“I’m sorry,” I said grabbing Chan’s hand and squeezing it tight, but he was out cold, maybe even dead.
I tried to wrap my mind around the fact that these would be my final moments on earth. That, after all these years of wondering, I finally knew how and where I would meet my end. I had to admit, smoke inhalation in a pot lab was never on the list of possibilities of my demise, nor was I particularly crazy about the idea, but it was clearly curtains for me. I managed one final breath and lost consciousness.
I felt myself rise into the air and float through the building. The smell of smoke still present, but more importantly I could smell Orion, and I knew for certain right then I was dead. I was dead and my soul was being carried off to heaven by a biker angel. God made him smell like Orion to comfort me in my time of dying.
“Get the fuck out of my way!” I heard my angel yell.
God even made my angel sound like Orion. But why was he swearing at the other angels?
“You dumb sonofabitch!” I heard another angel yell and began to wonder why there was so much cursing and yelling in heaven.
“I told you they were in there,” I heard Orion say and realized I was not dead but being placed on an EMT gurney. My eyes opened and were blinded by flashing red and blue lights. I coughed, causing me to aspirate soot covered mucus. I struggled to breathe and wildly clutched as Orion’s arm.
“It’s okay, baby. I’m here, I’ve got you,” he said, taking my hand.
“Ch…” was all I managed to get out before violently coughing and hacking.
“Chan’s okay. The medics have him now. You’re both gonna be okay.”
That was the last thing I remember for the next eight hours.
Raquel
MY FACE ITCHED and my lungs burned. I tried to rub my nose, but my bandaged hand connected with something and I groaned in frustration.
“Oh, my god, Raquel!” Sierra cried, leaning over me. “You’re awake.”
“Hi,” I said, wondering where the hell I was.
“Baby, you gotta keep that oxygen mask on,” Orion ordered. “It’s helping you breathe.”
“Why do I need help breathing?” I mumbled, once again trying to remove the mask, but then it all came rushing back. “The fire.” I gasped, then coughed out, “Is Chan okay?”
“Yeah, baby, we got him out.”
“What about the plants?”
“The sprinklers did their job. Kind of. The area where you were malfunctioned, so the sprinklers failed. We lost some plants, but none of that really matters, though, because you and Chan were the priority.”
I pushed on the mask again. “I get it. But I’m still glad things are salvageable.”
“I swear to God, Razzle, you keep messing with that mask, I’m gonna cuff you to the bed.”
I couldn’t stop a smile. “Kinky.”
“Put that back on,” he demanded, settling it on my face again.
“But you smell like a campfire. It’s nice.”
“You two need to get a room,” Sierra retorted. “Oh, wait, you’re in one. I’d ask if I could hang out and watch, but I have to work. I’m going to come back right after, though, so don’t be naked.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Technically, I’m already naked. Hospital gowns can’t be considered actual clothing.”
“Well, keep that on,” Sierra ordered. “I called your brother, so you’re welcome.”
She rushed out of the room before I could verbally spank her. Great. Tristan. That would mean my parents, and, well, crap. How was I going to explain being caught in a fire in a grow house?
“It’s going to be okay,” Orion said, interrupting my thoughts.
