“Smoky?!” I shouted for my cat, hoping I’d hear him.
Thankfully, A small meow and hiss alerted me to his presence beneath the small, living room sofa. He was huddled in a tight ball, terror in his ember eyes reflecting the dancing flames.
I got up on my hands and knees and shuffled quickly to him. “Come here baby,” I coughed out. He swatted a paw at my hand as I reached for him. “I know you’re scared, but we have to get out of here baby.” I tried yet again to grab him, but he took another slash at my hand, catching this time and leaving deep claw marks behind. Fire suddenly roared to my left, blocking off the front door exit.
Feeling the panic welling up inside me as the fire surged closer, I snatched the back nape of his neck and dragged him out hard and fast. He let out a vicious hiss.
“I’m sorry you crazy cat, but it’s for your own good,” I reprimanded him.
Cradling him against my chest, I turned back towards the kitchen. The flames had now swallowed up the entirety of the hallway as I passed it. We were out of time.
The flames still hadn’t fully engulfed the back kitchen door, but it was still too high for me to jump it.
“Shit!” I didn’t know what to do. We were trapped in here. Somewhere outside, a fire truck’s sirens blared, letting me know help was here. My eyes caught on several dumbbells sitting beside the wall dividing the kitchen and living room. I might’ve been trapped in here, but I could at least get Smoky out and get some airflow in until I was rescued.
I stood and rushed over, grabbing one of the dumbbells. The metal burned my hands, having been too close to the fire crawling towards them. I grit my teeth through the pain and threw it as hard as I could at the glass door. It shattered, but a few big pieces were left. I grabbed a second dumbbell, groaning as the iron singed the sensitive flesh of my palm. I screamed and threw it, clearing just enough of the glass I knew I could get Smoky through. I stepped as close as I dared to the fire, pulled Smoky away from my body, and as carefully as I could, I threw my poor fur baby through the broken doorway to the safety of the back yard. Relief filtered through me seeing his little, dark body dart towards the chain link fence and climb right over.
I backed away from the flames that now roared higher, having gotten more oxygen from the outside air. Unfortunately, I stepped right into the path of the ceiling collapsing above me. A creaking sound was the only warning I got before a wooden support beam came down hard. It was enough of a warning I could jump out of the way, but not enough that the beam missed me entirely.
I cried out as I fell forward, and it slammed down on my legs, pinning me face down to the floor as the flames licking across it scorched my skin. I wiggled and kicked, managing to displace the beam enough to get out from beneath it. However, my legs didn’t come out unscathed. I dragged myself agonizingly slowly back into the middle of the living room, the only place left untouched by fire. My lungs screamed for fresh air, burning from the smoke that filled them. My vision was becoming blurry and the hope of escape began to leave me.
This was my end. I’d suffer the same fate as my dad, and Kaden would have lost almost everyone he loved to tragedy. I took solace in the fact he was now married to a wonderful woman with a baby on the way. He’d have his new family at least to help him through this. I just hoped it was enough. Him living a happy and long life was all I could ask for. I hoped he knew how proud I was of him. I wished I’d told him that more.
I felt my body finally starting to give up as the heat creeped closer and the smoke thickened. Exhaustion weighed hard on me, so I laid my head down on the soft fabric of my carpet and closed my eyes, imagining the faces of my mom and dad.
I’m coming home to you, I whispered to them through my mind.
A loud crashing sound had me opening my eyes one last time. Three dark silhouettes framed by an orange glow entered my vision, coming towards me in almost slow motion. But I had nothing left in me to decipher if I was just seeing things or if these dark figures were death welcoming me into its arms. I smiled, not caring either way, only to hear one last thing through the crackling fire before I blacked out.
“Hang on, Sophia. We got you.”
Darren
After dressing for my shift, I stretched my back and arms, readying myself for whatever the evening would bring. I’d gotten a slight nap a bit ago in one of our bunk rooms here at the station, but I still couldn’t fully wake myself up. The smell of food drifted around the locker room, making my stomach rumble in anticipation. Maybe a large cup of coffee and some chow would liven me up.
I followed the scents toward the kitchen, finding most of my crew seated at the large wooden dining table and eating. It was common to find everyone usually gathered here, the gym room, or the rec room before a shift. They were a rowdy bunch, but some of the best damn firefighters I’d ever worked with.
My eyes drifted to the stove where my lifetime friend and fellow firefighter, Porter Torres, stirred something around in a massive pot.
“Who the hell let Torres rattle the pans today?” I joked loudly to the crew, walking up to stand next to Porter and leaning over the pot and to take a whiff. “Shit, how many spices did you use this time?”
Porter shoved me to the side with a grunt. “You can starve if you don’t like it. I’m a fan-fucking-tastic cook and you know it.” Porter prides himself on being taught to cook by his Mexican mama and took every advantage he could to get in the kitchen before anyone else. Unfortunately, most of his food tended to be on a higher level of spicy than comfortable. We made sure to tease him relentlessly for it at every turn.
I laughed and grabbed a clean bowl from the cabinet. “Just keeping you on your toes. What is it?”
Porter ladled a big scoop and poured it into my bowl. “Jambalaya. Haven’t made it in years and my pop dropped off some sausage yesterday. Figured why not?”
I lifted a big spoonful into my mouth and groaned. For once, the spices worked in favor of this meal. And it was fucking amazing. “Thanks, man. Tastes great.”
“Did someone say jambalaya?” My younger brother Alden appeared, looking about as rough as me, and headed earnestly to the cabinet for his own bowl.
“Hell yeah I did! You look like shit,” Porter jabbed with a laugh, giving him a big ladle full into his bowl.
Alden simply flipped him off and shoved the food in his mouth as he headed to the table. I walked over and took the seat next to him.
“Regret the double shift yet?” I asked him, smiling when he leveled me with a grouchy look.
“Don’t even get me started. Samuels snores louder than a foghorn all damn day. Finally had to tell him to go home and sleep, before I kicked his ass out. I’ll never understand why he chooses to stay here after a shift when he can just go home to his own bed.”
