“This way. I’m going to guide you guys. Claire, you need to walk backward, so just be careful.”
“Go fast”—she stopped, coughing—“but not too fast.”
Grasping Ellis’s shirt, I guided him the few steps toward the wall, then, keeping one hand on the wall and one on Ellis, I walked the perimeter of the room. By the time we reached the door, I couldn’t see at all, and we were all continuously coughing. My lungs felt like the flames had reached inside and set them alight.
Fumbling with the old lock, I managed to flip it. With my thumb on the lever, I pushed down, then pulled. The heavy door weighed more than usual, but I got it open far enough to wedge my foot into the opening.
The blare of fire engine sirens split the night as I thrust my leg through, then wedged my shoulder into the space. Using my foot, I kicked it wide and hauled Ellis forward.
It hit him in the shoulder, and he let out a grunt, but didn’t fall. The three of us stumbled forward and onto the sidewalk just as the fire engine pulled up.
My vision still obscured by tears, I heard, rather than saw, the truck stop and a series of boots hit the road.
The first firefighter reached us and put a steadying hand on my shoulder as I bent double, hacking.
“Kyle, grab some shears!” he yelled.
I sank to the ground as my adrenaline ebbed. Bending my knees, I rested my forehead on them, inhaling deep breaths in between coughs.
A minute or so later, a firefighter knelt next to me. “I’m going to slip this oxygen mask over your face.”
I looked up, my vision blurry, but it was better than a couple minutes ago.
The plastic mask descended over my mouth and nose. Air flowed in, cool and fresh, if not a little chemical-smelling from the plastic.
“Is there anyone else inside?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Okay. You breathe that in and stay put.”
I nodded, unable to speak as another cough wracked my body.
When he walked away, I scooted back to lean up against the pillar that was meant to keep cars from driving onto the sidewalk.
Resting against the pole, I rolled my head to the side and saw Claire and Ellis getting similar treatment.
They were okay. We were all okay.
I closed my eyes and just focused on my breathing. Slowly, the oxygen invading my body reduced my cough to short bursts.
Voices flowed around me, sometimes rising as the firefighters hauled gear off their trucks to put out the blaze inside. It wasn’t until the energy changed that I opened my eyes and looked around again.
Commotion down the block drew my attention. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, squinting in the strobing lights from the fire engines.
Ozzie and Chief Riggs walked toward us, each of them leading a woman in handcuffs.
I let out a delighted laugh that quickly descended into a cough. As it ebbed, I got up.
“Whoa.” My head spun, and I shot a hand out to steady myself on the pillar. There was no way I would sit down, though. I wanted to watch them march past and see their faces—especially Sarah’s—when they realized Claire and Ellis were alive.
Once I felt like I could walk and not fall over, I picked up the small oxygen tank and walked over to the others.
Ozzie and the chief stopped in front of us.
Worry etched lines into Ozzie’s face. “You guys all right?”
Ellis gave him a thumbs-up.
