[ WP ] You have to understand . That 's the nature of fire .

The city was lit with orange and yellow against the night sky. Ash drifted to the ground, almost like snow. Screams punctuated the night, amidst the crackling of the fire. From our vantage point on the hills, about half a mile away, I could still smell the heavy, acrid smoke. I could still hear collapsing buildings. 
 
 `` Dennis... What did you do?!'' I cried. He laughed maniacally. I could hardly believe my brother was the serial arsonist the town had been faced with. 
 
 `` Oh, Joseph. I told you I was the one setting fire to everything!'' he exclaimed gleefully. 
 
 `` No, I mean WHY? Why have you been setting fire to everything?'' I asked. I was still numb to everything. It seemed like it was just a dream. I would wake up soon, Dennis and I would go play catch outside, and the real arsonist would be caught. 
 
 Dennis laughed again. `` Because, little man, fire has the power to destroy and create at the same time.'' 
 
 I shook my head and stared at him, stunned. `` What are you talking about?! You're crazy!'' I snarled. 
 
 Dennis turned to me, and placed a hand on my shoulder. 
 
 `` As fire destroys, so it creates. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, this town will grow to be bigger, better than before.'' 
 
 I stared in disbelief. `` So, this is your warped, fucked-up way of HELPING? Dennis, you're insane! All you're doing is burning the homes of innocent people! You're KILLING them!'' 
 
 Dennis took his hand away, and returned his gaze to the burning town. `` You have to understand. That's the nature of fire. You'll see soon enough, little man.''
