Smoke and Fire

She heard the frantic screaming through the smoke. "Ma! Ma! Where are you?"

Choking on the black air, she coughed before answering back. "Right here, love," she calmly called through haze and confusion.

Someone somewhere opened a door or window as a cool breeze swept into the club and lifted some of the smokey curtain. As visibility in the room slowly improved, she looked through the crowd to find her daughter. "Faith?"

"Right here, Ma," the girl called behind her, sounding out of breath. Turning around, Syl was surprised to find Faith lugging in an old, dented fire extinguisher with her. "I got it from the bus," she explained, then looked around confused. "Where's the fire?"

Syl pointed to a group of people relaxing by the bar. A brand, new extinguisher sat on the bartop beside them. "One of the bands who played before us stuck around, and they already put it out. They seemed pretty prepared, so I guess they're used to having things like this happen."

Faith nodded, then looked over her mother, worry creeping into her expression. "Are you okay, Ma? How do you feel? You didn't breath in too much smoke, did you?"

Grinning, the woman shook her head. "I'm fine, love. Geez, you sound like me when I'm about to have a panic attack."

"Ma! You were right next to the fire!"

Syl laughed, "Actually, your Uncle Gareth was right next to the fire." She pointed to her bandmate who stood to one side, trying to wipe the soot from his clothes. A scorched violin lay at his feet. "I was lucky enough to be on the other side of the stage when he dropped his instrument."

Putting down the old fire extinguisher, Faith sighed in relief then looked over again at the band that had saved the club. One in particular she stared at for a long time. "Hey, Ma. Do we know them? Or at least one of them, anyway."

Syl glanced over and shook her head. "No, love, we don't. Why do you ask?" she said as she turned her attention to Gareth to see if he was all right.

"Nothing." She threw one last look at the other band, before picking up the fire extinguisher and following her mother. "I thought one of them looked familiar. I guess I was wrong."