Looking out my thirteenth floor office window, I marveled at how dark, gritty and simply dirty the air looked. It was so hazy, it looked like dusk even though I knew it was only two pm. I decided to give my brief a break and go eat some lunch, this was the first time in four hours I had looked up, and I noticed the stiffness in my back, the hunger gnawing at me.

"God, look how dark it is! It's like we live in Gotham City!" I said to the secretary. She didn't grin, like I had expected.

"What?" I asked her. She held out an ear bud that was attached to her computer. I put it in my ear and listened to a news caster say,

" two fires were started by persons unknown, and are rapidly approaching inwards, towards the city. Emergency crews are attempting to fight the flames, but already, Bakersville and the community of Ashwood are considered to be lost. Cictizens are advised to no flee, as the fire is surrounding the metro area."

"Shit." I said, looking outside, yes, now I could see the flames, and yes they were surrounding the city.

Ash wood is lost? It seemed almost funny, that ash wood would be turned to ashes for real. Except Ashwood was where I lived.