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Chapter Eighteen
Alexis
It’s the sound of screaming that wakes me. Loud, ear-deafening screaming. At first, I think I’m dreaming, but then I hear a crackling sound, followed by a strange smell. Smoke.
“Help!” I stare at the clock. It’s a little past half three. The smoke is coming from outside, blowing in my room through the open window. I kick my blankets off. Looking out the window. A house two doors down is on fire.
Flames burst from the entire second floor. Black smoke fills the night sky. I know a woman lives there. With fuck her two kids, the fire is exactly where the bedrooms are.
Fuck. I grab my shoes, not caring that I’m wearing nothing but shorts and a tank top, running faster than I have ever run. The owner of the house is crying and screaming for help. A little boy stands next to her, clutching a teddy bear in his hands while he coughs over and over again.
Where is the baby? I know she has a baby.
The woman sags in relief when she notices me. “Please,” she pleads. “Please, you have to help me. My baby is in there.”
Oh god no.
The front of the house is still intact. It looks like the fire started upstairs. God, please don’t let the baby be upstairs.
I dial Carson. He answers after the first ring.
“Alexis, you need to stay inside.”
“There is a fire.”
“I know, we’re on our way, just stay inside.”
“The baby is in there,” I whisper, my eyes on the burning house.
“What? We’re on our way, okay? Just stay where you are.”
“He’s dying!”
“Fuck! We’re five minutes out, don’t do anything stupid, okay?”
I turn to the frantic woman. “Where is he?” I ask, my words barely audible over the sound of my own heartbeat.
Please don’t be upstairs.
“Upstairs.”
Fuck.
I scan the other houses on the street, but no one has heard the commotion. I know Carson and the others will be here as fast as they can, but I can’t just stand here and do nothing.
“Carson, he’s dying.”
“No, he’s not. We’re almost there. We’ll get him. Stay there.”
I don’t reply. My heart hammers in my chest.
He’s dying. He’s dying. He’s dying.
“Alexis! Answer me.”
“I need to help.”
“No! No, you need to stay there. It’s too dangerous. Promise me you’ll stay, Alexis. Promise me.” His frantic voice cracks my chest in half. Tears pool in my eyes.
