Cadence

20. Flames

FLASHBACKS WILL BE IN THIS FONT.

Cadence

Smoke. It's everywhere. In my nostrils. My throat. My lungs.

I can't breathe. Clawing at my throat I try to let in oxygen. I can't hear anything, the thumping of my heartbeat being the only sound available.

Looking around the room frantically I search for a clear exit, the smoke is coming in through the cracks in the door.

"Malyshka!" A voice booms from beside me.

Turning my head I'm met with icy blue eyes, his hands are gripping my shoulders and shaking me.

"Malyshka, I need you to calm down." He says not quite as loud as before.

I nod slowly, taking my hands away from my throat and putting them on the sheets beside me. He gets up from the bed and pulls on his suit pants he wore last night quickly. He then throws on his shirt not caring to do up the buttons and shoved his feet into his shoes.

He grabs a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie and walks over to me holding them. Grabbing my legs he slowly drags me to the end of the bed and kneels pulling the joggers up my legs.

Raising my arms for him he puts the hoodie over my naked body then puts some socks on my feet. He does all of this fast not giving me the chance to think.

More smoke enters the room and I begin to sob memories from that day coming back to me.

"Mama please, where are you!?" I scream.

The whole house smells like a bonfire. I'm holding Mr Goof to my chest, his soft giraffe fur being the only thing keeping me semi calm.

I ran out of my room five minutes ago, I went into my parents one and they weren't there. The whole top floor is empty and every room is filled with smoke making it hard to breathe.

I don't know where my parents are and it's starting to scare me. They're never out this late.

"Papa!" I shout behind tears. My voice is croaky and muffled by the thick layer of black cloud surrounding my small body.

Running down the stairs I keep my head as low as possible. Trying to avoid the smoke from getting deep into my respiratory system.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs I scream when I see the large flames pouring out of the kitchen and into the dining room. I look around quickly trying to find an exit when my eyes land on the worst thing imaginable.

There they lay. My dad holding my mother to his chest, their skin melting together under the hell like flames.

I collapse to the floor. The sight too unbearable.

"Malyshka I need you to hold on tight." He whispers brushing his lips against my forehead.

I'm no longer sitting on the bed but in his arms. He's carrying me bridal style in his strong arms. I keep a hand on his bare chest to support myself and hook my other arm around his neck.

Focusing on his scent I try to ignore the smoke circling us.

"Close your eyes sweetheart."

I do as he says. Hearing the doorknob turning and his heavy breathing. He takes a step out of the room and a sudden heat descends. My skin is on fire. The heat from the flames close to burning me.

My breath quickens and my sobbing continues.

"Keep breathing it's okay." He reassures, before taking some steps to the right then quickly but carefully he goes down the first flight of steps.

Once he reaches the second floor I hear a creak then what I assume to be a large beam crashes to the ground only millimetres away from us. I grab at his shirt digging my nails into his skin.

"I've got you. I've got you." He strokes his thumb over my shoulder trying to calm me. It works a little but the smells and sounds are triggering me so much I feel as though I may pass out.

He continues walking and heads down the second flight of stairs, although these take longer as they're covered in ash. I can hear it beneath his shoes.

The sound tormenting me.

"Mama! Papa! Please wake up!" I cry looking at their non moving bodies lying on the ground only a few feet away from me.

"Please!" I shout, trying. For something. Anything.

A loud crash makes my body jolt and my eyes snap open.

Immediately I'm overwhelmed and breakdown in a fit of tears. Nicolas brushes his hand over my hair and tries to soothe me but it doesn't work.

He looks down and noticed my eyes are open.

Kissing my forehead he takes one of his hands and covers my eyes.

Continuing his way through the house he passes a particularly hot spot that makes my skin crawl.

It's the living room. I can tell by the sound of his shoes on soft carpet. It's nearly inaudible but my senses are so heightened by the loss of sight that I know instantly.

We're walking directly over the spot that still haunts me to this day.

"It's almost over." He whispers. His voice calm but shaking. Evident he knows what happened in this room.

"Please hurry." I say quietly. I'm not sure he hears me.

But he does. He hurries his steps.

"I need to put you down quickly so I can break the door open okay."

"No." I cry. Holding onto him even tighter.

He can't put me down right now. It'll be too much.

"Malyshka, I have to. I'll pick you up straight away and we'll be out of here. I promise."

Hastily I nod and keep my eyes shut as I sit on the floor with my knees to my chest.

I hear a loud thump against glass. Then on the second thud glass shatters all over the floor.

A few small shards go into my arm, but I pay no mind to them. He bends down and lifts me in his arms again.

His body is covered in a thin layer of sweat, my body sticking to his.

His shoes crunch under the glass.

The cool breeze hits my face as soon as he exits the house. And it feels as though a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

But it's not over yet. I still have to deal with the damage.

He walks down the grass in the backyard towards where his car is parked. He opens the passenger side and lowers me into the seat. Only then do I open my eyes.

His once white shirt is now completely grey and his trousers are covered in ash.

Closing the door he rounds the car and sits in the drivers side.

Looking over to my house I see the flames spilling out of the windows. Destroying everything in its path. It runs up the curtains and scratches at the window panes. Fighting to be let out.

I sob at the image. So similar to one so many years ago. Nicolas reaches his hand out and takes my own in his.

Turning on the ignition he reverses out of his spot and drives away. Still hand in mine he changes gears. The warmth calming my nerves.

"It's okay malyshka, go back to sleep." He looks over at me reassuringly.

Holding his eyes I nod and turn my head to look outside. Everything's asleep. No cars on the road. No people walking around. It's calm.

AN

Word count 1259