Juan Harrison's Arc

Chapter 2 of 9

Juan pulled a notebook from his jacket pocket and opened it to a blank page. He needed to understand fire—how it started, how it spread, what materials burned fastest. The local library would have books on chemistry and building safety codes. Mercury Solutions occupied an old warehouse with wooden beams and paper everywhere. He would learn the building's weak points, map the exits, and figure out how much accelerant he'd need. His hand moved across the page, writing down each step. Knowledge first, then action. The next morning, Juan walked until he found a hardware store with a brick facade. Metal-framed windows displayed rows of tools and supplies inside. He pushed through the door and moved past the paint section. Gas cans sat stacked on a bottom shelf. Above them hung tiki torches with bamboo handles. He picked up two cans and carried them to the register. The clerk rang them up without looking at his face. Juan paid in cash and walked out with his purchase. That night, he returned to The Liquor Hut. A parking lot light cast bright white across the pavement and building front. Juan studied the area from across the street. He wasn't going to burn this place, but he needed to understand how buildings worked at night. Where the dark spots were. How long before someone might notice movement. His eyes tracked the glow from the light to the shadows at the building's edge. He crossed the street and walked around to the side. A manhole cover sat embedded in the concrete near the building's corner. Juan knelt and worked his fingers under the metal edge. It lifted with effort. Below, darkness opened into storage space beneath the building. Perfect access point. He lowered the cover back into place and stood. He had learned what he needed. Mercury Solutions would have similar features, similar weak spots. He tucked his hands in his pockets and walked away, his plan taking solid shape with each step.