Page 26 of No Take Backs

I move quickly, reaching for the unconscious woman on the floor. She’s lighter than I expected, her body limp in my arms as I lift her off the ground. There’s a moment of panic as I realize how fragile she feels, how close she is to slipping away. But I push the thought aside, focusing on getting her to safety.

I hand her off to Ryder, who’s already at the door, ready to take her.

Without a word, he starts the trek back down the hallway, moving with the same urgency that’s thrumming through my veins. We don’t have time to lose. We’re in the final moments of this rescue, and every second counts.

I turn my attention to the little girl next, her small, fragile form trembling in the face of the overwhelming chaos around us. She clings to Nia with a desperation that tears at my heart, but I know we have to move. I gently pry her away, murmuring reassurances as I lift her into my arms. “I got you, sweetie,” I whisper, my voice as calm as I can make it. “We’re gonna get you all out of here now.” The wet towel is still clutched in her tiny hands, and I pull it up closer to her face, hoping it will help shield her from the worst of the smoke. Her wide eyes stare up at me, filled with a trust that I can’t let down.

When I look over my shoulder, I see Nia dropping the towel from her face so that she can reach around Gino for something.

Her platinum hair is covered with ash and dirt, making her practically unrecognizable. Gino reaches for her, trying to pull her body to his so that he can shelter her and we can get out of the house.

“I’m fine,” Nia says, her voice strained but resolute as she waves off Gino’s attempts to protect her. There’s no room for weakness in her tone, no hesitation. She’s made of steel, even now, in the face of this nightmare. Ignoring the concern in Gino’s eyes, she reaches for the last of the towels from the bathtub, soaking it thoroughly before pressing it to her face. The action is methodical, almost mechanical, as she fights to keep the smoke from overwhelming her lungs. Then, with a determined glare, she wraps the towel around her head, creating a makeshift shield. “Let’s go,” she says, her voice carrying an authority that leaves no room for argument.

Shaking my head, I take the girl and leave without wasting another second. Nia is at my back, Gino right behind her. Through the hall, we sidestep the flames, and I pull the mask from my face, covering the little girl for a second before we get to the top of the stairs. Then I put it back in place using one hand after I make sure she is breathing into the towel.

“Three souls retrieved, headed out now,” Gino barks into the mic.

As we make our way down the stairs, my eyes lock on to the open front door at the far end of the house. It’s like a beacon, a sliver of hope in the midst of this hell. Another thirty steps. Just thirty more steps and we’ll be out of danger, out of the flames that are nipping at our heels.

The air is thick with smoke, the heat oppressive, but that door represents freedom, safety, and the chance to save these lives. It’s so close I can almost taste the fresh air waiting on the other side.

My vision narrows, the world around me shrinking until all I can see is that open door, the promise of safety just beyond it. One small tunnel that I can almost reach.

But then, in a split second, everything changes.

There’s a loud crack followed by a yell. Someone’s voice I can’t quite make out. Then suddenly, the world collapses around us.

The walls, weakened by the relentless fire, give way with a thunderous crash, sending debris raining down. I’m shoved forward by the force of it, barely managing to keep my footing as I hit the ground. Instinct takes over, and I curl around the girl in my arms, shielding her with my body as we roll across the floor. The impact rattles my bones, but I hold tight, determined to protect her no matter what.

“Move,” Nia screams at the top of her lungs at the exact same moment that a goddamned toilet falls through the ceiling and lands on top of her through the rubble.

Drywall and wood, along with the shattered porcelain from the toilet, clamors and groans all around us, blocking the path we’ve just come from.

The little girl in my arms lets out a soft whimper, her tiny body trembling against mine. Her eyes, wide and filled with fear, lock on mine, and in that moment, I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. She doesn’t say anything. She’s probably too scared to even speak but her gaze is enough to break my heart. She’s relying on me, trusting me to get her out of here, and I can’t let her down. I tighten my grip on her, holding her close as I scan the room for a way out, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts at once.

Scrambling to my feet, I sprint to the door and hand her to the man waiting.

“Second story collapsed on us. Nia and Gino are under a toilet.”

Ryder takes the girl and hands her to Gem a few feet away. Then he is on me, putting his mask back into place. But I don’t wait. I can’t wait.

Gino’s PASS device starts blaring loudly.

“He’s not moving.” My words, not meant to be shouted, come out like a roar. Every single firefighter wears a PASS device. I know what they sound like from training, but hearing one of my brothers in distress destroys a piece of me that I’m not sure I’m prepared to lose.

Panicking in a way I didn’t know was possible, I grab and shove and do my best to move the drywall off them. The porcelain of the toilet topples on its side and crashes into the living room, and I don’t stop to look. Over and over again, I lift beams and pieces of drywall until my muscles scream in agony and my breath fogs the mask I’m wearing. I barely register the men working at my side while someone lays a line of water all around us.

Like rain, the hoses pour water down on our heads through the windows and the hole in the roof above us. A blessing, it works to keep the fire from touching not only us but Nia and Gino as well, giving us the time to save them from the destruction that crashes through the house.

We have no idea what we will find, but that doesn’t stop the search. I ignore the shouts of the other men, and when I see the familiar bright-yellow flash with Ramirez emblazoned across the back, I smile despite myself.

"I got Gino!" I yank at one particularly large piece of wood and look up to see Ryder and Captain Harvey at my side, lifting it with me.

We have the wood, and another of the men reaches for Gino, dragging him out.

Under his body is Nia.

Her eyes are closed, and she has blood dripping down her face. Her body, the same one that I spent a night worshipping with my own, doesn’t move. Her chest doesn’t rise or fall. The arms that had wrapped around my neck are flailed out, covering her chest like she could have stopped the chaos from happening. Her legs, the ones she used to hold me to her, are cocked at an unnatural angle. In the second it takes to figure out that Nia isn't conscious, I freeze.

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