Page 99 of Her Rugged Guardian

“You got it,” one of the men said as I nodded.

“No hot-dogging. By the book,” the captain added.

All the firefighters moved out and I noticed the other team had almost put the fire out at the other house still in flames. We were finally making headway. As I started to don the helmet, I glanced at the second floor. What the fuck? I could swear I noticed a light flashing in one of the windows. “Hey. Did anyone see that?”

None of the other firefighters heard me, the noise too intense. I shielded my eyes, moving a few feet away to try to get a better look.

As embers pitched from the roof, I was certain I noticed flames licking out from one of the eaves. Ah, shit. The attic was on fire. The roof would be next.

I moved to grab the hose, another flash of light catching my attention. “What the fuck?” There was no doubt someone was inside the house, trying desperately to get the window open. It appeared they were using a flashlight to beat against the glass.

“Shit.”

I spun around, rushing toward a firefighter I didn’t know. “There’s someone inside.”

“There can’t be. We swept the place.”

“Then what the fuck is that?” I pointed toward the second floor, noticing the flames encroaching in my periphery of vision. The entire second floor would be consumed within minutes. My instinct kicked in and I took off running toward the front door, ignoring the immediate cries I heard, directing me to stop. I secured my helmet, turning on the light positioned front and center then bolted forward.

As soon as I reached the threshold, a surreal moment encapsulated my system, pulling me into a quiet moment of silence. The only sound was the hard thumping of my heart. Everything had shifted into slow motion, visions of the past ready to derail my actions.

I pushed myself, uncertain I was even moving forward. Yet as the light pierced the darkness, I could hear Cassandra’s voice inside my head.

Fight your demons…

That’s exactly what needed to happen, or another innocent person would end up dying. Not tonight and not on my watch.

Smoke billowed everywhere, just as black and foreboding as I’d experienced on that fateful night years before, but this time nothing would stop me. I fought my way through the darkness up the stairs. Once on the landing, I had to stop to get my bearings, fighting the disorientation. There was no time to waste, one side of the house in flames.

I rushed forward, fighting falling debris as I headed for the room where I was certain I’d seen the light. Without hesitation, I kicked open the closed door, swinging my head from side to side, hoping the light could show me where the person was located.

“Is anyone here?” I yelled, taking two long strides into the room. A piece of the ceiling fell down, narrowly avoiding me. The situation was already getting dire. Other than creaks, I heard nothing. I lifted my head, scanning the ceiling. The flames had already shifted to a blue, more powerful intensity, crawling across the ceiling quickly.

Fuck. This couldn’t happen again.

“Is anyone here?” Maybe I’d been seeing things. Another cracking sound meant the ceiling was ready to go. I moved forward, trying one last time. There was nothing here. Nothing. Goddamn it, I’d been seeing things. I had to get the fuck out or I’d be trapped.

I spun around, ready to bolt when I heard a strangled cry.

“Help. Us.”

Us. As in plural. Time slowed again just as it had done during the worst night of my life. As I spun around, the light captured the woman holding a child, on the floor against the wall. There was no time to think about what I was doing. I simply reacted, lunging for her, gathering her into my arms.

“Hold onto me and don’t let go. Do you hear me?”

The woman nodded. As I headed for the door, I grabbed a blanket, tossing it over both of them. We had one chance at getting out alive and if God was willing, he’d allow me to save their lives.

Cassandra

“We need to go, baby,” I told Moose.

Woof.My pup rubbed his face against my leg, doing his best to try to push me toward the door as if he knew what Jake had commanded.

“I know. I took too long.” I’d only intended on searching the attic for a few minutes, trying to see if my mother had hidden any other boxes. There’d been so many trunks and boxes to look through that it had taken far longer than I’d anticipated.

Now I stood in front of the television, watching the horror unfold in vivid color. I grabbed my jacket, putting it on, still mesmerized by the reporter going on and on about the tragedy. Folding my arms, I moved closer to the television, horrified at the sight. So many houses torched, so many families losing everything. There were firetrucks seemingly everywhere, so many men and women trying to put out the fire. Thank God, at least they were making headway.

Woof.

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