AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The now shattered windows spewed clouds of black smoke, the ceiling stained like tar as I ran in, devoid of rational thought. The heat picked at my skin, reacting to the whipping flames that surrounded my body. The fire quickly spread, climbing up the walls like burning vines. It stung my eyes, causing sweat to drip all over my body. I squatted towards the ground, avoiding the heat that desperately caught my unprotected body.
“Nathan!” A shrill scream shouted from the room upstairs, alerting me with an animal like urgency. The house moaned, its bones on the cusp of collapsing, as the ceiling bowed with pressure.
“I’m coming!” Bits of burning wood fell onto my shoulders, singeing my shirt with each scorching touch. I fell back, and a supporting beam fell through the wall with a crash, smashing along the steps of my path.
“Fuck!” I shouted, the beam narrowly missing my head. I had no time to think, the fire crept along the steps and nipped at my heels. I dug my hands beneath the fractured wood, the pressure of its weight digging into my palms. My knuckles burned, tortured by the embers of the beam’s belly. I screamed, the vein along my neck pumped with blood, covered in the glisten of relentless sweat. The wood creaked, as my legs shook with pressure. All I could hear was the pounding of my heart, my screams distant to the thoughts of Julia’s demise. My muscles burned deep within my body, causing my bulging biceps to ache from the immense force. The beam began to lift, as my grip dug deeper into the wood. I screamed louder, my shoulders popping as I flipped it over the railing. The dense weight shattered the ground, collapsing into the dark basement below.
“Julia!” I shouted once more, but only heard the distinct sound of a faint cough. I leaped through the steps, searching frantically through the pluming hallway.
The rooms around laid open, gutted with the pits of fire which melted portraits along the walls. My shoes cracked along the shards of glass, snapping as I listened closely for Julia.
A second raspy cough sounded. It came from a door to my side, its handle searing hot, locked tightly.
“Stand back!” I shouted, ramming my shoulder through. Clouds of black smoke whooshed in, and her window shattered as an escape for the heat. Julia laid on the floor, her face blackened by soot. I kneeled before her, her eyes squinting as she reached up for me. “I got you, baby!” I whispered, yanking the blankets off the daybed before her. I wrapped her tightly, her body unable to move. Her frail voice was weakened by the smoke, and I held her close to my chest as I lifted her up.
“Nathan, I lo…” her eyes shut, her unfinished words slipping into nothing. I brought her to me, the weight of her body almost nonexistent, as I pulled her in closer.
“Stay with me!” I shouted but had no time to stay. The moaning house creaked further as I ran into the hall. No longer could I squat fully, instead I had to stand, feeling the full effects of no gear. I coughed, my lungs filled with the sticky matter of burnt debris. I was going to save her, even if it cost me my life, I would die to keep her safe. This determined will was pronounced with each exhausting step, as my eyes burned with tears. I could hear shouting outside, the voice of my driver witnessing my appearing shadow. My vision was faint, falling in and out as I caught my breath. The heat became too much, I could feel the holes in my shirt, ripping from the elements. I held Julia tightly, my grip acting as my last potential hug, a final expression before my death. Though, I pushed through, the wind outside shot its breeze with renewed breath, as my body breached the exit and I tumbled down the porch.
The driver squeezed what was left of my shirt, pulling Julia and I further along the ground to a safer distance. I gasped for air, my lungs shaking as I coughed.
The sound of distant sirens screeched, the promise of their oscillating lights glowing in the dark. Still, there was no time. I hated the thought of it, but Robbie was still in there, and I made a vow to rescue those in need. Even in the interest of Julia, if she really did love him, I would want to make her happy.
I ran toward the porch again, but froze at what I saw. The house began to tip, its porch beams snapping under the pressure. I turned, running towards Julia to cover her body. The sound of collapsing wood boomed in my ears, as smoke and debris fell upon my back. The crooked bones of the dying house stood up from the ground like sharp spikes. Everything was gone, reduced to piles of burning mass.
Rescue trucks pulled into the driveway, as men in suits sprinted from their posts. I could only look down at Julia, dazed with exhaustion as she opened her eyes.
“You came back for me,” Julia coughed out weakly.
“Shhh, it’s ok, baby. You’re safe now.” I held her so tight, and my hands shook with adrenaline.
A man in the yard was speaking, but I couldn’t make out what he said, all I could hear was a ringing through my ears.
One of the EMTs grabbed hold of my arm to help, but I pleaded with them to ensure Julia’s safety first. She laid motionless, emitting silent coughs. My heart broke, as my hand slipped away from hers.
The chief appeared, jumping out of a car as he ran towards the EMT. His booming cries sent a chill down my back. I found the strength to stand, observing closely as they placed Julia onto a stretcher. I wouldn’t stay away, not even with the chief’s orders from before. I’d lost love once, and I couldn’t lose it again.
I kissed her forehead, as the medics placed an oxygen mask over her beautiful lips. A wet dot appeared upon her cheek, not from her, but from me. I hadn’t noticed until then that tears slowly dripped from my eyes. I couldn’t help but feel the quiver of my lip, the worried knot in my gut forming as I followed the stretcher to the truck.
“Come back to me, baby,” I whispered in her ear as I squeezed her hand for comfort. Her weakened eyes glanced over mine before they fell into a heavy sleep.
“Manning, what the hell happened?” Chief asked in a state of panic, as he stepped into the back of the ambulance. “Nathan, we gotta go, I’m sorry. You can meet us at the hospital.” Lydia, one of the medic’s shouted as she tried to close the heavy ambulance doors.
“No, I’m hopping on.” I stopped her.
“Manning, we’ll meet you there.” The chief had half his hand up.
“With all due respect, Chief, we don’t have time to bicker back and forth.” I sat right beside him, holding Julia’s hand. “Lydia, close the damn door.” I glared, and quickly she did as I said.
The chief’s heavy breathing matched my own. We both hurt for Julia.
“Manning, what happened?”
I couldn’t bring myself to look at him as he asked. I sat frozen, watching Julia’s chest slowly rise and dip. Lost in thought as the darkness began to crawl from the corners of my eye… Chief snapped his fingers for my attention, knocking me back into reality.
“Chief,” I paused, unsure of my delivery. “I don’t know. By the time I arrived, everything was already on fire. I only had time to save her. Upstairs was the worst, but I don’t know what caused it.” I hesitated. My pulsing ears felt warm against my head, and I caught a glimpse of Chief nodding me on. I sighed out.
“Thank you, son. I don’t even want to think about what could have…” He looked down, his weathered face unable to finish his thought. His eyes were worried, defeated into droopy bags. “I couldn’t live without my baby.” Chief covered his face, concealing the silent sob that choked his voice. “She’s all I have left, her and pieces of her mother that live within her.” His face lifted from his hands, his eyes red and distraught. “Where the hell was Robbie? How could he let this happen?”
