Generated prompt of the day: Fire

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Screams filled the air. People were calling, yelling and even crying. The night air was cold, yet all anybody felt was heat.

Children clung to their parents, their faces streaked with tears. There wasn't a person that wasn't devastated at the sight of Beacontown.

The glorious city was in flames, smoke spiraling up into the dark sky. Just about every building was breaking down, falling apart piece by piece.

It started with an explosion.

Everybody was asleep, Beacontown bathing in calm moonlight. Then the ground shook, a thundering noise blocking out all other. Soon followed by another... and another.

Three massive explosions, sending the city into one big bonfire. Over half of Beacontown's population was severely injured, thirty people killed.

Most people stood outside, watching in heartbreak as the city crumbled to ashes. Families were huddling together in groups, many people mourning of the ones who didn't survive. There were five groups of people receiving first aid as well.

"Where is our Hero In Residence?" One of the men waiting to get treated asked in a raged voice. "Dead? I haven't seen her!"

"Hey!"

Radar, who was busy wrapping up another man's upper arm, suddenly stood straight up. He lashed out, shoving the man who had spoken.

"You do not talk that way about Jesse!" Radar hissed through gritted teeth. "She's in there right now, looking for any more survivors that might be trapped, she is risking her life for her citizens! So don't you dare speak another negative word about her!"

The man narrowed his eyes, scowling at Radar, before turning away and making his way to another one of the first aid groups. Radar ignored the people staring at him, kneeling back down to continue tending to the man's wounds.

He kept glancing back at Beacontown, fear plastered across his face. Jesse was in need of medical attention herself, yet she had refused to even sit down until she was sure everybody was safe.

Radar's little cottage was mostly unharmed by the explosion – although it was probably burned to a crisp by then. The first thing he had done was make his way to the Order Hall. One of the explosions had been targeted right at the Order Hall – no doubt a clear attempt at ending Jesse's life.

However, Radar had arrived in time to see her crawling through a hole in the wall, her clothes covered in ash, and her face burned.

Radar finished wrapping the man's arm, only to realise that most people had scattered off to the other four first aid groups. No doubt his temper scared them off a bit.

Radar got up, walking into the crowds. He glued his eyes to the smoke filled entrance of Beacontown. Somebody had just came stumbling out through the entrance, coughing violently. He was immediately embraced by a woman, who then lead him away from the entrance right towards one of the first aid teams.

Radar waited anxiously, praying that Jesse would be the next to come out. He wasn't sure how much longer a person would be able to survive in that smoke filled area.

All of a sudden his heart leaped. Radar began pushing past people, hastily trying to get to the entrance.

Jesse came stumbling out through the smoke, clutching the hand of a small child while carrying an even younger one on her hip. She looked exhausted to say the least, her eyes red from the smoke, almost every exposed part of her skin burned.

A mother came up to Jesse, gasping out various "thank you's" as she took the crying toddler from Jesse's arms. The slightly older child also ran towards the woman, excitedly yelling out something about having been saved by the Wither Slayer.

As the woman disappeared towards the crowds with her two children, Radar reached Jesse's side. She had her hands resting on her knees, her chest heaving as she tried to breathe steadily.

"Jesse!" Radar gasped in relief. "Are you OK?"

Jesse looked up at him, smiling weakly. "Radar." She said in a raspy voice, giving him a quick hug.

"Are you hurt?" Radar asked anxiously. "Oh what am I asking of course you are! Look at all these burns!"

"I'm fine." Jesse replied vaguely, stifling a cough. "Just exhausted."

"Come on, you have to sit down." Radar said, pulling on her arm. "I have a first aid kit, come on."

"Radar, stop fussing." Jesse said, smiling weakly. "I'm going to be OK. I need to make sure my citizens are fine, they're going to need shelter and food."

"Jesse, you have to think about yourself for once." Radar insisted. "At least just move closer to the forest so you can get some fresh air, you're having trouble breathing."

Jesse reluctantly started following Radar, when she stopped, her eyes resting on something a bit away from them. She weakly pushed past Radar, limping over to the road that lead to Champion City. Three people were walking along it, away from them.

"Wait!" Jesse called out, her voice barely audible. Nonetheless they three people heard it, turning around.

"Where are you going?" Jesse asked in a scratchy voice as she came to a stop near them.

"Where do you think we're going?" The first of three men spat at Jesse. Radar clenched his fists, recognising it as the man who had insulted Jesse earlier. "Champion City."

"We're going to start setting up shelter for all Beacontowners as soon as we can." Jesse replied, stopping to cough weakly.

The man leaned closer, pressing his face up to Jesse's. He was a lot taller than she was.

