In the Belly of the Beast

38

Where were the fire trucks?

Abby stood upon the ledge of the opened door and peered above the roof of the car into the blackness. The fire was spreading at an alarming rate. Its tendrils licked at the windows and lit the interior of the house. She felt like she was watching the meltdown of a wax museum.

Only a couple of minutes had passed and already the conflagration scorched the second level of the house. How could anything spread that quickly?

And where was Mecham?

She hoped he wasn't still in there. She detested the man, but she wouldn't wish that fate on her worst enemy.

And where was the kid? 

She hadn't seen him at all since knocking on the front door.

Every fiber in her wanted to rush inside the house and give her assistance to anyone who needed. It.

But that was impossible. The fire was just too great, the heat too intense. She shivered as she stood beside the car. It wasn't from the cold, she realized, but from the heat of the fire. She'd started to sweat, and the frigid air had caused this reaction.

Damn this awful night, she thought. No power. No fire truck. No partner.

And where the hell was everyone in this neighborhood, anyway? Were they all dead?

She looked at the house next door. What was she thinking? She wasn't. They must be warned. They needed to evacuate immediately. For their own safety.

She turned on her flashlight and trekked across the street. With luck, the little boy would be there. At least she'd get a handle on one person tonight.