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The smell of smoke invades my nose. My eyes fly open, and I shoot up to a seated position in bed.

What the hell?

The room is clouded in a thickening screen of black. My throat begins to burn. My lungs beg for oxygen.

“Ronny?” I cough, covering my nose with my worn blanket as the smoke drifts into my room from under the door frame.

Confusion and fear seep into the very fibers of my bones. My heart pounds against my rib cage like a trapped animal trying to escape.

Climbing out of bed, I make my way to the door and place the back of my hand against the wood like I was taught.

It’s warm.

Fuck.

Chaotic thoughts swarm my mind as panic takes over my body.

The house is soundless aside from the creaking of the walls and furniture cracking, relenting to the inferno.

“Xander!” I scream for my eldest brother. My lungs scream out in agony and constrict as the smoke fills them.

Glancing around my room, I pick up a tee from the ground and wrap it around my hand. When I grab onto the doorknob, the heat immediately smolders through the fabric.

“Sarah!” my third oldest brother shouts from somewhere in the house.

The sound of wood giving way and slamming onto the ground echoes in my ears. Refusing to waste any more time, I swing open my bedroom door. Black smoke bellows into the room, burning my eyes in the process.

How did it get this bad without anyone noticing?

Suddenly, I remember one of my siblings complaining about the infuriating beep of the fire alarm. I hadn’t noticed when it stopped.

“Ronny! Xander! Colson! Tommy!” I scream, lifting my arm to shield my face when the heat of the flames begins to rise around me.

Something crashes from the third floor of the house before the ceiling caves in. With a shriek, I jump out of the way and crash onto the floor. The tee I was using to cover my face flies out my hand and disappears into the smoke.

“Stay low to the ground!” Ronny screams from somewhere out of sight.

Lifting to my feet, I stay crouched.

“I can’t see shit!” Tommy curses from behind me and I spin around.

The expected appearance of my brother sends a jolt of happiness through me.

“Tommy!” I launch myself into his arms.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” He coughs, squeezing my body tightly before releasing me and scanning the hallway ahead.

My eyes water, and I blink rapidly but struggle to clear my vision. I cough uncontrollably and Tommy rips his shirt off, shielding my mouth and nose.

“Where is Colson?” I ask, my voice muffled from the fabric.

Tommy looks behind him and curses under his breath. He turns toward me, worry etched over his entire face. “He was right behind me.”

He looks over my shoulder and then back to me. “Keep going. I’m gonna go look for him.”

When he moves to leave, I grip onto his forearm. “Take me with you,” I beg. My body is running on so much adrenaline, I’m trembling.

Xander screams for us, pulling our attention.

“Go, Sarah!” Tommy shouts, pushing me toward Xander’s voice. “I’ll be right behind you.”

He’s moving away before I get a chance to protest. Fear courses through my veins as I watch him disappear into the smoke. Blindly, I crawl down the hallway until I reach the stairs. The bottom level is engulfed in flames.

There is no way out.

“This way!” Xander says suddenly appearing behind me, and he gestures for me to follow him into one of the rooms. “You’re going to have to climb down or jump.” He says nodding to the open window.

The sound of sirens echoes in the distance.

We just need a few more minutes.

Xander sways on his feet and I reach out to steady him. “Are you okay?” I ask, my brows furrowing.

Sweat slides down his temple and color begins to drain from his face.

“You need to climb down. Go.” He croaks.

A loud boom comes from somewhere in the house. “Fuck!” Ronny roars.

“Xander!” Tommy and Colson yell. “Ronny is stuck!”

They sound so far away despite our home not being more than 1000 sq ft.

I spin toward the door and Xander grips onto my shoulders, turning my body around to face him.

“Go. Now,” he pants.

“Not without you guys!” I scream and then cough uncontrollably once more.

I’m in sensory overload. Between the shouting from my brothers, the heat of the smoke and flames, and the blood rushing through my body, booming in my ears, it’s a complete clusterfuck, and I don’t know what to do.

Flashing red and white lights glow through the window, casting a color alternating glow across Xander’s face.

“Now, Sarah. The firefighters are here. We’re right behind you.”

It’s a lie. I know it’s a lie.

He pushes me toward safety.

“Xander!” My brothers scream, panic laced in their voices.

“Go!” Xander shouts and I climb onto the window’s ledge. The front yard is crowding with emergency services and gaping neighbors with horrified looks on their faces.

“Look!” A woman shrieks, pointing at me.

The house groans and creaks. I turn to glance at Xander one final time. His eyes are wide with panic. Then he lunges, pushing me. My body is thrown backward through the window.

The last thing I see is the floor giving way and Xander falling.