Page 116 of The Ghost of Ellwood

This wasn’t a dream.

Fire burned the walls, spreading closer to me.

“Ben!” Theo called, sounding so far away.

I ran for the door, but as I did, a burning beam fell in front of me. Flames licked the walls and the smoke worsened. I inhaled more smoke and fell to my knees. That’s what they told me in grade school, right? Stop, drop, and roll. Or something. God, I couldn’t think clearly.

Footsteps thumped on the stairs, and Theo’s voice grew closer. “Ben?”

Wheezing, I tried to move forward, but I fell to the ground. I had breathed in too much smoke. My lungs felt like they were on fire, just like mine and Theo’s beautiful home.

I have to keep going. I have to get out of here.

I managed to crawl forward, but the burning beam blocked the doorway. That was as far as I got. A dizzy spell hit, and I face-planted the floor. I felt like a fish out of water, gasping for air but unable to breathe.

“Ben! Open the door.”

“It’s blocked!” I shouted above the noise. More smoke went down my throat as I shouted.

Theo banged on the door. It sounded like he was throwing his body against it. When the door didn’t budge, he walked through the wood. It was the first time I’d ever seen him go through the door like he was made of nothing but smoke.

Cold hands slipped around my chest and turned me around. “Ben! Please wake up.”

I heard Theo, but my body wouldn’t respond. I knew I was going to die that night. The woman in black had been a warning of my impending doom. I’d seen her three times, and now she’d finally claimed me.

“No! You’re not allowed to give up!” Theo growled, and I felt the house shake.

He went over and shoved the beam out the way. The door swung open without him touching it, and then he was holding me again.

He pulled me to my feet and carried most of my weight. My eyes fluttered open, briefly, and I saw the manor was filled with smoke. The fire seemed to be contained to one area, so that was fortunate, at least. But it was spreading fast. And the smoke was deadly.

For a human, anyway.

When we reached the stairs, I stumbled and Theo picked me up. He fled down the staircase and turned toward the front door. Fire consumed the exit. The heat of it licked my skin. He wouldn’t be able to cross with me in his arms.

“Goddammit!” he roared, and the house creaked and groaned.

“I l-love you,” I croaked, turning my face into his chest. My breaths came out hoarse and ragged, making me sound like a deranged animal.

Theo whined and took off toward the kitchen.

I saw us approaching the patio doors and closed my eyes. A massive weight crushed down on the center of my chest, and I went into a coughing fit before wheezing.

And then we were outside.

I gasped in the fresh air, but it was still hard to breathe. My airways felt constricted. Theo placed me on the grass in the back yard and hovered over me, his dark hair falling across his brow. The stars above him twinkled.

He slept under the stars…would I?

“Ben? Can you hear me?” He patted my cheeks.

The burning in my lungs had spread to my eyes. They watered and stung, and I had to close them. I felt myself fading away.

Sirens wailed in the distance. Someone must have called the fire department.

“Ben!” another voice shouted.

“He’s not waking up, Carter,” Theo whimpered, pressing on my chest before leaning down to breathe into me.