There was something vaguely familiar about him like I’d seen him somewhere. He rubbed a scar across his cheek.
I knew every minute made a difference between life and death.
“I’m going in,” I said out loud.
He gave me a sympathetic look. “Your funeral.”
What an odd thing to say in a situation like this.
“Better than standing around here doing nothing.” I frowned, making my way forward.
“Wait! You’re not even wearing protective gear. Come back here,” Justin shouted from behind me.
“I don’t need it,” I shouted back as I made my way closer to the inferno. Sweat continued to drip from my face as it pooled at my lips and neck.
It was like my body was already on fire as I made my way to the front door, which seemed to be the only part of the house not on fire, at least for now. I kicked the security gate a few times until it gave way. Thankfully, the door was a lot easier to tackle as I ran into the smoke-filled house. The exterior walls were on fire, but it gave me hope. The inside of the building was still mostly intact.
“Is anybody in here?” I shouted, tore a piece of my shirt from the hem, and placed it against my mouth and nose so I wouldn’t inhale the fumes. Walking down a long passage, I heard banging on the doors lining it. I realized there were people trapped behind those doors.
I needed help.
Leaving them was not an option.
Bolting out of the front door, I shouted for help.
Justin rushed forward. “Might as well do something other than stand out here hoping someone else will,” he said, and I glanced at his wife, who stood rooted to the spot, staring after her husband.
“We need to kick these doors down,” I shouted over the blaze. The fire burned my eyes, and the smell of burning cloth, rubber, and wood filled the air. There was no telling how much time we had until this thing blew. We didn’t even know if there was a gas stove in the kitchen. I knew we had to act fast.
We started kicking the doors in, one at a time, shouting for the occupants to stand back. Frightened young girls no older than my niece, Miranda, ran out of the rooms, and Justin directed them to the front door.
A beam in the roof above us creaked. I had no idea how long it would hold, and there were about six more doors to go.
Justin and I worked tirelessly.
At the last door, I shouted for him to get out. I’d get the girl and get out.
“Stand back!” I shouted, hoping she’d heard me. The door flung open, and I sank back.
“Luke!” she shouted, running forward, dragging a young girl with her.
I wanted to hold her, but I knew getting out of here was priority number one. I asked them to stay low as I led them forward.
The last thing I remembered was looking up at the falling beam and pushing both women forward to safety.
“Luke!”
It was the last thing I heard before everything faded to black.
I’d found her,I reminded myself.
Nothing else mattered.
ChapterForty-Three
Alyssa
Twenty-four Hours Before the Fire
