Rising Hope

Hi hii!! Mimmy here with my first ever entry to the #ApocalypseWeekend and I just had to jump in with a story.

It is a bit of a what if type of thing (you'll find I do that a lot) and I ended up writing 3k more words than intended (I also do that a lot...)

#WritingMatters ·

Word count

5.221

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It had been ten years since the events that changed everything. The end of life as everyone knew it... the day the League of Villains defeated the heroes. The day All for One and Shigaraki became one and the same. The day the world's greatest heroes either lost their quirks or their lives.

The massacre of UA, they called it. The name alone sent shivers down the spines of those who ed the horror. It was a day etched into history, a day of blood and fire. Everyone knew the heroes barely stood a chance, and they all knew they shouldn't have brought the students into the battleground. The risk had been too great, but both the heroes and the students had been willing to take it. No one, however, could have imagined the magnitude of the devastation that followed. The skies had been choked with smoke, and the ground littered with the bodies of those who had once stood as symbols of hope.

After Japan, nearly every country had fallen under the power of Shigaraki and the League, and with each new conquest, the League's ranks grew with more and more followers. Now, its power was unmatched, a dark force that loomed over the world, putting out the last sparks of resistance. The very notion of a hero had become a whisper, a memory that people clung to with desperate fingers.

Not that anyone would dare to confront them. Not anymore.

Shigaraki and the original of the League were no longer hiding in the shadows. They ruled the world openly, their faces plastered on screens, their influence spreading like a plague. The heroes were the ones forced to slink into the dark corners of the world, to cower and hide in the aftermath of the war.

Pro heroes like All Might, Best Jeanist, Mount Lady, and Mirko had perished in the final battle, their deaths a stark reminder of the futility of their struggle. Some others, like Endeavor and Hawks, had suffered a different fate—they had been taken into custody, paraded as trophies of the League's triumph. The world watched as the symbols of justice were brought to their knees.

Several UA students from all three years had also been killed or captured, their youthful dreams crushed beneath the weight of a reality far too harsh for their hearts. Of course, they weren't all locked in the same place; that would be too risky. The League, in its twisted sense of amusement, had devised other plans. They reveled in their power, indulging in cruel games that made a mockery of everything the heroes had once stood for.

As Dabi walked down the pitch-black corridor, his blue flames flickered to life, casting eerie, dancing shadows on the stone walls. The dim light from the flames illuminated the otherwise useless candles that lined the ageway. Why candles? Dabi smirked to himself, knowing the answer. The League had grown overdramatic in their constant victories, adopting a flair for theatrics that seemed almost ridiculous in its excess. But there was something satisfying about it, something that spoke to the utter dominance they had achieved. The world was theirs now, and they could afford to be as theatrical as they pleased.

The flickering blue light revealed glimpses of the corridor's ancient stone, damp and cold, a far cry from the luxurious lairs that the League could now easily claim. But Dabi liked it that way. There was something about the darkness, the cold, that felt right.

He continued down the corridor, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the oppressive silence. The air was thick with the scent of old stone and burning wax, a blend that reminded him of the past, of places he'd rather forget. But it didn’t matter anymore. The past was dead, buried under the weight of a new world order. All that remained was the present, and the control they had snatched from the hands of those who once thought themselves invincible.

A twisted smile tugged at the corners of Dabi’s mouth as he approached a heavy iron door, the metal cool under his fingertips as he pushed it open. The game was far from over. The world was their playground now, and Dabi was eager to see just how far they could push it.

Dabi didn't usually pay his prisoner any visits. In fact, he hardly thought about him at all. Whether the man lived in agony or died a slow, miserable death didn't matter to him. But there was something undeniably satisfying about opening that heavy iron door and seeing him there—defeated, broken, a far cry from the towering hero he once was. Even after all these years, it still brought a smirk to Dabi's lips.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, his demeanor relaxed as he stepped inside the dimly lit cell, the door clanging shut behind him with a finality that echoed through the room. The air was thick with the stench of despair, a fitting environment for the man who had once been such a symbol of hope and justice. Dabi’s voice dripped with false concern as he broke the silence, “Time's not been treating you right,” he mused, feigning a hint of pity. “Too bad. Our meetings could have been so much more fun if you were half as interesting as you pretended to be.”

