Meant to Be

Chapter 1 - The Fire

I woke up to the sound of a crackling noise. When I opened my tired eyes, all I saw was a blur of orange. There was a fire was consuming my room! I jumped out of bed, my body trembling. I yelled as loud as I ever have before, "HELP! MOM! THERE'S A FIRE!" No answer. She must be at her new boyfriends house. I really miss her, the old her, not how she is now.

My door and window were both blocked by the flames. I grabbed my cellphone, bag, and the fading picture laying on my desk. There was no way I was letting it burn in the fire. It was the last one that I had left of my father. I looked down and realized that I hadn't worn any pants to bed last night. I quickly slid into some black yoga pants, jamming my phone and the picture quickly into the bag. The only place that I could go was the bathroom. I ran straight to the crowded room and slammed the door behind me.

I dialed three numbers with my shaking hands. A deep, restless voice answered the phone. "911. What's your emergency?"

I answer with a studder in my voice, "Yes! T-there's a f-fire. I'm trapped. 102 Direly Road. P-please help me!"

He went on, "I'm sending help over. You have to stay calm and low to the ground." The phone went silent. I looked at the clock on my phone; 2:15 AM.

I decide to call Robert. Maybe there is a way he can help. I quickly dial my best friends number. He answered after four rings. "Alice, just let me sleep for two more hours. "

"No. Robert, my house is on fire. I am trapped inside." I could tell that he jumped out of bed. "I'm putting my shoes on. I'll be over in five." He was panicking.

"Calm down!" I scream. I could hear stuff slamming around. He started my truck and murmured, "Alice, you have to be calm."

"I am calm. You're the one who's flipping out! Please slow down, Robert!" I knew he was speeding because the sound the tires made against the pavement.

"I have to get off the phone. I'm almost at your house." He hung up.

I could hear him outside no more than ten minutes later. "ALICE! ALICE, WHAT ROOM ARE YOU IN?" He was screaming. I called him back. "You could've just stayed on the phone with me. I am in the bathroom."

"Why aren't the firefighters here yet?!" He was panicking again.

"Robert, my phone is about to die."

"No! It can't die." He paused, "Wait, I see flashing lights. I will see you when you get out. I lo.." My phone beeped; it was dead.

It has been about fifteen minutes and I still could not hear the sirens. Why was it taking so long? It was getting harder to breathe. 'Be strong!' I whisper to myself. The fire was getting bigger, hotter. I could feel the heat from the fire seeping from underneath the door. It was sweltering! The door was coming down any second now. I needed to get out of there and fast! The smoke was getting to me. I couldn't stop coughing. Horrible thoughts were running through my head. 'You are going to die. This is the end.'

Just then, the door comes crashing down... on me! Everything went black. I could feel somebody pick me up. I finally started to hear the sirens, although it felt like centuries. I heard more crackling noises and I was so scared. More scared than I have ever felt before. I couldn't move or say anything. The person carrying me set me down on what I think was a gurney.

I heard Robert. "Alice, you are going to be fine! I'll meet you back at the hospital."

I could also hear other people saying things like, "I hope she's okay!"

"You think she'll wake up?"

Then I heard a young girl say, "Mommy, is she going to die?" The word was ringing in my head. 'Die, die, die.' The sirens became louder as I was put in a vehicle. They were putting an oxygen mask over my face when I let the darkness take over me.