The wailing of police and firefighters' sirens reached Hiraya long before the gates of Lumin Academy came into view.
Thick curls of smoke rose above the cream-painted walls at the east side of the school building, where firefighters were working frantically to contain the flames.
Hiraya's car screeched to a halt beside a growing crowd of panicked parents and screaming children. Her pulse raced violently as she threw open the door and sprinted past other parents, clutching her chest as she frantically searched for her son.
"Griffin!" she shouted, her voice slicing through the chaos.
Teachers tried to restore order, their sharp voices merging into the shrill confusion of alarms and crying children.
"Griffin," Hiraya called out desperately, panic rising in her heart.
"Ma'am, please stay back!" a security guard barked, attempting to block her path.
