Chapter 1

There was fire everywhere I looked. It was suffocating and terrifying. The heat was intense and felt thick in the air. I went to take a breath and coughed at the searing sensation that flooded my lungs. The building was burning fast and I had yet to locate the young girl whose screams drew me into the building in the first place. All I could see was the fiery orange of the flames as they ate away at the building. It was so hot I could almost feel my skin blistering and melting off my body.

“Please help me! Help me!” I heard a shrill scream echo from behind me. I turned quickly to the empty classroom, trying to beat the spreading fire. 

“Where are you? I can’t see you!” I called as I entered the room, coughing as the smoke and heat raged on. 

“I’m right here. Please help me.” She whimpered as she stepped out from the corner of the room and ran to me, tears staining her small cheeks. She was about eight, with hair as bright as the flames surrounding us and green eyes filled with fear and tears. She clung to my legs so tightly it was a struggle to pry her off and pick her up.

“Please. I’m scared.”

“Shh. I’ll get you out of here,” I murmured panickedly as I held her close and ran  through the burning room. I skidded to a halt as I reached the door that I came through, seeing it was blocked by falling debris engulfed in flames. Pivoting, I found a door that wasn’t completely blocked off. I put the young girl down and pushed the blazing boards out of my way, my hands in agony from the developing burns and blisters. I picked her up, ignoring the searing pain in my hands, and kicked the door open, stepping out into the clean cool air that the outside world provided.

As soon as we stepped out of the burning school we were spotted. Cries of relief and help were heard. I shakily moved a safe distance away from the flames before collapsing onto the grass, shielding the young girl as much as I was able from the harsh impact. Through the pounding of blood in my ears I could hear people approaching, and the sound of their panic as they saw the condition we were in. 

I cried out in pain as a young man checked me over, the material of his fireproof suit rubbing against my raw, blistering flesh. An older female paramedic was talking to me as she and the firefighter placed me onto a stretcher. I could see her mouth moving but I couldn’t hear the words. I lifted my burnt hand and feebly clutched the fabric of the firefighter’s suit, tugging at it and successfully gaining his attention. He turned his face towards me, crystal blue eyes staring into mine with concern and controlled panic. Black hair framed his face and his jaw was painted with a few days’ worth of stubble. His movements were calm and deliberate, but his eyes divulged his solicitude.

“The girl,” I said weakly. I coughed, my grip loosening as my eyes grew hazy and my body became heavy. “Save the girl.”

“She’s going to be ok. You got her out in time. She had a few burns but she’ll be ok. You are very brave.” He spoke soothingly as his blue eyes bore into my hazel ones. 

I nodded and smiled faintly, glad that I managed to save the child. The pain in my body subsided as I felt exhaustion taking over. 

“Hey, stay with me. Fight it. Stay with me.” The firefighter spoke firmly,as he clutched my jaw lightly, forcing me to look at him. “Tell me your name.” I couldn’t look away, even if I wanted to, those blue eyes holding me captive.

“Haven,” I whispered before my chest seized from the charred air I inhaled, burning as I was placed in the back of the ambulance. 

“I’m James. Haven, you need to let go of me. They have to take you to the hospital.” James spoke, his words not making sense. I couldn’t feel my body; couldn’t move it.  Everything was going black. 

I could hear the paramedics telling James to sit in the corner and not move. I could feel a distant pain as they touched my skin. I could smell my burnt flesh, my burnt hair, and I could taste the smoke on my tongue… but the only thing I could see was James’s blue eyes piercing the veil of darkness that was obscuring my vision. 

“Save the girl. Save the girl” I choked out, knowing already that I couldn’t be saved. 

“Haven! Stay with me!” James yelled, jolting up from his position in the corner and coming to my side as his eyes shone with a silent plea. I stared at him as the pain faded, my vision waning. I held his beautiful blue gaze until it all faded; until I could hear, feel, taste, see and smell no more. Everything faded until there was nothing but darkness.