The man before him, once known as Endeavor, sat slumped on the cold floor, his body weakened and spirit shattered. His once vibrant eyes, now dull and lifeless, barely lifted to meet Dabi’s gaze. His voice, a ghost of what it had been, asked the question he always did, the same question that dug into Dabi's soul like a splinter every time he heard it.

“What happened to you, Touya?”

The name, spoken in that pitiful, almost pleading tone, was enough to make Dabi’s blood boil. He felt the familiar surge of anger rising within him, and before he could stop himself, a flare of blue flames shot from his hand, striking the wall just beside Endeavor's head. The man flinched, a reflexive movement that only highlighted how far he had fallen from the hero he used to be.

“Touya is dead,” Dabi hissed, his voice eerily calm despite the rage simmering beneath the surface. He took a step closer, relishing the way Endeavor's breath hitched at the word that still held so much power. “You dare to ask me what happened?” The words dripped with venom as he loomed over the fallen hero. “You happened, Dad.”

He spat the last word with such venom that it seemed to hang in the air, a word that cut deeper than any physical blow could. The word *Dad*—the very thing that Endeavor had once taken pride in—was now a twisted weapon in Dabi's hands, one that hurt the former Number One Hero worse than anything else could.

Before Endeavor could muster a response, the door to the cell creaked open again, and Dabi’s smirk widened. The surprises had finally arrived.

“Hey.” The voice was familiar, too familiar. Endeavor’s eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized it, and his heart, already battered, seemed to shatter further. “Don’t kill him before I bring his gift.”

Dabi rolled his eyes, turning his attention to the newcomer—Hawks. The former hero who had once fought beside Endeavor, who had once been seen as a beacon of hope, now stood as one of the League's highest-ranking . And no one knew it. To the world, Hawks had lost his quirk to All For One and been captured by the League. That much was true, but there was a deeper, darker truth hidden beneath the obvious.

Hawks had seen the light. Or rather, the darkness. He had realized that the League was right, that their way was the only way. For Hawks, it was more than just a shift in allegiance—it was an escape. An escape from his past as Keigo Takami, an escape from the twisted life he had been forced to lead since he was no more than a child, an escape from a world crumbling under its own corruption and decay.

As Hawks stepped further into the cell, his eyes met Endeavor's, and for a moment, something like regret flickered in them before it quickly disappeared. He had made his choice, and there was no turning back. “I brought you something,” Hawks said, his tone almost casual, as if he were merely a friend bringing a gift to a reunion rather than a traitor standing over his former mentor.

Dabi’s smirk deepened as he watched the interaction, the twisted satisfaction of seeing his father’s spirit crushed even further was almost too good to be true. “This is just the beginning,” he thought, the flames inside him burning brighter.

Hawks reached outside the door, his movements deliberate as he grabbed something just out of sight. When he turned back, there was a hint of satisfaction in his eyes as he shoved the figure forward into the cell.

Dabi’s smirk grew into something far more twisted, a dark pride swelling within him as he took in the sight before him. Shoto, his younger brother, was dragged into the room, barely able to stand on his own. His once bright and determined eyes were now dulled with exhaustion, his body battered and bruised in a way that mirrored their father’s. The same blood that ran through Dabi’s veins was evident in the cuts and burns marring Shoto’s pale skin, a cruel reminder of the twisted legacy they both shared.

Dabi took a step closer, his gaze flicking between his father and brother. The sight of them together, both brought to their knees, was almost poetic. He let out a low, mocking chuckle, savoring the moment. “Would you look at that, Dad?” he sneered, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. “We’ve got half of the family for our little reunion.”

The words hung in the air, thick with malice, as Endeavor’s gaze moved from Dabi to Shoto, his heart breaking all over again. The hero who had once believed he could protect his family, who had fought so hard to save what remained of his broken legacy, was now faced with the ultimate failure. His sons, his blood, stood on opposite sides of a war that had already torn the world apart—and now, they were tearing each other apart too.

Dabi’s blue flames flickered in the dim light of the cell, casting eerie shadows on the walls as he looked down at his brother. “How does it feel, Shoto?” he asked, his tone mocking but with an edge of something deeper, something more painful. “How does it feel to be on the losing side?”

