Blind Faith (Emergency fanfic)

Danger - 20

      The heavy black smoke stung Genevieve's eyes. A violent cough made her ribs hurt from the pressure. She crawled on her hands and knees to try to avoid the worst of it, but it was still bad.
      Sweat dripped down her forehead and back, drenching her loose flannel shirt. The heat was getting intense and she could barely see. Only blurred shapes surrounded her and the bright flames through the smoke.
      Genevieve pushed on untill she came to another door; the third one she had checked. The firefighter felt up and down the door. It wasn't very hot yet so she turned the nob.
      The room was just a kitchen and living space with a door leading to a bedroom and bathroom. "Anyone here!" Ginger yelled. No answers came so she got up and ran to the door going to the other room.
      An older woman lay under a handmade pink quilt. Her gray hair was over her eyes and she didn't move. For a moment Genevieve thought that the smoke had gotten to the lady before she did. There was a pulse.
      Genevieve shook her awake and she looked around wildly. "You need to get out!" Ginger yelled. The woman nodded terrified. "Go out in the hall! Third door on the left!" She covered her mouth and ran frantically for the door. Ginger followed just to make sure she made it and then noticed something red on the wall.
      She squinted. Was it... yes! Genevieve moved further down the hall. She smashed the glass of the box containing a fire extinguisher and pulled the pin while pointing it at Samantha's doorway. Genevieve knew that she had to at least keep that place fire free.
      The roof rumbled, creaked, and popped overhead. I need to get everyone out of here quickly! That roof won't last much longer...
      Genevieve halted at the stairs nearly completely engulfed in raging fire. It was a gamble but she need to get to everyone else. The thought of anyone being trapped alone was overwhelming but her passion to help overrode her fear.
      She cautiously placed a foot on the first carpeted stair that had been burnt to a crisp. Miraculously, the step held the firefighter's weight. She took another. And another. And another. Soon Genevieve became more sure and moved a bit faster. It was a mistake.
      The floor opened up below her to reveal the worst of the fire. There was no floor. No ceiling. No walls. Just blinding flames. Ginger's hands gripped the hot railing tightly. It burned into her palms but it was her only chance for survival.
      Using most of her strength, Genevieve pulled herself to the top and sat panting on the floor. They're still trapped, she reminded herself and got up.
      Yelling and pounding filled the halls and Genevieve's ears as she moved swiftly to unlock doors and pull people away from the raging monster. They had to use the fire escape up here now and Ginger regretted leaving the fire extinguisher.
      "Everything will be alright" She said trying to soothe a family while two sets of young eyes stared up at her; begging her to make the nightmare end. Genevieve only wished it was that easy.
      The family made it down. A young and older couple made it down. A dog. A man. Another family.
      Genevieve's body ached and her lungs were filling quickly with smoke. Her eyes stung and got blurrier while her wrist throbbed with pain.
     The pounding continued from above her. There were people up there. Up at the last level. Just a little bit further. Just a little bit further, Ginger said to herself running down the hall to the next flight of stairs.
      The fire had reached the top of the building and with a huge crack, a part of the ceiling caved in. It landed squarely on top of Genevieve. She put the pain in her wrist out of her mind and tried to pull herself out. She let out a shriek as more fell.
      It was too heavy and she was too weak by herself. Briefly she remembered the first test she had to pass to get in the academy. They hadn't believed a woman could do it so her instructor gave a special test to her.
      He loaded the weights with too much for her to handle but hadn't told her. After being pinned and struggling under the weight Genevieve asked for instructions. "You tell me." She only had to say one word. Help. It was something she wished she had now.