Listen to Towards the Sun by Rihanna while reading this chapter and enjoy. :))
I felt terrible. I didn't know why but I just did. I couldn't do it. I couldn't just run off & leave my mom. If you knew my mom, you would know she isn't a people pleaser with anyone except for me. She always gave me whatever I wanted when I wanted it, but unlike other kids that would probably take advantage of their parents, I tried not to dominate my mom. She was an only parent which only made it worse because she worked her butt off to work & get money just so I could get good clothes, brand shoes, & delicous food on the table.
I lay in my bed thinking about all this & more when I felt my phone buzz. I tried to ignore the incessant buzzing but finally I picked up my expensive brand phone & was surprised to see It was Cassie.
"Hello?" I answered, confused & slightly worried.
What If something was wrong? What If her parents found out about our plans to meet every day even though we barely knew each other?
"Okay, you need to listen. Don't interrupt, just listen, okay?" Her voice sounded rushed & breathless as If there was a problem.
"Cassie, where are you? Is something wrong? Tell me so I can come get you. Where are your parents?" I asked worriedly.
"Whoa, chill. I'm fine. Just listen, okay?"
"Okay."
"I need you to come here right now."
"Like, now now?"
"Nash, what did I say about interrupting?"
"Oh, sorry."
"Okay, so yea, like now now. This is an emergency, so you better try to sneak out or something because this is urgent. I'm going to send you my address right now & you better run. "
"Okay, just tell me you're Okay."
"Run."
"Hello? Cassie?!"
I stared at my phone screen & a message instantly popped up with an address.
I hopped around the room, pulling a pair of jeans on, grabbing a tshirt & sweater from my closet & shoving my feet into some shoes.
I showed the man on the bus the address & he nodded.
"Please just take me there directly. I'll pay extra."
The man simply nodded & told me to hop in.
I was the only one on the bus which didn't surprise me. It was getting late & I didn't hae a clue what Cassie's emergency was so the whole ride, all I did was worry & imagine horrible things happening to Cassie. Trying to tell myself everything was fine didn't help at all. Cassie didn't sound fine.
"This is it."
"Are you sure?"
I handed the man some money & trippped over the stairs onto the street.
"Cassie!"
I went to the side of the house & tried to look in through the burning flames.
"Hey! Over here!"
My head whipped over to the direction of the voices in hope Cassie was there, but all I saw were four guys & a woman waving me over.
I ran over & tried to look behind them to find Cassie but I still didn't see her.
"Cassie's inside! Who are you?"
"Uh, a friend." I uttered before taking one of my shoes & running back to the side window. I stepped back & tossed my shoe at the window as hard as I could.
"Cassie!" I looked around frantically & blinked as much as I could, breathing in thick smoke.
"Here." I heard a soft weak voice.
"Cassie!" I rushed over to her & stood her up.
"Whats this?" My hand felt warm & I started to panic, seeing my hand covered in blood.
"Oh, nothing. I just tripped. Are they okay?"
"Your family? Yea, their fine, but right now, I need to get you out of here."
"A-Angel..."
"Angel?" Oh god, please tell me she wasn't hallucinating.
Cassie pointed to the corner of the room wher I saw a small ball.
"Bring me Angel."
I stumbled over to the corner of the room, coughing & gently picked up the small blackish grey bundle & turned around.
"Cassie! Oh my god! We have to get out of here!" I screamed. The air around me was thinning & the room was sweltering hot. I lifted Cassie into my arms as fast as I could with Angel on top of Cassie & staggered to the window. I stopped as soon as I came to the window & watched in panic as the fire quickly reached the window before me & started to spread. I teetered to another door, only to see it was burning up too.
"I need to call 911." I said taking my phone out & starting to type in the numbers.
"No, please don't do that."
"Why not?" I asked, typing in 9.
"Please don't. Just... please."
"I have to & you're bleeding. Th-- Cassie!" Cassie coughed loudly & shut her eyes.
"Cassie, wake up. Please."
"Hello, what Is your emergency?"
"Myfriend'shouseisonfire&Icame intosaveher&Idon'tknowwhat happenedtoher.She'snotansweringme&Ican'tget out of my house.Pleasehelpme."
"Sir, please calm down. What is your address?"
I told the lady the address, crawled inside a bathroom where I felt it was less hot & shut the door. I turned the knob in the bathtub. I bent down next to Cassie & started to get handfuls of water to splash on her face. Cassie wasn't responding & I couldn't hear anything outside of the bathroom.
"Oh my god, Cassie. You're bleeding." I whispered taking my sweater & wrapping it around her skinny waist. I knew Cassie couldn't hear me but I couldn't help but keep talking to her in case she did.
Suddenly the door opened & big men started to take Cassie away.
"Wai--" I started to cough & stumbled onto the floor, unable to keep my balance.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." I said when someone tried to pick me up. "I need to get home. I feel fine. Just make sure Cassie is okay."
I did my best to stand up & walk out without falling over.
I hitched a ride with Cassie's mom & brothers & headed to the hospital forgetting my mom was probably freaking out about where I was. She would just have to wait. Cassie was more important right now.
