Chapter 17: Inferno in Metropolis
Dozens of people rushed out of the Opera Hall, fleeing the building through every available emergency exit. Cries of horror echoed in the air, mixed with the roaring flames that mercilessly consumed the majestic century-old building. Women in high heels and evening gowns stumbled, losing their shoes in their frantic escape from danger. Panic distorted their faces, their frantic eyes desperately searching for safety. The men were no calmer, with loosened ties, disheveled shirts, and labored breathing. The night sky was tinged with a sinister red glow, reflecting the deadly flames licking the opera’s walls with ferocity.
The acrid smell of smoke filled the air, burning the lungs of those still caught in the disorganized crowd. The once-grand symbol of culture and elegance had become a death trap, its doors now the gateways to hell. The sirens of approaching firefighters pierced through the cacophony, but for those still inside, every second was a fight for survival.
Above the panicked crowd, Ultrawoman shot through the sky like an arrow, immediately identifying the critical areas of the burning building. Her face hardened into a look of implacable determination, fueled by the confidence Clark had instilled in her moments earlier. She pushed aside all emotions, transforming into a life-saving machine. The fire was colossal, a raging beast that had already devoured the stage, the floor of the main hall, and the beams supporting the balconies. These once-majestic beams were now fiery coals, ready to collapse at any moment.
The opera house, this architectural masterpiece, had become a blazing inferno. Every second counted, every decision could mean the difference between life and death. Ultrawoman scanned the scene, searching for the best entry point to begin her rescue. She darted towards a shattered window, ignoring the suffocating heat pouring from it. The scorching air lashed at her face, but nothing could deter her from her mission. She was ready to do whatever it took to save as many lives as possible, determined not to leave anyone behind in this hell.
Ultrawoman quickly assessed the building’s structure, identifying the safest elements to plan an effective evacuation route. Her priority was to secure a path for the firefighters to help the spectators still trapped inside. The opera house, dating back to 1890, had the advantage of being constructed from stone, a material that offered some resistance to the flames despite the wooden framework. The massive beams, though being eaten away by the fire, held firm, their strength buying precious moments.
She cleared the obstacles blocking the center of the hall, creating a corridor towards the south façade. Thanks to her intervention, a safe passage was quickly established. She guided the victims able to walk through this path, with the more able-bodied helping the weaker ones. Firefighters arrived as reinforcements, and once most of the survivors were evacuated, she entrusted the injured to their care.
Turning her focus away from the victims, Ultrawoman concentrated all her energy on the fire, using her icy breath to contain the flames. Gradually, the intense heat began to diminish, and the number of people still trapped inside the building quickly dropped. Within a few minutes, only rescuers and the bodies of those who hadn’t survived the initial moments remained.
Despite their swift and efficient intervention, tragedy was inevitable. The fire, which had smoldered beneath the floor for several minutes before erupting, had already claimed many lives before they could respond. The opera, which had housed a festive atmosphere just minutes earlier during the hundredth performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, was now a place of utter desolation.
Outside the opera house, the situation became chaotic as journalists flocked to the scene. Television trucks, with their antennas for live broadcasts, clogged the streets, making traffic difficult. Lois and Clark, always ahead of the news thanks to their connection with Ultrawoman, had arrived just before the media flood became uncontrollable.
Within minutes, Lois had contacted the Daily Planet to dictate an article, ensuring that their paper remained at the forefront of the coverage on this devastating fire. However, upon seeing the scale of the tragedy, the couple quickly set aside their roles as journalists to focus on far more urgent tasks.
Alongside the rescuers, they helped the survivors. With over 3,500 people present at the opera when the fire broke out, managing the survivors was an immense challenge. Lois and Clark handed out water bottles and blankets, guiding the shocked survivors to the emergency tents hastily set up in nearby Centennial Park. Their presence, quiet but effective, helped restore a semblance of order amidst the chaos, as rescuers continued racing against time to save lives.
They collected the testimonies of the unfortunate spectators, and each account only fueled their anger towards the monsters responsible for this. It was once again evident that this was arson. The fire had consumed the entire building in minutes, the emergency exits were blocked, forcing the spectators to use nearby fire axes to break through the doors. There was no water in the building’s fire hydrant system. If someone had wanted to cause mass casualties, they couldn’t have done it better.
Clark clenched his fists, trying to control the rising anger within him. If someone had wanted to orchestrate a massacre, this was exactly how they would have done it. The feeling of injustice was overwhelming. Lois, beside him, shared the same sentiment, her eyes glinting with icy determination. This heinous act would not go unpunished.
It was clear to both of them that this fire had been meticulously planned to cause maximum damage and spread terror. They knew they had to find out who was behind this atrocious crime. Clark glanced at the burning opera house, his thoughts already forming a plan to track down and stop the culprits. As for Lois, she vowed to dig into this story until the perpetrators were exposed, no matter how difficult the investigation would be. Soon, justice would be served.
