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I honk my horn at someone who doesn’t understand the idea of using the left lane only for passing. He gives me a one-finger salute when I speed past him on the shoulder, but I don’t care.
It’s probably nothing, I tell myself, despite my rising fear.They’re probably watching a show, and they’ll check their phones during the commercial… But I can’t shake the feeling that something is up.
I try Raeann’s phone again.
Nothing.
I get off the exit, pointing my car once again down a congested street. Taking a quick left, I decide to bypass the main roads and take the side roads. A siren sounds in the distance. Not unusual for Nashville. It’s a big city. Things happen.
My brain ties it all together, though. Instead of the warning fading away as I get closer to the store, it gets louder. The sound echoes right through my rib cage and throttles my heart. When I turn down the last side street, a huge red fire truck blocks my view.
No, no, no.
I speed down the road, coming to an abrupt stop. Throwing the car in Park, I jump out and run toward their building. The sliver of hope I held like a candle in the wind gets snuffed out as soon as I round the corner of the building. Flames shoot from the window of the apartment.
“No!”
I run forward, but several firemen surround me. Their mouths move, but I don’t hear them. “Are they okay? Did anyone make it out?”
My hands close into fists. I search their faces for any answer. What greets me makes bile rise in my throat.
“Do you know who lives here?”
I grab one of the guys by the lapels. “Are they out?” I growl.
“Sir,” another man says, pulling me away. “Who lives here?”
“Two women and a dog.”
“Do you know if they were home?”
“I don’t! They’re not answering their phones. They also run the store below.”
The black singe marks, the smoke billowing out. All of Raeann’s dreams gone in an instant.
“Is anyone inside? Are you searching?”
The fireman blinks at me, so I lower my shoulder, pushing him aside like I do on the field. I dodge and misdirect, plowing my way to the door. “Raeann!”
Several hands grab for me, but they’re not equipped to deal with a star running back. A commotion sounds behind me as I start up the stairs. There’s not as much smoke down here. It isn’t until I get to the top that I have to lower myself to the ground to avoid inhaling the ashy clouds.
I pull my shirt over my face. The apartment door is ajar. “Raeann! Tab! Athena!” The smoke makes my eyes water, and I cough into my shirt. Flames billow to my left, crawling along the ceiling like a living, breathing thing until they reach the windows where they curl up toward the sky.
All of the football drills I’ve practiced over the years kick in. I scramble low to the ground for Raeann’s bedroom, my hands searching along the way. My lungs feel like they’re going to explode.
I explore the space in front of me blindly and come up with nothing. Instead, my knee hits something, and I back up, feeling my hands along the floor until they enclose around…fur.
Oh, poor Athena.
I grab whatever I can and pull toward me. She would never leave Raeann’s side, so she has to be in here. Maybe only steps away. But if I leave Athena, Raeann will never forgive me. I tug Athena’s lifeless body along while I move back to the stairs, finding the opening like a light in a dark tunnel. Lungsscreaming, I get there, coughing and sputtering as I heave her into my arms and make my way down the stairs.
Firemen greet me at the mouth of the apartment, reaching out for Athena. Two others grip the end of a long hose as they shoot past me to trudge up the stairs. I turn around to go back up, but strong arms grip me.
My lungs wheeze, and I cough. “She’s probably in the bedroom!” I choke out.
“Where are the rooms?” the fireman asks.
Two police officers sprint toward me, and I stare down the entrance, the smoke even thicker now. “One is straight and to the right. To the right of the couch and forward. The other is to the left. Just to the right of the kitchen.”