Page 4 of Burning Obsession

A dark blur shoots past me. Gray fur. Tail straight up.

"You've got to be kidding me," I mumble to myself.

The damn cat runs right past my apartment, headed straight to the end of the hallway and a dead end.

I chase after it. The stupid ball of fur darts left, then right, leading me deeper into the flames.

"C'mere!" I hiss softly before finally diving at it. My hands close around the furball and I hold Cooper tightly against my chest as he squirms, trying to break free.

"Got you. Now let’s get out of here, and back to that tiny girl crying her eyes out for you."

But my voice doesn’t seem to have an effect, as Cooper’s so spooked his claws sink into my forearm. Pain flashes through me and I let out a yelp. My grip loosens on him and the cat launches free once more, and runs as fast as it can toward the end of the hallway and the stairs.

"You little asshole!"

Fuck it. The cat’s heading in the right direction, and obviously doesn’t want my help. I need to get the hell out of here. I was an idiot to run back in here in the first place. Maybe I should check myself into the hospital for some psychological testing.

I start to head toward the stairwell and a deafening crack echoes above me. My head tilts backward and time slows.

The ceiling caves in. A massive section crashes down between me and the stairwell, trapping me on the fifth floor. The impact throws flames everywhere.

I stumble backward frantically, tripping over my own feet, and fall to the floor. Flames rise in front of me. The only exit is gone. I’m fucking trapped, all because of a little girl’s tears and her damn cat.

"No..." My voice comes out barely louder than a whisper. There’s no way out unless I walk right through the flames. My heart pounds in my chest and I panic.

This is it.

I’m going to die. Not because I was brave or because of old age. Because of my stupidity. Over a fucking cat. That isn't even mine.

The smoke thickens, and every breath I take becomes harder than the last. My knees are weak and the hallway tilts in my vision, the floor shaking beneath me.

“Help!” I scream as loud as I can as a coughing fit overtakes me. I yell over and over, but it’s no use.

The world starts to sway. No, I think that's me. I move away from the flames, over to the wall, resting my shoulder against it. There's nowhere left for me to go. All I can do is pray that someone saves me now.

My vision blurs around the edges. Large black circles creep inward, dimming the world around me. I can’t breathe. This is it. No one’s coming for me. I’m going to die.

I slide down the wall. Everything sounds distant, muffled, like I’m underwater. I think about my parents. The birthdays I’m going to miss. That I’m never going to grow old. Have a family.

The life I thought I was going to have is over. There’s nothing left but the cold blackness.

The darkness closes in, and I slip in and out of consciousness.

Then, just when I’ve given up all hope, I hear voices. Faint. Muffled.

"Over here!" someone shouts.

Something heavy sounds against the floor, and I fear the tile below me is going to give way and crash; that the flames are going to swallow me up whole.

But it doesn’t. The sound echoes; like boots pounding, getting louder the closer they get.

Am I imagining them?

"We’re coming for you. Hold on!" a deep masculine voice cuts through everything.

My eyes flicker open as dark shapes move through the smoke. A figure drops beside me. Broad shoulders. Oxygen mask. Turnout gear. Gloved hands grip my shoulders. My eyes close again, too heavy to keep open.

"Stay with me!" He says.