Goodbye, sis! *Completed*

Chapter 7- Birthdays. You gotta love 'em!

I'm trapped. I know he's out there. Probably stalking the shed, like a cat might do with a rabbit run. The difference is, the rabbit could dig to escape. I can't. I scream, bang on the walls and door. I get splinters from the walls and small pricks of blood form on the sides of my hands. I don't give in. I kick the walls crying. "Please Jake! Please!"

"You only have Zoey to blame for this. Remember that dearest." I hear a sound like rain hitting the roof, but then I see little bits of water sloshing through the walls of the shed. I walk over. It's smells strong, nothing like water and then realisation hits me like a blow to the head. Petrol. I stand up and throw myself at the walls more violently. 

"Please Uncle Jake! Please let me out! I won't tell anyone. I swear." I hear laughing.

"You always were the dumbest of the two, but by far the prettiest. It's a shame I have to say." His voice comes in muffled by the walls. I hear a scratch sound like the sound of a match being struck. "Goodbye, sweetie." At that moment I see light flare through the outside of the shed. Flames squeeze in between the planks and reach for me. I scream and slam against the door. The heat grows intense and I see the air begin to turn black with smoke. I scream, choke, wretch. No one hears me. That's when I hear her. I pitch over to all fours and gasp for what precious, clear air there is. 

"Ash!" She cries. I can barely hear her over the crackle of flames. She's not next to the shed but she's getting closer. I look furiously at the sack that tricked me. I snatch it up and hold it over my mouth and nose, trying to filter out the smoke. There's no more clean air left. "Ashley! Speak to me!" I try to call for her. To tell her I'm OK, but I just end up choking again. I hear Zoey begin to bang on the side of the shed to my left. I try to tell her it's no use, but my throat is closing. It comes out as a hoarse whisper. I begin to feel dizzy and my eyelids feel heavy. My arms and legs feel weak and I collapse to the floor boards. I begin to wheeze as flames gingerly tickle at my arms, spreading through the floor. They begin to burn my flesh and I wriggle trying to get away but they follow me. I can't move anymore, I can barely breathe. I lay limp as a rag doll. I try, I try so very hard! But it's impossible. I resign myself to the truth that this is how I will die. Burnt to a crisp, with my dearest sister attempting, but failing to save me. 

No sooner does the thought escape me than four boards from the bottom of the wall, fly in at me. I see Zoey's feet and then my eyes close. I can still hear and feel the flames though. They're all too real. I feel a hand grasp mine. The pain as she touches my burns is excruciating. She drags me but I don't move far. Poor Zoey never was very strong. I hear the creak of boards above me and the crash as they fall just next to me. The heat from them singes me and I try to block it. I can feel myself slipping away. Not long. I tell myself. Then I hear Zoey calling to someone.  "Help me! My sister's trapped inside." I hear someone run closer to me.

"Move!" He cries. He begins to kick at the last of the wall and soon they break away. The rest of the roof falls on top of me. I can hear nor see no more. The pain is gone and I'm left in a dark place. Smoke collecting around me.....

"Ash! Ashley wake up! It's alright, it was just a dream." I open my eyes and see Scott leaning over me. I'm crying and I can stop. I launch myself up and wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his neck. I sob, huge, painful hiccups. Scott gently strokes my back and head. "Shhh..." He mutters. "You're alright. You're safe now. I'm here. No one can hurt you." I slow my breathing and swallow, blink back tears. I breathe out slowly and sit back. 

"I'm sorry, Scott." I say with a shaky voice. "I didn't mean to do that." He looks at me with concerned eyes and cups my face in his hands. He uses his thumbs to gently wipe away my tears.