Burn District 1 by Suzanne Jenkins

the door, and Mrs. Baker gasped in horror as the flames from a burn rose up over the rooftops just a few blocks away. Danny, hair streaming, ran down the stairs to join them, Victor behind.
    “Shit,” Alex yelled. “Is everyone coming?” Car doors opened and the group piled in, Ed driving again and Miranda getting into the far rear seat of the van so there’d be room for his mother, who sputtered and fussed and was generally miserable, crying about leaving her house.
    “It’s going to burn to the ground anyway,” Ed yelled. “You should be thrilled you’re alive, with your son.” His words hit her and she started to weep. Katherine Garrison patted her hand, finally pulling out of her own misery to comfort a stranger as Ed put the car into reverse and sped down the driveway. Neighbors stuffed their belongings into cars and rounded up pets, the streets would soon clog with escapees as the fire spread in their direction.
    “Step on it, Ed,” Alex urged. Fire trucks coming toward them would block the exits to the neighborhood before long, unintentionally obstructing the path to safety for those who would try to flee, often leading to death, a scene reenacted across the nation that evening as second and third napalm bombs exploded, burning, covering everything in site with molten flames.
    “What are you running from?” Mrs. Baker screamed. “What do you have to do with it?”
    “Jesus mother, stop screaming, please,” Ed said, hitting the gas. The tires squealed as he turned corners to get out of the neighborhood, first left, then right, running a red light and finally getting onto the county road. Victor Garrison kindly explained to Ed’s mother the little he knew, while Miranda comforted Lexie, who remained in a state of shock.
    Katherine Garrison, in a rare display of compassion, put what she hoped would be a comforting arm around Mrs. Baker’s shoulders. Listening to Victor explain that zealots had taken over Washington, the familiar recitation took on new meaning. Her daughter was the leader of something that had seemed counterintuitive when she first heard about it, but now Katherine wasn’t so sure. Maybe she owed Miranda her attention as they drove through chaos toward the unknown, the sun having gone down adding to the abysmal atmosphere. Sliding off the bench seat, she held on to get to the very back where her three children were sitting together. Miranda scooted over to make room for her mother.
    “Mandy,” she whispered.
    “Yes, Momma,” she whispered back.
    “I owe you an apology. I didn’t believe this when Daddy told me about it, and I was angry with you for it. I still don’t completely believe that it could happen in our lifetime.”
    “Stupid people inhabit the earth now, just as they did seventy years ago,” Miranda said softly, whispering into Katherine’s ear, “I don’t want to upset Lexie more.” Katherine nodded. Her two beautiful daughters . She wasn’t sure what she really needed to know from her daughter. Facts about military men gone mad and wealthy oil magnates bored her.
    “How much danger are we actually in?” Katherine asked.
    “I think we’re running for our lives, Mom,” she answered. “I don’t think they are chasing us, but it seems awfully coincidental that every place we go, including your house ends up in flames.” Alex turned around in his seat.
    “One more podcast tonight, Miranda, then your phone is going out the window.” Rolling his down, Alex heaved his phone, the lit-up screen cartwheeling through space until it disappeared behind them.
    “Okay, Alex. Our phones have gps, Mom. I can’t believe they’d bother following us, but it’s a possibility we have to examine. If it’s true, you’re all in danger.”
    Ed called from the front seat. “I’ll take the risk and stay with you.”
    “You should start outlining your podcast now,” Alex said.
    “What’s a podcast?” Katherine asked.
    “Really, Mom?” Lexie said, exasperated.