25 November 2012
I started to move deeper into the wood, picking up sticks and twigs that would be suitable for a fire. The wood became darker as I strolled carelessly deeper. I heard the water gushing from the stream near by. The small ripples crashing into rocks, spraying the ground near by. I moved closer to the stream and dropped all my wood to wash my hands and face. The cold spray of water against my cheeks was refreshing and cooling. I sniffed in all the fresh air but the smell of smoke overpowered it. I stood up and slowly began to walk backwards, picking up my fire wood as I did. A sudden sharp, deafening scream echoed through my ears. I dropped the logs and ran in a direction I thought the noise had come from. I seemed to be running faster than I ever thought I could.I closed my eyes feeling my body burn up. My cheeks growing red. My whole body becoming tense and stiff. For a minute I thought I couldn't feel the ground. My eyes opened to see the trees flying past me like a flash of lightening. In front of me I saw smoke trails. Without a second thought my legs began to move faster, following the trail.
I came to a meadow, full of dead dandelions. In the middle was a house. A house glaring with flames. The orange embers of the fire roared and screamed but never managed to break free. A dark shape was moving from inside. Another scream escaped from the burning house. Cries and screams echoed in the house and in my ears. I put my neck scarf over my mouth and ran inside. I knew if I told my father he would not approve of my actions. Running into a burning house was not something he would take lightly. I usually agreed with all his terms and I always promised not to do anything stupid. But this time, I felt something different. An urge to save whoever was in this burnt house. An urge to prove something of myself.
There wasn't much of a door, or a doorway as I entered the house. Thinking my sight would be at a disadvantage from all the smoke, would be wrong. I managed to see a clear path leading up a stair case. There wasn't much of a landing either. Most of it had turned to ash. I heard another scream from across what would have been the landing. From what was left of the floor, I carefully took a step at a time, until I reached the other side. In a room to my right I saw a little girl clutching standing in a corner with something under her arm. She reminded me of Beth. The little girl and whatever she was holding were surrounded by orange and red flames.
"What's your name?" my voice was muffled under the scarf but she still managed to hear me
"Who…who are… you?" she stuttered between sobs
"My name is Carmine," I said trying to sound gentle "what's yours?"
I take a few steps closer so I have a better chance of hearing her.
"Don't hurt me!" she pleaded gripping tighter of what was next to her
"I'm not going to," I assured her, now standing on the other side of the flame to her "you need to tell me your name so I can help you."
"Katie."
"Ok Katie," I say calmly "walk towards me, slowly, Katie, I need you to walk towards me, Katie!" I watched her fall, letting go of what she had been holding this whole time. I rushed through the flames with my hands out. I managed to catch her by the bottom of her head before it crash against the floor. She was still breathing and her heart was beating. I picked her up and cradelled her in my arms. I then noticed what she had been clutching so tightly. A boy.
Chapter 2: Burning Up • Opuss № I