Red and white lights flash in the distance, bleeding through the dark. Smoke billows upwards, swallowing the stars.
“It’s ash.”
“Sweet mother. Is that your house on fire?” She brakes hard, the car jerking to a stop in front of the fire engine. The roar of flames and the hiss of pressurised water make it difficult to hear anything other than the pounding of my heart against my ribs. The smoke fogging the car makes it difficult to see.
My seatbelt’s off before she’s turned off the engine.
“Sera. Wait!” Jo’s voice barely registers. I’m already out the door.
Cold air slaps my face, thick with smoke. My lungs burn as I stumble forward, covering my mouth with my sleeve.
“No,” I whisper. “My home.”
Firefighters move like shadows across my lawn, radios crackling, shouts lost in the roar. A ladder crew sprays the roof while another team hauls a hose line around the side.
“Ma’am, you need to stay back!” someone yells, but I can’t.
My throat closes. “Flint?”
Drake steps in front of me, blocking my path. His mask hangs loose around his neck, face streaked with sweat and ash.
“Drake, where is he?” I gasp, clutching his sleeve. “Where’s Flint?”
Drake’s jaw tightens. “Inside. He thought you were trapped.” Drake glances towards the building, the glow reflecting in his eyes. “You need to get back, Sera.”
I shake my head, wild with panic.
A deep, guttural crack rips the night in half, as well as my heart.
The roof caves in with a thunderous roar, flames bursting upwards in a spray of sparks and embers.
“Flint!” I scream.
Drake’s already moving, mask on, grabbing his Halligan. “Stay here!”
“Please—” Tears streak through the soot on my cheeks. “Please find him!”
He doesn’t answer. He just charges towards the burning doorway with Bear behind him.
Heat scorches my face. And all I can do is stare at what’s left of my home, praying for the man who went in to save me.
Just as Drake reaches the porch, Flint appears.
I lean against Jo as relief floods me, my limbs trembling, my skin sweating, but he’s here. Alive.
Another fire engine rolls in. The chaos drowns out around me as I lock eyes with Flint.
My heart stutters in my chest as he strides towards me, tearing off his gloves, then his helmet, littering the lawn with his uniform and breathing apparatus, then his turnout coat is the next thing to be discarded to the floor before his hands cup my wet cheeks.
“You’re here.” He closes his eyes as he breathes me in as if taking his first breath. His nose kisses mine as his thumbs swipe at my tears.
“I’m here.” Spray from the hose rains down on us along with ash and soot, but all I focus on is Flint’s dark grey eyes like coal on a fire, heating me from the inside.
“You went in there,” sniffle, “for me?”
He wraps his arms around me, his lips pressing against my forehead. “I would die for you.”
Hollywood pats Flint on the back. “Engine Two’s got it handled. You okay, Chief? ’Cause we nearly had to add your name to the damn memorial wall.”
