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“Yes,” Dad replied. “Stay here and call 911,” he instructed as he pushed past them toward the front door.
“Savannah’s in the stables. She went to check on the horses!” my mom cried.
“No!” Josh shouted, the agony evident in his voice.
We all rushed outside, and I reeled backward as I saw the stables engulfed in flames. Josh ran full pelt toward the burning building. Taking a deep breath, I followed him. I could vaguely hear Libby on her phone speaking to the emergency services, her voice getting swallowed by the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. Reaching the stable doors, Josh didn’t hesitate as he flung them open and rushed inside. The flames were toward the back of the building, but they were spreading, and quickly. Flames licked the walls and engulfed the roof, the straw and wood of the building quickly igniting.
The smoke was thick as I entered the stables and my eyes immediately began to sting. Water gushed from them as I desperately tried to see anything in front of me. My lungs were burning and screaming for air already. I lifted the neck of my t-shirt up and over my mouth. Narrowing my eyes, I tried to find Josh in the chaos. My eyes darted left and right, and as I passed each stall I flicked the latch, allowing the horse inside to escape.
“Savannah,” I shouted, my words swallowed by the creaking and groaning of the building. I had no idea how far into the stables I’d gotten, or where Josh was, but I knew I had to keep moving forward. I passed a stall with the door already open and I glanced inside. I could barely see my hand in front of my face, but something made me look again, and I moved closer toward the stall. Suddenly, a body curled up on the floor became visible through the smoke. Dropping the t-shirt from my face I ran inside and kneeled down, scooping the person into my arms. As her head fell against my shoulder, I realized it wasn’t Savannah from the long blonde hair that fell over her face. As I stumbled out of the stall, I saw Josh coming toward me, the relief evident on his face as he saw me holding who he thought was Sav.
“It’s not her, Josh,” I choked out, my stomach clenching as I saw the look of devastation form on his face.
“I can’t find her, Brody! Where is she?”
“Maybe she got out?” I said weakly, hoping and praying I was right.
He shook his head. “I’m not leaving until I find her.” He gestured with his head to the girl in my arms. “Go. Get her out.”
I stared at him, torn about leaving him in this hell but knowing I needed to get this girl to safety. “I’ll be back,” I promised, turning and making my way toward what I hoped was the way out. Just as the entrance came into view I heard the beams above my head groan and creak before they crashed to the ground just behind me, the roof collapsing in on itself. Spinning around, I could just about make out Josh’s lifeless body under a mangle of burning wood.
“Josh!” I shouted, listening for a reply from him. When I got none, I rushed outside, knowing I needed to get him some help. Surely the emergency services were here by now? It felt like I had been inside the burning building for hours. Stumbling through the stable doors I saw Mason rushing toward me.
“Brody, where’s Josh?” I gestured with my head to the stable entrance.
“He’s inside… on the floor. I couldn’t move him, part of the roof collapsed,” I choked out, coughing and wheezing from the smoke. My lungs were desperately trying to drag in some fresh air.
“No!” a voice cried, and I looked up to see Savannah dropping to her knees, my mom with her arm wrapped around her. Thank God, she was safe. The relief I felt knowing she wasn’t trapped in the stables was overwhelming. I watched Mason and my dad rush toward the flames and silently prayed everyone got out safely.
Two paramedics appeared in front of me, one immediately taking the girl from my arms and rushing with her to a waiting ambulance. I felt someone put their hand on my back and tearing my eyes away from the man who held the girl, I looked up to meet worried eyes.
“Let’s get you checked over,” the emergency worker said.
I glanced back to the door of the barn, desperately hoping to see some sign of life, but I saw none. Damn, I wanted to go back in and find Josh, tell him that Savannah was safe.
“I can see what you’re thinking, but the fire crew will help your friends,” he told me, obviously seeing my apprehension at leaving. I sighed and nodded, knowing he was right. My lungs felt like they were burning from the inside out, and I noticed for the first time my hand was bleeding. Dragging my tired body over to the ambulance I sat down heavily on the tailgate. An oxygen mask was placed over my mouth and nose and a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. “Take some deep breaths, you should start to feel better once the oxygen gets into your lungs.” I nodded, looking across to the other ambulance where I could see two paramedics working on the girl.
“Is she going to be okay?” I lifted my mask to ask the question. The paramedic brushed my hand away and replaced the mask.
“You need to leave that on,” he scolded, placing a clip on my index finger. “This measures your oxygen levels.” He gestured to the clip. “If the reading is okay, then the mask can come off. It’s unlikely though after where you’ve just been.” He jotted down some notes before his eyes met mine. “Do you know how long she was in there?” I shook my head. “What’s her name?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen her before,” I muttered from behind the mask. “Is she going to be okay?”
“They are doing everything they can for her. She’s in good hands. You can ride to the hospital with her if you want?” I nodded, needing to know she was going to be alright. After a few minutes breathing the oxygen, I began to feel better. My chest was still tight, but I was no longer wheezing.
I heard shouting coming from over by the stables and I jumped to my feet, pulling the mask off my face. Mason, Dad, and a member of the fire department had found Josh, and they were carrying him out to waiting paramedics. As I made my way toward them I saw the fire crew using hoses in an attempt to put out the flames. I hung back watching the paramedics do their job. Mason and my dad staggered over to me and I led them to the ambulance where they were given oxygen and looked over.
Savannah’s anguished cries as she watched the paramedics work on Josh could be heard echoing around the open space. As they loaded Josh into one of the ambulances, I saw my mom wrap her arms around Savannah and pull her into an embrace. A hand landed on my shoulder and I turned to see the paramedic who had treated me.
“We’re ready to go.”
I nodded and pulled my gaze from Savannah, knowing that I would speak to her at the hospital. Following the paramedic, I climbed into the back of the ambulance, sitting down on the small fold-down chair. My eyes fell on the girl. “How is she?” I asked the paramedic who was sitting by her head writing up his notes.
“She’s stable but unconscious,” he replied looking up from his notes. I scooted forward on the seat and gently picked up her hand. Her hand was cold in mine and I rubbed my thumb across the back of her hand.
“Did those cuts and bruises happen in the fire?” I frowned as I noticed her split lip and bruised cheek. Seeing her properly for the first time since I pulled her from the stables, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was. Even with the bruises she was stunning, and I found myself wondering what color her eyes were. Shaking my head at my bizarre thoughts, I turned to the paramedic as I waited for him to answer my question.
Catching my eye, he gave me a sad smile and shook his head. “No, those are a couple of days old at least. It looks like someone’s been rough with her.” I sighed and squeezed her hand, wishing that I knew what her story was and why she had been in the barn. I guess I’d have to wait until she woke up, to find out.
