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Suddenly, I want Gladys to talk to the cops, too.
CHAPTER 31
KATE
The smell is familiar, but I can’t place it.
I’m so hot. So very hot.
I try to open my eyes, but they burn too much.
It’s so noisy. What is that roaring sound? It’s almost deafening.
Coughing, I try to clear my head, but everything is so fuzzy. What’s happened?
Then I hear it. That familiar popping and cracking sound. Like a bonfire. The sounds of my nightmares, but I’m awake.
Forcing my eyes open, I take in my surroundings. I’m pinned down under something heavy. It’s hot to the touch. What is holding me down? Why can’t I get up? Everything is still so fuzzy.
FIRE! SMOKE!
I cough again and in doing so; I inhale a lot more smoke.
Oh no. Not again. Please, God. Not again. Please. Please. Please. Not again.
I try to pull my legs out from under whatever is holding me down, but I can’t get out from underneath it. What is it? Just get up, Kate! I chastise myself.
Grabbing the front of my shirt and pulling it over my nose and mouth, I take in my surroundings. I can’t see much in front of me, but I look around next to me and behind me.
My shop. It’s gone. There’s nothing left. All I can see are flames above as I try to move. The walls are all crumbled around me.
I have to get out of here.
Struggling to pull myself out from under whatever is holding me down, I inhale more smoke. I’m not strong enough to do this.
“Help!” I cough. “Help me!” I’m screaming, but not sure if anyone can hear me.
The creaking overhead has me frozen. I look up and see that there’s a large beam directly over my head and it’s about to fall directly on top of me. How long was I out?
If I don’t get out of here, either that beam, the smoke, or the fire will kill me.
Suddenly, I see my mother’s face from so long ago. She was pinned by a beam and couldn’t get to me. As clear as day, I see my mother yelling at me from across the room. “Go, Katie. Get out of here. I’m right behind you, baby. Go.”
“Mommy?” I remember calling her that night. “Mommy!” I cough again.
I need to get out of here. Putting my elbows down behind me, I try to drag myself out from what looks like whatever is left of my industrial oven.
Then I hear it.
At first, it’s a small crack, but it grows quickly.
As if in slow motion, I look up and watch as my fate finally takes what it couldn’t all those years ago.
CHAPTER 32
HUDSON
We bring Gladys into the emergency room and while we transfer her care over to the nurses and doctor on call; I keep trying to call Kate.