Shoto didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. The pain in his eyes said everything.

Hawks, standing silently by the door, watched the scene unfold with a cold detachment. He had played his part, delivered the final blow to the Todoroki family. His role in this twisted game was not over, but in this moment, he allowed himself a brief pause, a quiet acknowledgment of the lines that had been crossed.

Dabi turned back to Endeavor, his smile fading into something more dangerous, more sinister. “We’re just getting started, Dad,” he said, his voice a low, threatening whisper. “And this time, there’s no running away.”

Endeavor’s eyes filled with a mix of pain and desperation as he looked between his two sons, trying to find any remnants of the boys he once knew. Shoto, though battered and broken, met his father’s gaze with a steady resolve. They had to try. Even if the odds were against them, even if they had lost everything, they had to try.

“Touya,” Endeavor began, his voice hoarse, weakened by years of guilt and failure. “You don’t have to do this. Whatever pain you’ve endured, whatever you think this will accomplish... it won’t bring you peace. It won’t change the past.”

Dabi’s blue eyes narrowed at his father’s words. “You think I’m doing this for peace?” He spat the word out like it was a curse. “You think I care about changing the past? I’m not here to fix anything, old man. I’m here to burn it all down.”

Shoto, standing beside their father, took a shaky breath and stepped forward. “Touya, this isn’t you,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “I know what happened to you, what he did... what we all went through. But this isn’t the way. We’re still your family.”

Dabi’s laugh was cold and harsh, echoing off the stone walls of the cell. “Family? You think this twisted mess is a family?”

Shoto shook his head, his eyes pleading. “Touya, I’ve been through the same hell you have. We both suffered because of him. But you don’t have to let that define you. You don’t have to become the monster he feared.”

Dabi’s flames flared up, casting an eerie blue glow around the room. “The monster he feared? I am that monster, Shoto! I embraced it, and look where it’s gotten me. Power. Control. Fear. I’m everything he never wanted me to be, and it’s glorious.”

Endeavor’s heart clenched as he saw the hatred burning in his son’s eyes. “Touya... if you can’t see the value in stopping this for me, then do it for yourself. Don’t let this consume you.”

Dabi turned on his father, his expression twisted with rage. “Consume me? This is who I am now, Dad. This is what you made me. There’s no going back. This is the only thing you didn’t fail at.”

Shoto’s gaze shifted to Hawks, who stood silently, his expression unreadable. “Hawks.... You were a hero once. You stood for something. You saved lives, protected people. You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to follow this path.”

Hawks’ eyes flickered, a momentary glimpse of the man he used to be showing through the hardened exterior. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a cold resolve. “I tried to save people, Shoto. I tried to make this world better. But all I found was corruption and decay. The League gave me a way out.”

Shoto stepped closer, his voice earnest. “But this isn’t the way out, Hawks. This is just another cage. You’re letting them control you, just like the Commission did before them. You’re better than this.”

Hawks’ expression softened for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing his features, but he said nothing

Dabi’s patience wore thin, his flames growing hotter as his anger surged. “Enough of this! You’re wasting your breath. The world we knew is gone, and there’s no saving it. You had your chance, and you blew it.”

Endeavor’s voice cracked as he made one final plea. “Touya, please. Don’t do this. We can still find a way, together.”

Dabi’s eyes blazed with fury, his flames crackling dangerously close to his father. “You had your chance to be a father, and you failed. Now, you’ll watch everything you built burn to the ground.”

Hawks remained silent, his wings twitching slightly as he watched the confrontation. Deep down, part of him knew the Takami name still meant something, that there was a way to step back from the abyss, but he had already flown too close to the sun.

Shoto looked at Hawks, his voice barely above a whisper. “Hawks, please...”

Hawks turned away, his jaw clenched, unable to meet Shoto’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Shoto.”

Dabi sneered at his father and brother, his flames swirling around him in a menacing dance. “You’re too late. This is the end, for both of you.”

And with that, the flickering hope that had briefly sparked in the room was extinguished, leaving only the crackling of flames and the weight of what was to come.

