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I charged forward to hear what she was saying.
“Ben is in there!”
My eyes whipped to my lieutenant, and with his curt nod granting me permission, I took off without another word. I raced to the truck to secure my oxygen tank before heading straight for the farmhouse.
As I approached the entrance, the acrid smell of smoke filled my nostrils, making it difficult to breathe despite my tank. My heart pounded, the weight of responsibility bearing down on me. With each step, the crackling fire grew louder, its ominous presence mocking my every move. The smoke billowed, obscuring my vision and making it hard to navigate the treacherous terrain.
Focus. Stay calm. Find the boy. You can do this.
I pressed forward, my training guiding me through the suffocating haze. The heat intensified, causing my skin to prickle and sweat to pour off my brow. The flames danced with a ferocity that seemed to mock my attempts to control them.
I shouted Ben’s name, hoping he would hear my voice above the chaos. Along with my unit, I searched each room, battling the growing desperation that threatened to consume me. Time was slipping away, and the fire showed no signs of relenting. The thought of failure clawed at my mind, but I pushed it aside, knowing that I had to keep going.
Testing my weight on the wood floor upstairs, I pressed on. In the primary bedroom, a muffled cry reached my ears. My heart leaped with renewed hope as I traced the sound to a closed door. With swift hands, I turned the handle, revealing a walk-in closet rapidly filling with smoke. The boy was huddled in the corner, his eyes wide with fear and his cheeks stained with sooty tears. Relief washed over me.
“I got you!” I yelled, knowing he likely couldn’t hear me over the roar of the fire.
After slinging him over my shoulder, I fought my way back through the fiery labyrinth, the flames licking at my heels. The smoke thickened, making it difficult to see, but I relied on muscle memory and instinct to guide me. When I reached the top of the stairs, I quickly realized my exit was gone, and my heartbeat ticked higher.
I turned back to the bedroom farthest from the flames. My legs burned, but with a final burst of energy, I reached a window. I looked down to find a sloping hill and a grassy area. I smashed the glass, the shards cascading around us. Cradling the boy, I jumped.
My body collided with the hard ground, sending a sharp pain radiating through my rib cage. As I lay on the grass, gasping for breath, a sense of relief washed over me. My arms held the crying boy tightly as EMTs rushed in to help.
My breaths came hard and fast. The boy was safe and would be reunited with his mother and sister. They would all be headed to the hospital to ensure there were no complications from smoke inhalation, but for now they were safe. I stared up at the crystal-blue sky as the chaos surrounded me. The tension and angst that had gripped me moments ago transformed into an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
Brooklyn’s face came into view, silhouetted by the bright sky. “Nice work, hotshot.” She knelt beside me and pressed two fingers into my carotid artery to check my pulse.
I shook her off, removing my mask and gasping for air. “I’m fine.”
She laughed. “You just took a header out of a window and used your body as a landing pad. You’ll be lucky if you didn’t break something.”
I rolled to my side and stinging pain lanced through my ribs. “I’ll live.”
I groaned as I got to my knees. Before me, I watched as the rest of my team worked to contain the fire. The house would be a total loss. In a matter of minutes, the flames were contained, and the smoke and ash mixed with the indescribable, stomach-rolling smell of a home fire.
“You know the drill. Gotta get checked out.” Brooklyn held her hand out for me, and I gripped it, using her strength to help me stand.
* * *
I can’t really do a crowd right now.
Annie
Want to meet me at our place?
I grabbedmy keys and carefully loaded myself into my truck to make the few-minute drive to the water tower, where my girl was waiting.
As soon as I was out of the cab, her body slammed into me. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
I braced myself and flinched against the impact. “News travels fast.”
Annie pulled away. “Small town.” She immediately noticed the way I favored my right side. “What happened? Oh my god, are you hurt?”
I shook my head and headed toward the ladder. “Not too bad, but I had to take an emergency exit. Just a couple of bruised ribs.”
Her delicate fingers danced over my T-shirt, testing where she guessed I might be hurt. My body warmed against her gentle touch, my stomach muscles clenching when she skated over the tender ribs.
“Lee...” The concerned way she exhaled my name sent warmth buzzing through me. She shook her head. “Sometimes you don’t think.”
