Chapter 322: Not Hellfire, But Hell in Flames
[Chapter 322: Not Hellfire, But Hell in Flames]
The dry air filled Oliver's mouth, making him feel uncomfortably hot all over. The former seasonal firefighter rummaged through his wallet and pulled out his last bill, using it to buy a cold beer. He climbed into his beat-up car and headed up the mountain.
Since being laid off by the fire department in May, his life had fallen into disarray. Bills piled up, rent was due, and he had children to support. The pressures of being a middle-aged man were burdens that few could truly understand.
As he drove, battling the strong winds, he made his way toward Hollywood Hills. The iconic Hollywood sign stood against the hillside, its lights illuminating the long string of letters. Oliver maneuvered around the roads and parked in an area scattered with dry twigs and leaves. Stepping out, he crunched the leaves beneath his feet.
Oliver yearned to get his job back. Sure, the Los Angeles Fire Department had laid off seasonal firefighters before, but that group had always managed to fight their way back with real skill. In the darkness of the hills, apart from the Hollywood sign, there were no lights in sight.
He put on gloves, took out a windproof lighter, and lit the dried leaves on the ground. Anxious that the flames wouldn't catch, he lit spot after spot. Some fires flickered out, while others blazed bright.
When he saw three fires growing stronger, he let out a whoop of laughter, tucked the lighter away, and rushed back to his car, starting the engine and speeding off. The flames, fueled by the wind, began to surge up the northern slope of the Hollywood Hills, creeping closer to the summit.
...
Ashes and sparks, lifted by the gusts, began igniting seven or eight more spots nearby. After Malibu Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains, several ridges of Hollywood Hills lit up as well.