𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏'//𝑫𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏×𝑶𝑪

💥|SEVENTEEN|💥

I RUSHED PAST the group of children, their teacher, and a round man, trying to calm them down as they cried and screamed. Coming to a halt a few feet away from the burning church. I could feel the heat from here.

"Jerry some of the children are missing!" The short-haired teacher cries.

My heart drops down to my stomach. The church. There are kids in the fucking church. Without another thought, I rush towards the burning building, ignoring the calls of protest I get from the round man.

Black smoke pours from the cracks in the wood nailed to the window, and through the smoke, I could make out the sound of children. I grab a hold of one of the boards. My fingers heat up quickly, and I can feel the splinters already splitting my skin. I grit my teeth, pulling with all my might, but it wasn't enough.

"I'm comin'!" I hear the booming voice of my brother. Not even a second later, he's beside me. With our strength combined, we ripped away two boards with ease. The hole was small, but I knew I could get through.

"Stay out here," I command Ponyboy. Johnny comes running towards us and Ponyboy yells my name.

I'm inside the church before Johnny gets to Ponyboy.

My eyes burn with tears as I pull my thin shirt up over my nose, coughing at the dense, smoky air. I can hardly breathe. The air might as well have been cement pouring into my lungs. My body heats up so quickly it feels like I am on fire myself; sweat clings to me like a second skin. I suddenly regret putting Dally's heavy jacket on in the car. My knees were locked and my legs didn't want to push me any further.

I force my body forward, stumbling through the burning church. I let out a yelp as a piece of wood from the ceiling falls. It would've fallen right on top of me if I hadn't been yanked back by the collar of Dally's jacket.

I flip around, squinting my eyes "Ponyboy. Johnny, I told you two to stay outside!" I yell at the two boys.

Ponyboy grabs me by my bicep, pulling me forward. "Scolding me can wait; we have bigger problems, Angie!" He responds through a fit of coughs.

I pull my bicep away and we stumble deeper into the church. In the corner, a handful of children sat, curled up with tear-stained faces. The three of us rush to them "Don't worry, we'll get you out of here!" Johnny says. Quickly, we start picking up kids.

A grab up a small girl with pigtails, her lip quivering and ash coating her rosy cheeks. "I want my mama!" She wails, I feel my heart clench as I hold her close, looking around for a way out.

The sound of breaking wood is heard and I look up. The ceiling was encased in flames, the wood jet black. It would fall any minute.

"Angela over here!" I hear someone scream.

I look over to see Ponyboy and Johnny putting kids in Dally's arms through an open space. I rush over there with the small child, putting her in the safety of Dally's hands.

Dally puts the child down and I flip around to grab another. I'm yanked back, and I look at Dally with frantic eyes, trying to pull away. "Angela, get out of there now!" He begs. I've never heard Dally beg or look so scared.

I ignore him.

I rip my arm from his grasp and rush back to the remaining child. "I got this one you guys get out!" I yell to Johnny and Ponyboy, who each hold a child.

"Hurry this place is about to collapse!" Johhny rushes me as he and Ponyboy out the children outside.

I grab up the small blonde boy, and he wriggles in my grasp, screaming and crying, his throat raw. "I'm trying to help you. Please calm down." I beg as I stumble through the collapsing building with him.