He Strikes at the Hotel

Chapter Fifty Nine

The smell of the fire was strong around the hotel, even up on the top floor where up until now, we were almost deceived into forgetting it existed. The thick aroma of burning wood and fabric clung onto the air around us, reminding us of what was being destroyed in it's path.

The sound that roared from the jaws of the flames was louder than I ever imagined possible. Hearing the piercing screech of an over boiling kettle was loud, a steam engine setting off was loud... But this... This was different. The sound of the fire engulfing the hotel was not only loud, it was intense, and intimidating. But it wasn't only the fire which was creating it, it was the infrastructure which was collapsing that reverberated around us, harshly reminding us that with each new echo, the foundations of the hotel became weaker.

We really didn't have much time left.

"Zachery, the building is going to come falling down on us very soon if we don't follow Giles, and all you are thinking of is how our outfits now have matching blood stains!" I scolded him playfully. I couldn't help but feel alright around him, even when the whole building was crashing to the ground. It sounds insane, but his playful wittiness calmed the aching fear inside me, even though we weren't out of the danger yet.

I grabbed onto his hand and began to tug him along in Giles' direction.

"I can't help it, Kitten." He said as we swiftly exited what was his room. "You're aware of how much fashion means to me. Do you think the red compliments my cheeks? Or is it a little bit harsh in contrast with my bright blue eyes?" He continued his one sided fashion debate as we began sprinting down the hall as fast as we could. His words created a certain ambience.

It was obvious the lift would be out of the question. Which, realistically, wasn't a bad thing as we would most likely be faster by running. However, I didn't take comfort in the knowledge that I didn't know how far the fire had spread already. By the time we got down to the ground floor, or even the first floor, we could be met with a wall of fire eliminating our chances of escape.

We swung round the bannisters and managed to get to a pretty in tact second floor, although I could see smoke coming through from under some of the room's doors. The rooms which I have grown up around for so many years... They were all up in flames behind those doors.

"Don't look back, or around, just look ahead. Keep your eyes on the prize. Don't think of anything else!" Zachery shouted through the waves of noise around us. He squeezed tighter onto my hand and pulled me forward from my nostalgic hesitation.

"If it's like this up here, then what's it going to be like down there?!" I blurted this out without thinking, I hadn't intended on shouting it in Zachery's ear. He looked rattled at my inner thought seeping out, suddenly realising it was a valid concern.

We flew down the staircase that led to the first floor as the staircase was still in one piece, but there were flames starting to climb up the bannisters seductively, so we had to be as fast as we could manage. I also had to be cautious of not allowing my gown to float into the flames which were trying to entice us in with it's roaring melodies and sensual dancing.

We reached the first floor, where we instantly stopped in horror. The fire had begun to eat away at the hotel noticeably down here. It was terrifying to be so close to it, and I had the realisation that we could quite possibly be burnt alive. The fire had taken advantage of the old wooden fittings and the vast amount of fabric hanging from ceiling to floor at each window.

We were greeted on the first floor with a pillar from the corner of the landing above us crashing down at the opposite end of the hotel. I screamed in shock, it made the floor rumble, and created a tsunami of rubble and ash which swept across the carpet, which was now almost entirely grey and black. Reality may have kicked in earlier, but now everything seemed so surreal it was untrue.

As tiny parts of rubble were still dropping down on us, Zachery tried to shield me as we edged closer to the grand staircase leading down to the lobby, or what was left of it at least. I felt a lump in my throat as I saw where we had to go. The grand staircase was now crumbling step by step, with golden flames sinking their teeth into the beautiful mess.

"Is there any other way down to the lobby that you know of, other than the staircase?" Zachery asked, with panic stricken eyes piercing into me.

"No, that is the only way other than the lift. And we know that's not an option. We have to go fast, before it gets worse." I responded, knowing that no matter how much I tried to think of an alternative route, there really was no point. Every crawl space I would imagine would already be burnt to a crisp by now.

"Okay. Not the answer I was hoping for, but I'll take it." Zachery paused as he turned to look at the sinking staircase. "On the count of three, we run, yes?" He raised his brows and gave a cheeky half grin as if this was a game. The game of the floor is lava would fit quite nicely...

I nodded my head and took in a large breath as Zachery began to count.

"One... Two..." He said sheepishly. I could tell both our hearts were beating at the same unnatural rate, stirring up the rush of adrenaline we needed. I couldn't tell whether it was my fear, or the smoke, but I was starting to feel sick, and slightly dizzy. Not now, Audrey Rose, any time but now. Just hold in there for another few minutes, I thought to myself, just as Zachery shouted "Three!"