Page 14 of Saved By the Firefighter

"Jake, stop!" Elijah shouts after me. "You're acting crazy!"

Maybe I am, but I duck into the smoke. No plan, just an intense instinct to find her. My training screams at me, telling me I'm being reckless, that I should set up, assess, plan. But it's not just anyone in there—it's Ellie. And the thought of her trapped, scared, or hurt... it's like a vise on my chest.

The air is thick with smoke; it stings my eyes, clogs my lungs. I pull my mask tighter against my face. The crackling inferno surrounds me, heat singeing my gear.

"Dammit, Jake! This isn't you!" Elijah's close behind, his concern for procedure drowned out by his concern for me. Good man, Elijah, but he doesn't understand—this is personal.

Any second Ellie could be overcome by fumes, trapped by the ravenous flames. I have to find her. Can't fail like I failed Sarah. Searing pain shoots through me at the memory. Sarah's lifeless body after the accident. My inability to save her. I won't lose Ellie too.

The heat intensifies as we push deeper into the campground as we search, looking for any signs of life. Tents are ablaze, trees are torches, and the world is an angry orange. Then, a sound pierces through—a dog's distant bark. Hope surges within me. I wave Elijah over and we race toward the sound.

The bark grows louder, slicing through the roar of fire and crackling wood. My boots pound the scorched earth, each step a desperate race against time.

Guided by the distant barking, I push through the haze until finally, I spot her.

Ellie.

Her body lies crumpled on the ground, a limp silhouette, the dog circling her. My heart plummets to my stomach. "No, no, not again," I chant under my breath. I rush to her side, praying I'm not too late. Then I drop to my knees beside her.

With trained hands, I secure an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth, relief washing over me as her chest rises and falls with breath. "Good girl, keep breathing," I murmur, more to myself than her.

In the corner of my eye, I see Elijah scoop up the dog, its golden fur blacken with soot but it's alive. One less life on my conscience tonight.

I gently lift Ellie's slender frame into my arms, her weight nothing compared to the burden of fear I've been carrying. Her head rests against my chest. "I've got you, Ellie," I rasp. "Just hold on."

I carry her back through the destruction as quickly as my legs allow. The fire rages on, but my mission is complete. She's safe.

We emerge from the deepest parts of the smoke and I breathe clean air into my burning lungs. The truck comes into view. We don't carry stretchers on the fire truck, so Elijah secures the dog's leash somewhere, then spreads a blanket down on the inside of the truck. I lay Ellie down on it, brushing ash-covered strands of hair from her face. Kneeling beside her, I remove my helmet and check for injuries.

Slowly, her eyelids flutter open, revealing those rich caramel eyes clouded with confusion and fear. "Jake?"

"You're okay," I assure her. "I've got you."

I tried to encourage her to keep laying down, but she's too alarmed, sitting up fully to stare at me. her eyes fill with tears.

"Shh, you're safe now." I brush a smudge of soot from her cheek, trying to offer comfort with my touch. My heart is still beating wildly, and my own eyes are feeling misty.

I almost lost her.

Tears spill down her cheeks. "Jake..." She reaches for me, and I can't help but pull her close.

I pull her shaking body against my chest, holding her tight. "You're safe," I repeat, as much to reassure myself as her.

Her sobs break, raw and jagged, against my chest.

"Shhh, you're safe now," I murmur into her hair. "I'll keep you safe." I clear my throat, trying to fight the emotion.

What if I had lost her? What if I hadn't reached her in time? What if...

She lifts her head, her face puffy and pink. Our eyes lock and something shifts between us.

Before I can react, her lips crash into mine. It's soft, tentative—a question hanging between us as I barely react, stunned. But it doesn't take long before my walls break, and I give into the kiss, the world fading away. I cradle her face in my hands, losing myself in her sweet taste. I'm lost in the feel of her lips on mine. In this instant, nothing else exists—no fire, no fear, just her. My Ellie.

She's safe. I didn't lose her.

But as relief and something more clouds my mind, reality hits me like a punch to the gut.

Marcus.

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