Dabi's flames roared to back life, brighter, casting an ominous blue light across the cell. The heat was suffocating, pressing down on Endeavor and Shoto as they stood in the face of Dabi’s wrath. The tension was thick, a palpable sense of dread hanging in the air as Dabi's anger threatened to consume everything in its path.

Endeavor's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to find the right words, something—anything—that could reach Touya. "Touya, this isn’t what you want. It’s not who you are. You don’t have to do this—there’s still time to change."

But Dabi only scoffed, the flames licking at the edges of his tattered coat, illuminating the twisted grin on his scarred face. "You think you know me? You still don’t get it, do you? There’s nothing left to change. This world... it’s already dead. I’m just helping it burn."

Shoto’s expression was a mix of determination and sorrow as he stepped forward, his voice calm but resolute. "Touya, we’re still here. We’re still family. We can find another way. You don’t have to be alone in this."

Dabi's eyes narrowed, the flames around him intensifying. "You’re still talking about family? After everything? You think you can just walk in here and pretend that everything’s fine, that we can just 'find another way'?”

The younger Todoroki held his ground, his own resolve unshaken. "I’m not pretending. I’m trying to save you, Touya. Just like I tried to save myself. I know what it’s like to carry that hatred, to want to burn everything down. But you don’t have to let it consume you."

Dabi’s eyes flicked to Hawks, who stood silent and still, his wings twitching as he listened to the exchange. For a moment, something flickered in Dabi’s gaze but it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a cold, unyielding fury.

"I’ve already made my choice. And Hawks has made his. We’re not going back. Not now, not ever." Dabi spat, his voice laced with venom.

Hawks shifted uncomfortably, his wings lowering slightly as he listened, feeling the crushing tension in the air that crackled with the flames around them.

Shoto’s eyes softened as he looked at Hawks, seeing the man who had once been a hero, who had once fought to protect others, now standing on the edge of darkness. "You can still walk away. You can still be the hero you wanted to be."

But Hawks shook his head, his expression hardening. "The world doesn’t need heroes anymore. It needs something else. Something... stronger."

Dabi’s flames flared up again, his patience finally wearing thin. "Enough! You think you can talk us out of this? You think you can just say a few pretty words and everything will be okay?”

He stepped closer to Endeavor, his flames growing more intense, the heat almost unbearable. "This is the end, Dad The end of your legacy, the end of your dreams. You’ll watch everything you ever cared about turn to ash."

Endeavor’s eyes were filled with pain, the weight of his failures pressing down on him. But still, he tried one last time, his voice shaking with emotion. "Touya... please. Don’t do this. Don’t throw away everything you could be. I’m begging you."

Dabi’s eyes flashed with anger, his flames surging forward, engulfing the room in a wave of searing heat. "I’m not throwing anything away. I’m taking back what was mine. What you stole from me!"

Hawks remained silent, his gaze locked on the floor. They had made their choices, and now they would all have to live with the consequences.

The room was filled with the crackling of flames and the tension of a family on the brink of destruction. Dabi’s flames roared higher, his anger fueling the inferno that threatened to consume them all.

And as the heat intensified, the cold realization settled in—there was no turning back now. The Todoroki family had reached its breaking point, and nothing would ever be the same again.

As the flames danced wildly around them, the oppressive heat of Dabi’s rage filled the small, dark room. Hawks stood motionless, wings half-extended, his sharp eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before him. The sight of the Todoroki family—broken, battered, and on the verge of complete collapse—gnawed at him in a way he hadn’t expected.

He had chosen this path. He had committed himself to the League, to Dabi, in search of something—something that he thought he’d found in the chaos. But watching Endeavor and Shoto, stripped of their power and desperately pleading with Dabi, a flicker of doubt sparked within him.

Dabi's words were filled with venom, his hatred for his father consuming every fiber of his being. The way he spoke, the absolute conviction in his voice, sent a chill down Hawks' spine. He had seen Dabi at his worst—raging, destructive, out of control—but this was different. This was personal. This was a final act of revenge that, once carried out, would leave nothing but ashes in its wake.

“Dabi, enough,” Hawks said, his voice cutting through the crackling flames. It wasn’t a command, but a plea, laced with something he couldn’t quite name. “You’ve proven your point. They’re beaten. There’s nothing left to burn.”

