Page 2 of Built of Flames

They were three doors from the stairs when the second room blew behind them. The fire reacted as if she’d caused a backdraft, and the heat was instantaneous.

Dragging in breaths was painful, but her voice seemed to keep Roberto moving, so she kept talking, kept moving.

How were they going to get down the stairs? She mentally flipped through her training techniques, but most of them required her to be uninjured. They’d just do the best they could.

At the top, she angled Roberto to the side with the bannister and put his hand on it. “One step at a time, Roberto. We’re almost there.”

The smoke was thicker here, but they didn’t have a choice. They needed to move through.

“This is Martinez 3. East end stair. We need help.” Her words were barely audible as she grimaced through the pain. She hoped someone would hear her anyway.

They thumped down the stairs, one painful step at a time. Isabella’s head wobbled, and she knew she wasn’t far from passing out. But she had to get Roberto to safety.

“Only a few more steps. Keep going.” At this point, her words were the only thing keeping each of them moving.

A light flashed through the smoke.

Fire or help?

Roberto’s body tightened and he let out a groan that had her screaming even as he toppled them both to the ground.

Isabella pressed send on her report on the borrowed tablet. The fire had been an odd one and it had taken her longer than usual to write up the report. She’d added in her speculations about the jammers and the explosives set in the ceilings. Normally, she didn’t speculate a lot, but the courses she’d been taking had given her a wider perspective and she didn’t want to err by not giving enough information.

Opening a window could create a backdraft that would draw the fire into a room. These had felt the opposite, as it the window had opened in front of them and drawn the fire their way. But no one else had been on the floor.

Had there been devices in the other rooms breaking windows at the same time to create the effect? She wanted to get Roberto’s take once he was out of surgery.

Panic arose again at the thought. Her friend had to be okay.

The door swung open and a doctor entered her hospital room. She spoke before the woman could. “Would you be able to check on the status of Roberto Garin? I’ve only been told he’s in surgery. Do you think you could find out more?”

The woman smiled. “You firefighters are all the same. We’ve got someone checking. They’ll bring us news as soon as they hear it. He’s in excellent hands. Our trauma and surgical teams are top-notch.”

The doctor put up several x-rays on the light box. “You’ve got three breaks in your wrist. As long as it heals well, you shouldn’t require surgery. We’ll wrap it in a cast in a moment.”

Her hand moved to the other pictures. “Your shoulder has been wrenched out of place and then shoved back in. Probably hurts like hell, but there are no breaks here. The tendons and ligaments are a mess, and you’ll need to wear a sling for several weeks to stabilize the area.”

She pointed out the other x-ray. “No broken ribs either, but that’s not going to stop them from hurting, as there’s plenty of bruising.”

The doctor dragged over a small cart filled with supplies and picked up Isabella’s arm where it had been sitting in an ice bath. “Let’s get this wrapped. That will lessen the pain some as well. Your injuries are on one side of the body, making recovery slightly easier. We’ll keep you for a few days to lessen the movement and allow you access to pain meds.”

“No. I can’t stay.”

The doctor frowned at her. “That’s not advisable.”

Isabella shrugged. Since her mom’s death, hospitals weren’t her favorite place. Visiting others was tough enough. Sleeping there would be impossible. The memories would crush her.

The doctor finally shrugged. “Your call, but you’ll have to sign out yourself.”

Isabella nodded. “I will. Thank you. I’m not trying to be a pest, but I can’t stay.”

The woman looked steadily into her eyes for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. What color for the top layer of your cast?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

The doctor picked up red and finished up while listing care instructions. Finally, the doctor fitted her with a sling and showed her how to wrap it. “Don’t untie it unless you have someone to help you out. You can slip it over your head at night if you prefer.”

“Thank you.” Isabella slipped off the gurney carefully. Even the soft thud of her feet on the floor sent shockwaves through her body. She closed her eyes to breathe through it.

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