Page 86 of Boundaries

As he moved out of the bathroom and toward the staircase, he glanced down into my face. “I’ll go back for her, I promise. I just need to get you to safety first, OK.”

I nodded my head. I believed him. This man would never break a promise to me.

As he negotiated the stairs carefully, it was at that point that the full extent of the situation hit me with the force of a sledgehammer.

Everything was hot and I could hardly breathe.

The ground floor of our house was pretty much engulfed in flames. The air was bright orange in places and biting against my skin. It was so hot it felt like my bones were melting.

Mason moved quickly, meticulously choosing where to stand and where not to. Part of the banister fell to the side of us, narrowly missing Mason’s legs.

As we moved across the lobby which appeared to be the only room untouched by fire at that point, I could see into the kitchen where the units were all ablaze. That special place where my family and I shared our lives together was gone. But why, how? A sob was wrenched from my throat and Mason pulled me further into his chest, “Don’t look, Amy. Just keep your eyes closed,” he instructed firmly.

The front door was hanging off and the wood was blackened. Mason strode out onto the porch, the fresh air hitting me like hope. My eyes caught those of several other people.

“Amy,” Jenna screamed running forward but Nixon snagged her arm. Stopping her from mounting the porch steps toward us. Mason took them two at a time and as we hit the gravel of the yard, relief pooled into me. Jenna was safe, thank God.

Nixon then released Jenna and she ran to me and threw her arms around my neck as Mason placed me on the ground. She was babbling and semi-hysterical. Her actions and the way she squeezed my body did little to ease that terrified feeling bouncing through me.

Mason and Nixon were saying something above us but I couldn’t hear what. The wind howled and the noise from burning wood splintered up into the air, drowning everything else out. I could hear a faint sound of sirens in the distance. But it was so slight it could have been coming from miles away, the other side of Norwich! Fear jetted into me.

I didn’t dare turn and look up at the house as I said, “Chrissy.” The words dragged from my chest.

The realisation that my sister was still unconscious in the bathroom bit into my thoughts, forcing me to pull myself together.

I pushed Jenna away and into the waiting embrace of Nixon. Her panic had been forced up into the next gear as I said our sister’s name.

I spun toward Mason; part of his face was black and he was in the process of readjusting the shirt he’d now tied over his mouth.

I made to move past him but he caught my arm.

“Stay here. I’m going back for Chrissy,” Mason instructed in firm, muffled voice. “Boyd,” he then added.

Suddenly, Boyd appeared beside me.

“Look after her, do not let her follow me.”

I could feel Boyd’s body stiffen beside me as he agreed to do as Mason had instructed.

Mason then turned and climbed the porch, re-entering the burning building.

I glanced up into the sky, the flames were high, smoke billowing from several areas of our house. The worse affected were the two side sections and part of the lobby which had now also caught fire. The smell in the air was foul, burning with a chemical element which was odd. I so hoped it didn’t spread to where we kept the fertiliser, the whole place would go off like a bomb.

How I wished my mum and dad were there. I so wanted to feel my father’s arms around me.

There was a loud smashing noise which brought us all to our knees as the kitchen windows blew out and what sounded like a small explosion echoed around the yard. I fleetingly spied my Mini, the paintwork was covered by bits of wood and ash. It was a sorry sight and to think I had never driven her. At that split second how I wished I’d taken Mason up on his offer to teach me to drive. An odd thought to have during such a time of crisis.

I pushed to my feet and moved to the side, looking up at the windows with the frosted glass, at the bathroom where Chrissy was laying helpless and alone. There were no flames there yet but that room was above the kitchen which was well on its way. Another wave of panic hit me. Was it safe for Mason to enter the room only yards above that burning inferno beneath him?

Mason, Chrissy. I could not lose either of them.

Sobs suddenly poured from my body and I felt Boyd’s hand on my shoulder.

“He’ll find her Amy, don’t worry,” he said reassuringly. His kindness forced another wave of misery to channel through me.

Jenna and Nixon were just behind us, she was making little mewing noises and Nix was saying soothing things, trying to calm her.

“Seth, come here. Stay with Jenna. I’m going to see if I can help Mason,” he said.

---