Dabi’s flames flickered for a moment as he turned to look at Hawks, his expression one of incredulity. “What’s this, Hawks? Getting soft on me?” His tone was mocking, but there was an undercurrent of something darker—betrayal, maybe.

Hawks took a step forward, his wings twitching with tension. “This isn’t about going soft. It’s about knowing when to stop. You’ve already won, Dabi. You don’t need to keep tearing them apart. Look at them.” He gestured toward Endeavor and Shoto, both standing firm despite their evident fear and exhaustion, their eyes devoid of fire and hope.

Dabi’s eyes narrowed, the flames around him flickering more erratically as if reflecting his inner turmoil. “I don’t need you to tell me when to stop. They deserve this. He deserves this.”

Hawks swallowed, the weight of what he was about to say pressing down on him. “Maybe they do. But what about you?” He paused, searching Dabi’s eyes for any sign of hesitation. “You’re not just burning them, Dabi. You’re burning yourself.”

For a moment, the room was silent, the only sound the crackling of the flames and the distant hum of the League’s base. Dabi’s gaze locked with Hawks', and for a split second, something softened in his eyes. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by a cold, steely resolve.

“This is who I am now,” Dabi said, his voice low, almost a whisper, but still dangerous. “This is all I’ve ever been.”

Hawks felt something tighten in his chest, a pang of regret, of sorrow for the man standing before him. He had seen the cracks in Dabi’s armor, the moments of vulnerability that he rarely showed anyone else. He had thought—no, he had hoped—that maybe there was still something left of Touya, something that could be saved. But now, seeing Dabi’s unwavering determination, he wasn’t so sure.

“Dabi...,” Hawks began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words. He stepped closer, his hand instinctively reaching out, stopping just short of touching Dabi’s arm. “You don’t have to do this. Whatever you’re trying to prove—there’s another way.”

Dabi’s eyes flicked to the outstretched hand, then back to Hawks’ face. His expression darkened, and the flames around him surged once more. “I don’t need your pity, Hawks. I don’t need you, he growled.”

Hawks flinched, pulling his hand back, the words hitting him harder than he expected. He had always known Dabi was unpredictable, dangerous even, but this... this was different. This was the point of no return.

Before Hawks could react, Dabi turned his attention back to Endeavor and Shoto, his flames intensifying as if he was trying to push aside any spark of doubt that Hawks had managed to stir within him. “I’m finishing this, Hawks. Don’t get in my way.”

Hawks hesitated, his wings twitching as he weighed his options. He could let Dabi continue, let him destroy what was left of the Todoroki family, but that thought churned his stomach. He couldn’t just stand by and watch—not this time.

“Dabi, stop!” Hawks moved, his wings spreading wide as he positioned himself between Dabi and his family. The heat was unbearable, but he didn’t back down. “I can’t let you do this.”

Dabi’s flames flared dangerously, his eyes narrowing with a mix of anger and disbelief. “You really want to do this, Hawks? You think you can stop me?”

Hawks’ heart raced, but he held his ground. “I have to try.”

For a moment, it seemed like the world stood still, the air thick with tension. Dabi’s flames flickered uncertainly, his expression torn between rage and something else—something Hawks couldn’t quite place.

Finally, Dabi let out a harsh, bitter laugh. But the flames began to die down, slowly, reluctantly. Dabi took a step back, his expression hardening into one of cold detachment. “Fine. Have it your way. But don’t think this changes anything.”

Hawks exhaled, relief washing over him as the immediate danger subsided. He knew this wasn’t over. But for now, at least, the worst had been averted.

Dabi turned away, his back to the Todorokis and Hawks. “Let’s go, Hawks. We’re done here.”

Hawks hesitated for a split second, his gaze lingering on Shoto and Endeavor. Shoto met his eyes, and there was something unspoken in that look—a mix of gratitude, sorrow, and a faint glimmer of hope.

Without another word, Hawks followed Dabi out of the cell, the heavy door slamming shut behind them. As they walked down the dark corridor, Hawks’ thoughts raced, the doubt clawing at his mind stronger than ever.

