"Lock the doors," Barnum hissed. Spinning around on his heels, he commanded, "lock the doors, the windows! I'm going to see if I can get the police on the line again..."
His words trailed off as he sprinted for his office. Charity hurried as fast as she could from one window to the next, shutting them, locking them. The doors were already locked - thank goodness - but she double-checked them. Triple-checked them.
"Get them here as fast as you can!" Barnum demanded on the phone before slamming it down. Rubbing his face, he could feel the anxiety build in the pit of his stomach, but said nothing of it as he hurried to Charity.
From outside, the crowd of protestors began to chant louder and louder and louder. "Hang the homo! Hang the homo! Hang the homo!"
"Phin," Charity whispered, tears filling her eyes. He enveloped her in his arms and pulled her closer, eyeing the front door from over her shoulder.
"It's all right," he murmured. He squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to block the chanting from outside. "Help's on the w—"
Upstairs, Caroline screamed.
YOU ARE READING
Burn (Barlyle) (COMPLETE)
FanfictionPhillip pushes Barnum away after the fire. Barnum struggles with what to do about the secrets of that night.
