fire and ice

SLEEP // 2 of 3

I clenched my hands, nails digging into the skin of my palms, a wild fire raging in my mind. i looked up at the police officers in front of my seat whispering to one another, stealing sympathetic glances at my brother and I. How pathetic, they didn't know how i felt and probably never would. My eyes shot back to the floor when i was one of them make their way towards us.

"Look kids" he murmured, scratching the back of his neck. "I really don't know how to break this to you.."

"I know" i chocked. "please don't say it"

"know what?" asked Caleb beside me. "What happened to mom and dad Ron?"

I screwed my eyes shut, biting my tongue to stop my tears threatening to escape. I wasn't going to cry in front of Caleb, i had to be strong.

"You'll have to tell him sooner or later" said the police with a small smile. i nodded and he walked away, leaving my alone with a storm of thoughts and a question i couldn't give an answer to.

I placed my palms on my forehead trying to block out the faint memories but the flashbacks came in like a fountain, all together, all at once.

I had woken up at around two in the morning to the smell of burning. My eyes were greeted by blazing flashes of orange, yellow and red light. I lay on my bed, unable to process what was before me. i made out a silhouette of a person through the dizzying flames, my dad.
Half his face was completely scorched reminding me of a disfigured melting candle and it took every ounce of me to not throw up.

And then he screamed.

"RUN RONNIE!"
"GET OUT HERE!"
"NOW!"

I snapped to reality, flinging the blanket off my body, eyes darting around in panic. A hand grabbed mine, pulling me out the room and i ran and ran as fast as i could. I coughed through the thick black smoke, coating every inch of my room. I shivered in fear despite the sweltering heat when dad's hand slipped out of mine, but i kept on running unable to control my limbs, begging to escape.

I rushed down the stairwell, horrified by a monstrous raging fire and the lingering scent of burning flesh. And then i finally stopped, hands clasping my knees, panting uncontrollably. My heart pounded against my chest and my vision was blurry with tears.

I don't know when i blacked out but i distinctly remember my mother's lifeless body, Caleb's bloodshot eyes and an outside view of what i had called home all my life,
burn to ashes.

"How many survivors?"

"Just this one, Caleb Lawson"

"Wait hold up!"

"This one's breathing"

"What's his name?"

"Ron Carson"