He had chosen this path, but now, more than ever, he wasn’t sure if it was the right one.

As the heavy door slammed shut behind them, the suffocating silence of the dark corridor closed in around them. Hawks walked alongside Dabi, the tension between them was palpable, hanging in the air like a weight neither could shake off.

Dabi’s flames had receded, but the anger in his eyes hadn’t. He was barely holding himself back from lashing out, and Hawks could feel the fury radiating off him, a burning resentment that simmered just beneath the surface.

After what felt like an eternity, Dabi finally broke the silence, his voice a low, venomous hiss. “You really haven’t changed, have you, Hawks?” He spat the name furiously. “Still the same traitor you were back then. Always playing both sides, pretending like you’re something you’re not.”

Hawks flinched at the accusation, the words cutting deeper than he’d care to it. He had expected this, but it didn’t make it any easier to hear. “I’m not a traitor, Dabi. I’m just—” He struggled to find the right words, something that could explain the turmoil inside him, but everything sounded hollow.

Dabi turned around, his eyes blazing with fury. “Just what? Trying to save everyone? Trying to play the hero and the villain at the same time?” He took a step closer, his voice rising with each word. “You did it before—acting like you were on our side while feeding the heroes information. You were a double agent then, and you’re doing it again now. You can’t pick a side, can you? Which one of us do you plan to kill now?” he snapped.

Hawks held his ground, though he felt the sting of Dabi’s words like a slap to the face. “That’s not what this is. You know it’s not the same.”

“Isn’t it?” Dabi shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’re just like them. You think you can walk the line, keep everyone from falling apart, but all you’re doing is making things worse.”

Hawks’ wings twitched. “I’m trying to stop you from making a mistake you can’t come back from,” he said, his voice more resolute. “I know what it’s like to get caught up in all of this—to feel like there’s no other way. But there is, Dabi. You don’t have to destroy everything to prove your point.”

Dabi’s lips curled into a sneer, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Hawks. “Spare me the lecture. You don’t get to tell me what I need to do. You don’t know anything about what I’ve been through, what they did to me.” His voice cracked with emotion, a rare glimpse into the pain that fueled his rage.

Hawks wanted to reach out, to say something that could bridge the widening chasm between them, but the words died in his throat. He knew Dabi’s pain was deep, rooted in years of torment and betrayal that had been feeding his anger and hatred, but he couldn’t ignore the growing sense of unease that had taken hold of him.

“Maybe I don’t,” Hawks said quietly, his tone softening. “But I know that this—this path you’re on… it’s not going to give you what you want. It’s only going to leave you more broken.”

Dabi’s expression hardened, his eyes glinting with a cold, dangerous light. “You think you can save me, Hawks? Is that it? You’re just another hero trying to redeem a villain, right? I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in being saved.”

Hawks shook his head, frustration bubbling up inside him. “This isn’t about saving you, Dabi. It’s about stopping you from becoming something even you won’t recognize.”

Dabi let out a bitter laugh, stepping back as he looked Hawks up and down. “You really don’t get it, do you? I already am that something. And if you keep getting in my way, you’re going to regret it.”

The threat hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Hawks didn’t know how to respond. He could see the rage burning in Dabi’s eyes, the same fire that had consumed him for so long. But there was also something else—a flicker of doubt, buried deep but still there.

“Maybe,” Hawks said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But if I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be here.”

Dabi’s eyes flickered with a mix of emotions—anger, confusion, and something Hawks couldn’t quite place. For a long, tense moment, they just stared at each other, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words.

Finally, Dabi broke the eye , turning away with a harsh exhale. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Hawks. Don’t think I won’t burn you too if you cross me again.”

Hawks nodded, the weight of Dabi’s words settling heavily in his chest. “I know,” he said simply.

Without another word, Dabi started walking down the corridor again, his pace brisk and determined. Hawks hesitated for a moment before following, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions.

As they moved deeper into the darkness, Hawks couldn’t shake the feeling that he was standing on the edge of a precipice, teetering between loyalty and doubt, between the man he used to be and the person he was becoming. And as much as he wanted to believe that he could make a difference, that he could reach Dabi before it was too late, a part of him couldn’t help but wonder if he was the one being pulled into the flames.