Love over Death

Chapter 14

Thick black smoke emerged from the burning building. I heard two of the teachers telling one another how there must be nearly a hundred people in F block. Everything was spinning around me as I slumped against the nearest tree. All I could think about was the impending query of whether Bailey would survive.
Suddenly, I see Philip running through the gates. What’s he doing here? He runs up to the blazing structure and enters it. About 3 minutes later, he runs out carrying Lukas in his arms. It’s a scene from one of those thriller movies with a romantic storyline. I love those films.
Even though he’s sweating horrendously, Philip continues to run until he reaches my tree and puts Lukas onto the ground. I cough awkwardly and ask if he’s going to be ok. Philip nods and asks me if I have any water before forcing it down Lukas’s throat.
“Did you see Bailey in there?” I ask nervously.
“No. Sorry.” He abruptly remarks without even glancing up.
“Do you think he’s dead?” I ask after a long pause.
“He’ll be ok in a couple of hours.”
“I mean Bailey.”
“Oh...I don’t know but...if he left you he can’t love you that much can he?”
“WHAT DO YOU KNOW. YOU’RE JUST CRAZY. I DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU.” I exclaim whilst trying to stand up, which must look rather comical seeing as a group of shaking year sevens stop shaking for a second and start laughing, and fall back to the floor.
The pain is unbearable. I scream and begin to cry. No one even notices. I’m left on my own until Miss William’s approaches. She sits down next to me. I’d never heard her speak so softly before.
“My husband died in a fire last year at a New year’s party. He saved my life...and then went back for others. I waited for hours for him to return...but the fire brigade had found the bodies of 7 people...and one was him.”
I thought she was going to cry.
“If he doesn’t come back, I want you to know that he always talks about you in maths. Sometimes boys can neglect our feelings but they always mean well. He loves you Laura.”
With these final words, she stood up in her usual precise manner and walked away slowly to comfort a small group of year eight girls. Why would she tell me this? Does she know he’s died?
After trying to grab onto my tree for a few minutes, I eventually manage to pull myself up. With a plan in my head and passion in my heart, I snap off one of the branches and begin to stumble across the field. Within seconds, I can feel the gaze of the entire school fall upon me.
It’s becoming hard to breathe as I approach the flaming construction. Over half of the building has been consumed by the plague of fire. As I reach the door, my branch snaps and I fall through the door. I’ve lost my ability to walk.
Sliding along the smoke ridden corridor, I begin to scream his name. I flash of colours blasts past my eyes and I find myself familiar with a well known voice.
“LAURA WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING. GET OUT OF HERE.”
He helps me up and forces me towards the exit, but it’s too late. My legs collapse below me and my body plummets to the ground. I’m still conscious of my surroundings but I can’t quite hear what Bailey’s saying. Something grabs me from behind and then everything turns black.