Engulfed

Chapter 6

"The ringing in my ears gets violent"

It's worse than you might think. I've been sitting in the place for just about five minutes straight, letting the flames engulf me.

No signs of Pete or any of the other guys. No signs of any life anywhere, only me - which isn't much of a lifeline.

My eyelids are heavy and I'm stuck staring at the ground under me. The flames must still be roaring and tearing violently. I can't comprehend a thing.

I tried to concentrate on the door. The wood was still burning brightly, but hung open. For some reason, I couldn't keep my eyes off of it.

There was another door, one with a different kind of light under it. It was an exit. Had I been looking and not searching, I'd have found it and possibly could've survived.

Not just today, but life has been a choice. We can end our lives with the flick of a switch. We can walk the easy way out. We can cheat and lie and steal.

And then we can help. We can save and we could be the hero that no one knows about.

That was who I strived to be.

Because, now, I not only had Brendon to save, I had another life in danger. A woman, maybe a year or two behind me, was banging on doors around the floor, calling for help.

She didn't notice me and certainly not the exit. I press my hands to the floor and push myself as upright as I can, dragging myself to the door. My breath hiked and dropped. I could die any second now. If I'm going to do this, it needs to be soon.

As I lift my hand to the door to open it more, I see how bad I really am. The brass doorknob shows me my face.

I'm bleeding and burning in just about every place of my body. I'm a monster. But that's all the reason to want to help more. Somehow, I feel that this is my fault, and I won't stop trying to repay the choices I've made until my breathing stops.

I look to the door. I'd never make it in time, but she might be able to.

Even though my line of sight grows thinner and blurrier, I almost see her clearly. She has spiraled, jet black hair. The look on her thin face portrayed fear and a tiny glimpse of hope. She's been through worse. She's seen far more terrible things than this fire and she's still pushing on.

I can barely make a sound. Every time I try, nothing comes out but a staggered breath.

"Hey," I finally push out.

She her head spun right towards me. A lock of hair fell over her shoulder and her eyes shined in my direction.

"Exit... Left... Go-" I fell against the door and closed it behind me.

Little had I known that that was the last time I'd ever see her again. I wouldn't need to. I'm dead, she'll live. The world will go on with or without me.

Some people have said that death is peaceful. Some say that you can see your life flash before your eyes, all of the memories you've had in your life, all of the good times you've had. It certainly wasn't the case with me.

I felt every organ in my body reject me. Wheezing, my lungs filled with smoke and nothing else. I coughed, choking.

If there was any kind of heaven, I was ready to leave. I'm tired of suffering. Now, it's time to be good.

A door opened. A door to heaven? The door to hell? Where am I going?

There's still flames, everywhere my eyes allow me to look. I still feel the ache and pain. I still can't breath.

A pair of legs stands over me. I don't have the energy nor time to look up and see who it is.

I welcome the end to my pain and suffering and close my eyes.