Page 24 of Savagely Scarred

He doesn’t seem to care as he comes back over to me. Dad picks me up and carries me to the window.

The air tastes so much better over here.

I drop the washcloth from my mouth.

Dad peeks out the window and I hear sirens.

The firemen are coming!

I hope they will let me sit in the truck.

I turn my head and follow where Dad is looking back into the hall. The stairs are glowing orange now.

“Okay, buddy. We’re going to have to go out the window.”

Our neighbors are standing on the grass shouting up to us, but I can’t make out what they are saying.

“Where’s Bingo?” I ask, with tears in my eyes.

“I don’t know son, but we need to get out of here.”

He starts to lower me out of the window feet first and I grab onto the windowsill stopping him.

“Dad! We need to get Bingo!” I cry out.

He looks so scared.

“Okay!” he shouts, “I will go back and look for him, but I’m making sure you’re safe first.”

I nod my head, tears running down my cheeks.

He holds onto my arms and lowers me down some more.

OUCH!!!

A piece of glass slices through my pajamas and cuts the right side of my chest.

Dad’s eyes are sparkly.

Why is he crying?

He gives me a sad smile before letting go of my arms.

“SAGE!!!!!”

Lorenzo’s fist flying into my jaw knocks me back into reality.

“WE NEED TO FUCKING GO!!! NOW!!!” he screams.

We sprint back towards the stairwell and barrel down the steps, taking them three at a time. We exit the door on the first floor and the fire alarm begins to sound, blaring throughout the building.

Dylan is hauling the other employee to his feet, already in handcuffs. Everyone turns to us as we run over.

“There’s a fire upstairs. We need to get everyone out. NOW,” I shout.

Dylan looks at me questioningly and I shake my head, indicating that the other suspect won’t be joining us. His lips flatten into a straight line, and he nods his head once in understanding.

We start corralling the rest of the employees, directing them to the exits. The fire department rolls in as soon as we get everyone outside to safety.