Chapter 72 - Fire

Scott abandons the car without consideration for others outside of Mum’s and Dad’s house and we quickly jump out. The air is thick with smoke and fear as the neighbours with grey faces huddle amongst themselves. There’s firefighters everywhere; running and shouting. I stand in front of the house and struggle to breathe as the flames crackle and roar, as they burst from three windows and the smoke billows into the night.

“Where are they?”

“They’re still in there,” Steve says, his eyes heavy with tears. “I tried to go in, but the hallway was filled with smoke and….”

Without even thinking, I race towards the house, but Scott wraps his arms around me and pulls me back.

“LET ME GO!” I scream.

“Let the professionals do their jobs, Emma,” he pleads as his arms wrap tighter around me. I watch horrified as the firefighters wearing breathing apparatus make their way into the house.

There’s orders being shouted and soon the house is being doused with foam and water. I feel a sudden r