Witness Protection(ON HOLD)

2.

The screams of affliction and suffering were diminishing by the minute while I'm cooped up in the supplies closet of the dead manager's office. The deafening screeches of pain were being replaced by the popping of burning objects and...flesh. I felt their screams rather than heard it. If it weren't for me running and hiding like a selfish coward none of this would have happened. Right now wasn't one of those cliché moments when someone claims it's their fault for something they clearly didn't do, but it was reality. I had in fact caused all of this. I should have minded my own business, or left to contact the police as soon as possible, but instead I stood there and watched a man get killed, was almost caught, then involved everyone in a goddâmn club in my awful predicament. I should have given up my life to save everyone else's, but instead I did the most selfish thing any human being could have done. I ran from them and now I was the reason for the deaths of over one hundred people. Oh my gods, Emma. Emma and all my other friends. I didn't have any idea if Emma had heeded to my command and we didn't get to tell our friends. They're all probably burning out there. I'm such a horrible person, I deserve to rot in hell for this.

I snapped out of my wallowing when a tear slipped down my cheek then disintegrated. I didn't even feel the searing heat from outside the door and I immediately panicked.

Where is the fire?

How close is it from where I am?

Did Emma escape?

What happened to my other friends?

Did they get burnt alive also?

Or did–

Stopping my train of thoughts I contemplate on wether or not the fire had already made its way over to the supplies closet. The chances that it was already on its path to burn everything down was high and I was afraid to leave the closet in fear of what I would see. But if I didn't I wouldn't be able to tell the police anything. I am the evidence and without me these people would have died unjustly. Without needing to think about it further I take a deep breath, which was a bad idea because almost immediately smoke infiltrated my lungs. Ignoring the burning sensation, I stand up and step around my barricade of boxes to open the door. What I saw had me stumbling back. Everything was engulfed in fire and I could distinctly make out the burnt manager on the floor. I had to cover my mouth and stop the ascent of vomit up my throat. I closed my eyes when it started to water from all of the smoke and tried to breathe through the thickening smoke that was clogging my nose.

I have to get out of here.

I looked around the room. There had to be some way to get out of there. Even though the fire was everywhere, there were some places in between that hadn't any flames, giving me enough space to run to the section of the office where there was less fire.

Bingo!

Right in the middle of the wall on the opposite side from me was a small window I could squeeze myself out of. It was above where I remembered the desk to be. The only problem was that my entire path was filled with fire. I bit my lip then coughed when the smoke became too much to handle. Remembering the boxes, I shuffled back into the closet. I ripped each one open and emptied them out. They were mostly filled with glittery and sequinned clothes but one box held a number of blankets and thin sheets. I didn't question why, only took them all out.

I speedily tied the thin sheets around my heels, which I didn't bother taking off because it would be an extra boost to my 5'7 height. I took the thicker blankets and secured one around my waist and wrapped the other around my upper body. So if I were to go too close to the fire it would get burnt first and I wouldn't suffer from anything serious. I took another one and ran out of the closet, which was becoming too hot for my liking. I took the blanket in my hand and began hitting at the flames on the floor, creating a path for myself. Halfway to the window the blanket caught a fire and I threw it into the flames, breathing harshly and wiping at my eyes which was leaking a continuous stream of tears. I ran to the window without thinking and immediately untied the sheets and blankets from around myself which were now catching a fire.