Protect me - Luke Hemmings Punk

3.9 - Never felt more alive

I fell to the ground with my mouth open to its fullest, but I still only inhaled smoke. My blurry sight made it impossible for me to find an escape as the tears started to fall down my cheeks. 

"Hello?" I screamed at the top of my lungs, but only the sparking sound from the fire was heard. I was all alone in a sea of flames. I pressed myself to the floor and began crawling down one of the aisles. God, this was a stupid idea. No matter what, I had to get the chip out of here. I didn't even care if I'd die. I wouldn't let years of hard work go to waste. 

I coughed loudly and used my arms to move away from the fire, but it was hardly any use. My arms became sore and the smoke made my eyes watery. I was basically blind. I reached one of the concrete walls and pressed myself against it. It was still cool. I gulped and tried to take a few deep breathes before I turned around so I was lying on my back and facing the roof. 

"Come on..." I growled as tears began to run down my irritated eyes and burned the wounds on my face. There had to some kind of exit in case of emercancy. I was about to roll over to catch my breath when I saw it. 

Straight above me, at least 5 meters, was a small window where clouds of smoke was sipping through. It wasn't fully closed. No matter if it's bulletproof or not, I can open it. I fisted my eyes and dried the tears off of my face before I began to crawl in the window's direction. 

The fire got hotter and hotter and I had a hard time breathing since my lungs were filled with smoke. In desperation, I glanced up the large shelfs. The one to my left had kinda burnt down and consisted by an iron scaffolding. I gently touched it with my fingertips. 

"Ow, fuck!"

I quickly pulled back when the rack burned me. It was hot as hell. Well, there goes my only chance to find a way out. I glance to my right to see boxes still on fire and out of reflex crawl towards the burning scaffolding. The iron may be burning my skin, but I'd rather live and burn than die in vain. I glanced up the rack towards the small window that was hidden. Even if I deciede to climb the frame, there was still a 5 ft jump and I'm not even sure the iron racks will hold my weight. 

Suddenly one of the scaffoldings in the far corner broke down with a loud thud and I gulped. The racks managed to collide with another which began to tremble. 

"Oh no." I mumbled and gripped the chip harder in my hand. I looked down and put it in my pocket, just to keep it extra safe. I pulled my long sleeves down my hands and gently touched the iron rack that I had felt before. It didn't burn as much with the fabric of my clothes in between, but It was still extremely uncomfortable. I was about to look up at the window again when the next scaffolding fell and hit another one, which fell and collided with the next. It created a domino effect. 

"Shit!" I yelled and quickly started to climb up the rack of burning iron and old glowing boxes. The ash's strong smell made my head dizzy and burned my eyes, but I blinked the pain away and continued to climb towards the window. One foot in front of the other. 

Every now and then I turned back to look at the large shelfs. The majority of them was by now crumbling to their knees and panic filled my body. Only a few aisles away, the racks began to break or melt. I cursed to mysef and continued to climb upwards. As the smoke got thicker, my legs started to shake. The ash kept on burning my wounds and intoxicate me, but I didn't care at this point. All I could see, think, smell and feel was her.

Emmy. 

"Luke, you can do this. Emmy will be right there, waiting for you. She will be alive and well. She wi---"

*BOOM*

I got startled as the scaffolding right next to mine fell down and forced a wave of heat to hit me in the face. I gulped hard and picked up my pase. Any minute, or second, the racks I was holding would break and I would fall to my death. I bit the inside of my cheeks as I finally reached up and grabbed the highest railing. Now, I had to stand on top of it and jump the last meters. It's not that high, is it? I reached up and placed my foot on the rack, ready to take the jump towards freedom.

Suddeny it happened.

The scaffolding I was standing on began to crumble. Piece by piece fell to the ground and I lost my balance. I stepped down from the railing to calm myself down and not fall before I stepped up again. A loud thud echoed through the inventory and...

... I jumped.

 Underneath me, the rack melted in the fire, the boxes I had walked on burned into nothing and the scaffolding broke. As the railings hit the ground, I grabbed the small window sill. I was hanging, 5 meters in the air, above a fire that could kill me at any time. I pulled myself up, but soon stopped. My muscles were sore and hurt. I could no longer lift my own body. 

"Fuck it." I muttered and let go with one arm. If I could grab something from outside, I could pull myself up easier. I clenched my jaw and raised my arms and fist. I punched the window over and over again until it cracked. My eyes lit up as I punched it once more. 

It broke. 

I used my hand to remove pieces of glass that could hurt me badly and made the hole bigger. Just enough for me to fit through. I took a deep breath and felt outside the window with my hand. My eyes widened as I found an iron tube lying outside on the grass. I placed it against the hole, where the window used to be, and began to pull myself up. 

The cool wind and fresh air motivated me to keep climbing, eventhough my muscles were giving in. The small pieces of glass dug through my skin and ripped my stomach open, but I didn't care. I kept on going. Soon enough, I was able to pull my leg up and crawl out the window. 

The air.

The fresh wind.

It consumed me.

I laid down on my back with my arms and legs spread out as I breathed heavily. My chest kept on raising and falling for what felt like hours. I made it. I fucking made it. Luke Hemmings fucking survived a suicide fire! HA! A small smile creeped on my face. My hand went down to my pocket and I felt it.

The chip.

We both made it out alive. 

Oh how the wind is turning, Gibson.

----------------------------------------------------

A/N

Hey guys. I don't know how many of you that are left after all this time. However, I promised to finish the story and that's exactly what I am doing. Honestly, I don't care if no one will read these last parts. My goal is to one day look back and to see that I actually finished one of many projects, which also happens to be my very first one. I have been cringing at this story for about a year now, but when I finally pulled myself out of my ass and read the last couple of chapters, I realised that it's not as cringe as I thought and that's the reason why I decided to reunite with it. (Also, I have known the ending for the past year and finally wanna write it down). I was 16 when it all started and I am 19 now. let's see how it all ends.

Throughout the time I've been gone, I have been reading all comments and smiled. I've missed this fandom and I'm so glad to finally be back. I don't know when I'll be posting next part, but I hope it will be soon (so you won't have to wait another year and a half ha).

As always,

Lots of love