"And what makes you think I still want to be a Beacontowner? Huh?" He pointed to the city, slowly shrinking away in the flames. "We all know what this was – one of you're enemies. As many people there are that love you, there are people that hate you. And because of that, we lost a lot of lives tonight. I don't want to be anywhere near this town, I value my life thank you very much."

"I'm sorry.." Jesse whispered, taking a step back. She appeared to be devastated by his words.

"Wimp." The man muttered, turning around with his buddies and walking off.

"Jesse?" Radar whispered, touching her arm. "Come."

Jesse blinked a few times, seemingly holding back tears. She turned around to follow Radar, her right leg all of a sudden buckling beneath her. Radar grasped her by the arm to keep her upright as she withheld a cry of pain.

"Your knee is badly swollen." Radar said, flinching slightly. "We need to have it looked at."

Jesse didn't say anything. Her ash-covered face had tear streaks across it, her eyes voicing pain. Radar allowed her to lean slightly on him, leading her back towards the crowds.

"Can we stop?" She vaguely asked as they were about half-way to the first aid teams. "I'm feeling dizzy."

"Of course." Radar said, as he gently helped Jesse sit down on the grass. She rubbed her forehead, closing her eyes.

"I'll go get the first aid." Radar said, darting off into the darkness.

Jesse wanted to get up, she wanted to push the light-headedness aside and help her citizens. But instead she felt herself lying down completely on the grass, exhaustion consuming her. She felt ashamed, knowing any of her citizens could look this way and see their Hero In Residence, collapsed on the ground, too weak to do anything.

"Jesse!" A familiar voice called her name.

Jesse opened her eyes as somebody dropped to the ground beside her, looking down at her with worried blue eyes.

"I came as soon as I heard, are you okay, what happened?" Lukas asked all at once, glancing anxiously between Jesse and the crowds of people.

"Lukas." Jesse whispered, weakly clasping her hand around his.

"What happened to you?" Lukas asked anxiously. "Are you OK?"

"This is all my fault." Jesse whispered, another tear trickling down her face.

"What?" Lukas asked in concern. "What do you mean?"

"My citizens.. they're hurt... people died... they blame me."

Jesse closed her eyes, taking a shuddering breath. It was painful, her dry throat burning like fire.

"I'm back!" Radar called out, running over as well, clutching the first aid kit.

"Radar? What happened here?" Lukas asked anxiously. "She's disorientated, she's not making sense – tell me what happened." He demanded.

"There was an attack on Beacontown." Radar explained as he carefully started treating one of the severe burns on Jesse's arm. "Explosives were planted. We lost a few citizens."

"It's all my fault." Jesse murmured again, not opening her eyes. "All my fault."

"What happened to Jesse?" Lukas asked. "Why is she so severely injured?"

"She kept going back in to help people, even carrying out children. She saved a lot of lives."

"They wouldn't have needed saving if it wasn't for me to start with." Jesse said weakly.

"Jesse what are you saying?" Lukas asked softly. "How is this possibly your fault?"

"One of the Beacontowners blamed her." Radar replied. "They believe it to be somebody Jesse has a bad history with."

"Jesse, this isn't your fault." Lukas said gently, pushing a string of hair out of Jesse's face. She looked up at him with bloodshot, desperate eyes.

A small crowd was starting to gather around, curiously trying to see what was wrong with their leader. Radar got up, aggressively shooing the crowd away from Jesse.

"I think we need to get her to Champion City." Lukas said to Radar when he knelt back down. "She needs to see a real doctor."

"What about my citizens?" Jesse asked weakly. "They're without shelter..." Her eyes closed for a second, her words drifting off. "...Without food...unprotected and injured.."

"I'll handle that." Radar reassured her. "I'm co-Hero In Residence aren't I? I can handle this."

"Come on." Lukas said, scooping Jesse up from the ground. He nodded to Radar, and the two of them parted ways – Lukas carrying Jesse towards the road, and Radar walking back to the crowds.

Nobody was aware of the figure sitting in the bushes. A smirk lit up their faces, as they watched the chaos.

The fire was only just the beginning.

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Yes, yes this will have a sequel XD If I get a suitable prompt I'll do a sequel in this challenge, but if I don't I'll continue it in my other one shot book.
If I do continue it in my other one shot book I'll probably just name it something recognizable like "The Fire" so those who don't normally read that book can easily find it :')

At first this was actually supposed to be a ONE shot, with no sequels, but as I neared the end, and idea grew and here we are xD 

I had way too much fun writing this. Why is putting Jesse through so much hell so satisfying? 

Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed "Fire"! I'll see you tomorrow with whatever word the generator spits out next! :D