Life in the Ring. (Editing)

Championships

Chapter 21

It was approximately 2 weeks until the championships. I have spent the past 3 weeks kicking my own ass into tip top shape. Also, dealing with school, Kaleb, Ryder and unpacking the rest of our stuff while still doing smaller fights on the side. I am exhausted and it isn’t even Thursday. 

I lugged myself through my living room and up the stairs, into my room. Where I further collapsed on the bed after throwing my gym bag on the floor. I am beyond exhausted, I don’t want to do anything else for the rest of the night. 

Somehow hoping that I didn’t have anything to do for the rest of the night flipped a switch that reminded me if I didn’t get ready soon I would miss the dinner that Ryder’s mom had invited us to.

I showered and ran out of the house with Kaleb in tow. He had a nice dress shirt on and I had a cute back dress on. We drove up to the apartment building Ryder and his family live in. 

I was stepping out of the car when I heard a small explosion. I looked up and saw that Ryder’s apartment window was shattered and flames were spilling out. 

I was unsure what to do, so I did the best thing I could think of. I handed Kaleb my phone and told him to call the police.

“Tell them there is a fire at 1734 Merril st. I will be right back. Okay?”

He nodded his head and started dialing. I took off my heals and ran into the building. I pulled the fire alarm and started pounding on doors.

 I made it up to the third floor and pounded on all the doors before going to Ryder’s apartment. I pounded on the door and nothing happened.

 A minute later I heard a cry. I opened the door but it was chained. I backed up and kicked the door, the chain snapped and smoke tumbled out. I yelled for Lilly and Kellin. Then for Ryder and his mom. No one answered. 

I herd a coughing sound to my left. I opened the door and behind it was a wall of flames. Sitting on the bed, in the corner, were Kellin and Lilly.

 I hopped over a burning dresser and grabbed their unconscious bodies off the bed. Starting to feel lightheaded, stumbled out of the room and towards the door. Only for a flaming armoire to come crashing down in front of it.

 I set Kellin down and pulled it about a foot giving me just enough room to get the kids out and myself. I set them down and started CPR. Two minutes later I had Lilly awake and coughing and then another three to get Kellin conscious. 

Scooping them up, I walked downstairs where I saw a few dozen people who lived in the complex and a few pedestrians. I looked to my left and saw the fire trucks pulling up.

I asked another woman if everyone else got out of the building safely. She nodded and pulled me in for a hug. 

“Thank you.” she whispered in my ear.

I clutched her tighter. Once she let go and EMT pulled Kellin, Lilly and I, over to be examined. The kids and I were set up with an oxygen mask, but they concluded that we were going to be okay. They also patched up some of the cuts I got. Out of the corner of my eye I see Ryder’s mom running over to me. She brings me into a huge hug and says, 

“Thank you for saving my babies. I was just running up to the store to get one more thing for dinner and as I was on my way home police and fire trucks rushed by and I got here as fast as I could. What happened? How did this happen?”

“I think your apartment was firebombed. And I think I know who did it.”

She looked at me oddly before Ryder pulled up on his bike. He ripped off his helmet and ran over to us and scooped up Kellin and Lilly for a big hug. Kaleb was bugging one of the EMT’s, asking him about his job.