Shit. I think she’s fainted.
I can feel myself getting light-headed with the heavy pall of smoke covering the room so I make a dash for the doors to the living room balcony. I boot the doors open from the inside and gulp down the fresh air for a moment before carefully climbing over to my side. My balcony doors are open and my apartment is less smoky now, so I lay Julia down on the sofa. She’s breathing lightly but hasn’t regained consciousness yet.
I hear hammering from next door and I climb back over the balcony to see Ty and Mr Caputo coming down the hallway, coughing and spluttering.
“Julia? Where’s my Julia?” Mr Caputo’s face is streaked with tears.
“It’s okay Mr Caputo, I brought her next door. I’ve called the fire department and an ambulance. You can hop over the balcony there.” I point at the balcony doors.
He heads straight outside, leaving Ty and I staring and coughing at each other.
I gesture at him to follow me. We make our way down the hallway to the kitchen. Ty starts sobbing once we get there.
“Oh no, I was going to fix the current for the circuits in here. They must have got overloaded. It’s my fault.” He’s losing it.
“Ty! Get it together! Let’s put this out.” I shout at him. “Go, turn off the electricity at the mains.” He runs out of the kitchen and I hear him fumbling around outside. The toaster in here is still plugged and the wire is smoldering, while the toaster is on fire and the countertop is burning. I grab a box of baking soda from the cupboard and toss it over the burning toaster and wire.
“Done!” He shouts.
At the same time the guys from the fire department shoulder their way into the apartment. I’ve extinguished the flames, but they have to check that everything is safe. Ty is slumped by the wall, coughing, so I get him to his feet and take him downstairs into the shop where there’s more room.
He keeps saying “I’ve killed my cousin...” and shaking his head back and forth. I go into the little downstairs kitchen and stick my head under the tap to wash my eyes out and get him a glass of water.
As I come back, flashing lights outside are heading away. It’s an ambulance.
Ty points.
“They’ve taken Julia away.”
My heart falls.
Chapter Seven
Julia
My eyes are heavy.
I’m in a dream where I’m under water, with flashing lights and sirens, then in a white room. Roman is there, and then he’s not. My Dad is there, and then he’s not. I can hear my Mom crying from far away and then, nothing.
I blink my eyes open slowly. My Mom is sitting by my bed.
“Mom, where am I?” I’m confused.
“Hey sweetie. You’re in the emergency room. There was a fire at the apartment. Ty should have fixed those damn wires when he said he would. You’re okay, you have some minor smoke inhalation. The doctor’s going to come and check on your oxygen levels in a minute. If they’re okay then you can come home with me.” She strokes my hair gently.
“Roman - where’s Roman? He saved me.” I just want to see his face again.
“I know. He was amazing. He and Ty put out the fire even before the fire department got there. It stopped it spreading to the shop. He saved our business. Your Dad’s gone to see him.” She looks surprised.
“Wait - Dad’s gone to see a Montag?” I must be dreaming.
“Your Dad stepped on a lot of toes to become Mayor. Maybe he’s realized it’s not the most important thing in the world. Family is.” She looks at me and smiles.
“And love.” I smile back at her.
Four hours later, I’m back at the family house tucked up on the sofa eating homemade soup. My head still feels slightly strange but I think that’s the after effects of the traumatic night I’ve had. All I can think about is seeing Roman again.
My cell phone beeps. It’s an unfamiliar number.
