate.
"It's too dangerous! We can't approach!" one of the firefighters yelled, their equipment rendered useless against the strange fire.
From the second floor, muffled cries echoed faintly. A teen girl was trapped inside the washroom, the door surrounded by the relentless blue flames. Her trembling hands banged against the window, her voice hoarse from screaming.
Her wide, tear-filled eyes reflected the flickering flames, each one exaggerating the surreal glow as if mocking her desperation. She tried to scream again, but no sound came out, only silent pleas for help.
Night at Khusi's place
"Breaking News! An unprecedented and terrifying incident unfolded today near the Central Mall Complex at exactly 12 PM. For the first time in recorded history, blue flames were spotted, engulfing the entire structure in a matter of minutes.
Authorities have confirmed 8 deaths so far, while 145 individuals are injured, many of them critically. Tragically, 14 people remain unaccounted for and are feared to have been burned to ash in the intense blaze.
In just 18 minutes, nearly 80% of the complex was destroyed. Six fire tankers were deployed to combat the flames, but their efforts proved insufficient against the mysterious fire that seemed resistant to conventional methods.
Eyewitnesses report seeing the flames spread at an alarming rate, consuming everything in their path with no visible source of ignition. Officials are baffled, and an investigation is currently underway to uncover the origin and nature of these strange blue flames.
Stay tuned for updates
[Television turned off.]
"Wahh, such a mess today! Who would've thought blue flames even existed?" Khusi sighed, leaning back on the couch. "I feel sad for those people, but hey, at least we got a half-day emergency holiday."
He looked around the room, bored out of his mind. "Ugh, it's so dull sitting at home. What should we do, brother?"
Aryan, sitting nearby, raised his hands and signed with a smirk: Why don't we start our workout? Mama did tell us to use our free time wisely.
Khusi burst into laughter. "Haha, you're such a Mama's gem! Fine, let's go, Aryan." He stood up, stretching lazily. "But first, let's see what Mama's up to in her experiment lab. She's been locked in there for, what... four days now?"
Curiosity sparked in their minds, the brothers tiptoed toward the lab door. Peeking through the small glass panel, they saw Mama hunched over her workbench, her movements precise and deliberate.
Inside, the air was thick with the faint smell of chemicals. Various beakers and flasks bubbled and fumed, their contents glowing faintly in shades of green, yellow, and—was that a hint of blue?
Mama scribbled furiously in her record book, her glasses slightly askew. She barely glanced up as she poured one chemical into another, the liquid fizzing with a soft hiss.
"What is she even making?" Khusi whispered, eyes wide.
Aryan tugged at his sleeve and signed quickly: Does it have something to do with the blue flames?
Khusi frowned, staring at the faintly glowing substances on the table. "I don't know... but let's not disturb her. She looks focused."
He pulled Aryan away gently, though his mind was already buzzing with questions. Could Mama's experiments be connected to what happened today?