How does your building blow?

[nyte_byrd]

Ok, I'm stuck on the last section of an erotic horror story, and it is absolutely neccessary that a building blow up to kill off this one character and send the other into madness (long story, but not as cheesy as it sounds).

The problem is, I can't figure out in the story WHAT would make the building blow up when there is absolutely no foul play involved? I keep thinking "heating system" since I've heard mention that old boilers and such were unstable (plus the story takes places in colder weather so it's logical), but what would trigger it to go? Would a power outage do it? I ask that because the power grid is down in the area that the scene takes place in too. Can anyone think of another way for the building to go? Again, no foul play, and we can't use an earthquake either. Or have just I written myself into a corner with this story?

This is making me nuts because the building itself is pretty relevant to the plot and the logical place for the final scene to be carried out.

 

[Weird Harold]

I keep thinking "heating system" since I've heard mention that old boilers and such were unstable (plus the story takes places in colder weather so it's logical), but what would trigger it to go?

The most likely scenario to fit your requirements would be a "Gas Explosion."

Assume both the water heater and HVAC (heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning -- AKA "Central Heat") are natural gas or propane fired.

A draft blows out the pilot light on the antiquated water heater (which doesn't have a safety shut-off thermocouple and/or the safety shut-off thermocouple fails. Over the space of several hours, the basement, or whole house fills with Natural Gas (or Propane.)

A few hours after sunset -- before any hot-water would be needed for bathing or dish-washing -- the house cools down enough for the heater to come on; When the Heater lights, it ignites the gas leaked from the water heater and the house ceases to exist.

Under "worst case" conditions, it's entirely possible that three or four houses in every direction could also be destroyed and/or severely damaged by this scenario.

 

[wishfulthinking]

ok, I have no idea. I just wanted to read what WH said. Great idea!

 

[TxRad]

Using Wh's idea and carrying it a step farther.... Gas accululates and then the power grid comes back up.... now there's the way to spark it..... Boom....

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Ok, I'm stuck on the last section of an erotic horror story, and it is absolutely neccessary that a building blow up to kill off this one character and send the other into madness (long story, but not as cheesy as it sounds).

The problem is, I can't figure out in the story WHAT would make the building blow up when there is absolutely no foul play involved? I keep thinking "heating system" since I've heard mention that old boilers and such were unstable (plus the story takes places in colder weather so it's logical), but what would trigger it to go? Would a power outage do it? I ask that because the power grid is down in the area that the scene takes place in too. Can anyone think of another way for the building to go? Again, no foul play, and we can't use an earthquake either. Or have just I written myself into a corner with this story?

This is making me nuts because the building itself is pretty relevant to the plot and the logical place for the final scene to be carried out.

There are several ways in which a building can explode, but what you should really be asking is this: you have written yourself into a situation where you must have a deus ex machina in order to finish the story? WTF are you thinking? Make the maddening one blow it up by accident or something, but don't just let it be a random thing.

 

[nyte_byrd]

The most likely scenario to fit your requirements would be a "Gas Explosion."
Assume both the water heater and HVAC (heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning -- AKA "Central Heat") are natural gas or propane fired.
A draft blows out the pilot light on the antiquated water heater (which doesn't have a safety shut-off thermocouple and/or the safety shut-off thermocouple fails. Over the space of several hours, the basement, or whole house fills with Natural Gas (or Propane.)
A few hours after sunset -- before any hot-water would be needed for bathing or dish-washing -- the house cools down enough for the heater to come on; When the Heater lights, it ignites the gas leaked from the water heater and the house ceases to exist.

Ok, a combination between yours and TxRad's ideas will work well, because that will tie the two events together in a nice chain of chaos sort of "Final Destination" style. Thanx for the help, both of you

 

[nyte_byrd]

There are several ways in which a building can explode, but what you should really be asking is this: you have written yourself into a situation where you must have a deus ex machina in order to finish the story? WTF are you thinking? Make the maddening one blow it up by accident or something, but don't just let it be a random thing.

I totally screwed up when I wrote the term "final scene" (my apologies) because it is actually only the "final scene" in this guy's SANE world. It's climactic, I guess you could say, a turning point in the story. He's a very stable fellow until this "final scene" in a twisted chain of bad events sends him over the edge into madness... does that make more sense? It's kind of hard to explain without wasting message board space outlining the entire story, and I'll definitely be needing some proof-readers to ensure that all flows in a believable manner.

As for what I was thinking, I've asked myself that same question every time I've hit a "brick wall" in writing this one.
I'd say most definitely insane thoughts in order to write a story that quickly goes insane!

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Ok, that's better.