Decoding You *Watty Awards 2012*

Chapter 37

When I pull up to the house firetrucks are already there. The thirty minute drive had taken me twenty-five with the lunchtime traffic and my reckless speeding. Black smoke covered the sky, making it look like a storm. I want to laugh from the irony, there wasn't any calm before this storm.

As I run from my car I watch the smoke curl up into the sky, the heat from the fire wafting off into the small crowd of neighbors that had formed on the street.

I see the EMT wrapping a blanket around Rory's shoulders as she sobs, "She's in there! She's in there!"

As I near her she see's me and breaks down completely to where the EMT has to hold her up, "Izzy is in the house! She was in her bedroom!"

My heart sinks at the thought. I watch as three firefighters come running out and Rory's face falls, "Where is she?!"

The EMT sticks something in her arm to sedate her as I say, "There's a little five year old girl in there."

The one man looks grim and the oldest says, "We know. We can't get to her."

Rory breaks into hysterics, "NO! You have to get her! You have to SAVE her! It's your fucking job! That's my daughter! My daughter is in there!"

The word hits home, that one word escaping Rory's lips sends me into action mode.

As I run into the house I pull off my hoodie, it was wet from the back spray of the fire hoses already, I could use it. I don't pay attention as the firefighters yell at me to get back, that the house was going to collapse. I cover my face with the hoodie and keep on running in.

The last thing I hear before the flames overwhelm me is, "You'll die in there!"

I didn't care, if I died at least I died doing the right thing.

The firefighters were right about one thing, they couldn't get to Izzy. The steps going upstairs were crumbling. But I knew there was a staircase outside. I head through the house to the backdoor. I slip out of it and immediately up the untouched staircase to the left. When I tug at the door it's locked, the one time I desperately need to get in.

I pick up the nearest chair from the patio table and slam it agianst the door, causing it to shatter into a mllion pieces. One scrapes my cheek as it flies by, but I ignore the slight pain and run through the door, and through Rory's room. It seemed to have the perfect path right through it to the door.

I remember what I was taught in school, to feel for heat through the door. I did just that and found none, opening it I saw the flames at the end of the hall, eating away at the floor from the stairs. I gulp and head toward Izzy's room.

Smoke was curling out from under the door, I was scared of what I would find. But as I opened it I saw no child in sight.

"Izzy?!" it comes out choked.

I hear cries and I turn toward the bathroom, running towards it and jumping over a bush of flames I find Izzy curled up in the bathtub.

She cries out, "Ryder!" and chokes on my name.

I stand her up immediately and pull my hoodie over her head, "Put your face in my neck Izzy. You can't breathe in any more smoke," I say hoarsely.

She nods and clings to me as I pick her up.

I manage to jump back over the flames with her in my arms. I felt confident as I moved toward the door to the hallway. All I had to do was make it through Rory's room and down the steps. But as I check the hallway I see the fire is too thick to jump over across the hall. It was eating away at the floor at a rapid pace. The house was literally splitting in two. We were trapped.

I gulp and hold Izzy tighter in my arms as I move toward the window, outside I could see the firetrucks, police cars, and the ambulances. I manage to open the window with one hand and then look down at Izzy.

"Izzy listen to me very carefully. You need to hold onto me as tight as possible. You are NOT to let go at any point at all. We're going to jump. I'll tuck and roll Izzy. I'll protect you. But you have to tell Rory one thing for me."

She looks up at me and says, "What's that?"

"I love her. Tell her that I said I love her."

She nods, "More than chocolate milk and peanut butter waffles?"

I nod with a sad smile, "More than chocolate milk and peanut butter waffles. I love you too kid."

She smiles and kisses my cheek, "I love you too Ryder."

When I jump with her I hear people scream, and as I hit the ground my left leg and arm take the impact. My skin stings, but I know from the movement in my arms that Izzy is safe.

And as the blackness takes over, that's all I can think about. Izzy is safe.

Author's Note: CLIFFHANGER! Don't hate me :)

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xoxo, Sara