Page 95 of The Revenge

The mask is far from perfect, but it helps a little. I run into the next room, spotting Tori’s mom. She’s asleep on the couch, completely unaware of the fire burning away below us. As I’m about to lean down and try to wake her, there’s a loud bang that has the building rocking.

Fuck.

Whatever that was, it’s not good.

“Ma’am?” I shake the woman’s shoulders but she doesn’t respond. “Mrs. Reynolds?”

Her chest is rising and falling, so I know she’s still alive, but I need to get us out of here before the whole building starts to collapse. With one quick motion, I manage to lift Tori’s mom over my shoulder.

She’s not too heavy, but the smoke is making everything so much more difficult. I make my way back through the small apartment and into the hallway. The stairway is already glowingfrom the flames, and the floor creaks under my weight more than it did when I ran over it only a few minutes ago.

Just as I start to make the final dash to the window I entered, torchlight fills the room. The moment I flinch, it’s lowered.

“This way,” a fireman calls, reaching out his arms. He helps me get her through a window and passes her to someone else before he turns to help me through. “Is there anyone else in there?”

“No,” I tell him.

Even though I’m outside, it’s still hot as hell. I glance down and see the flames spilling out from the apartment below, blocking off the fire escape.

“There.” The fireman points to the far side of the platform, where there’s a ladder from the fire truck propped against the side. Another fireman is already halfway down, with Tori’s mom safely over his shoulder.

Not needing to be told twice, I run across and climb over the railings onto the ladder. The ladder wobbles under my added weight, and for the first time, I’m suddenly conscious of how far the ground is below me. I’m not scared of heights, but the drop has me gripping the ladder rung tightly.

“You okay?” the fireman asks.

Pushing down the fear that’s trying to creep up through me, I climb down. Finally, I’m on the ground amongst the chaos. Before I can look for Tori or her mom, a paramedic is at my side.

“This way, sir. Let’s get you looked at.”

I shake my head, glancing around. “The woman who came down before me. Where is she?”

“She’s being seen to, don’t worry. You need to let us look after you now.”

There’s barely enough room in this alley for the fire engine, and I spot an ambulance on the street where the paramedic is trying to lead me. In front of it, I can see Tori.

Pulling the towel off my face, I run towards her.

“But she’s my mom.”

“What’s the matter?” I ask as I join her side, quickly surveying the scene.

Her mom is on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, and another elderly man is seated beside her with an oxygen mask on, like her. In front of the door are two paramedics. One who’s trying to shut the door, and another who’s trying to get Tori to move.

The paramedic who’s trying to shut the door looks at me. “I’m sorry, but we need to get both of these people to hospital. I don’t have room for a passenger.”

“Is she okay?” I ask before Tori can speak.

“We need to go, now.” The medic glances at Tori before turning her attention to me. “We’re going to Mercy.”

I turn to Tori, gently pulling her away. “We need to let them go, Tori. We can follow in my car, don’t worry.”

The second paramedic steps forward. “Before you do, you really need to let me look at that cut.”

“I’m not bleeding.” Confused, I look down at my body, wondering if I caught myself on the broken glass from the window and didn’t notice, but then I realize the paramedic is trying to look at Tori’s hand.

Even though tears are pouring from her eyes, leaving wet trails down her cheeks, Tori seems completely unaware as she watches the ambulance with her mom in it disappear around the corner.

Gently, I touch Tori’s face. She jumps, blinking rapidly at me. “Your hand, Tori? What happened?”

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