Page 50 of The Firefighter's Fate

He’s talking about Connor.

That realization immediately sinks in.

Connor is the best man these firefighters have got, and he doesn’t disappoint.

He sprints into the building the moment the mother explains about her trapped babies. I watch him as he disappears into the flames devouring the home without a moment’s hesitation.

He’s incredible...

Eric’s gone in as well, closely following his friend at his heels. He’s determined not to let Connor tear off alone.

They’re gone for what seems to be an eternity.

We can’t see them through the fire and the smoke.

I realize I’m holding my breath. The other firefighters are at work around me, trying to stop the spread of the flames. Everything on the street here is lit by the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles. Paramedics are treating the woman screaming for her children.

Holy shit, she might lose her kids...

I’m stuck. Frozen. My eyes desperately search the house, trying to find signs of Connor somewhere in there. He’s completely disappeared. It seems like the whole building will collapse any moment, with him still inside...

But then Eric emerges from the doorway. He’s holding a child in his arms.

The mother lets out a guttural scream. She fears the worst, but I can already tell the kid is okay - he’s crying but looks fine other than some ash and smoke on his face. Eric is breathing heavily as he runs up to our waiting group.

“Connor was just behind me,” he announces. “He went back to look further. We couldn’t find the other kids, but he wants to check one last time.”

Oh, God.

The boy runs to his mother. The paramedics surround them.

“Is Connor okay?” I ask Eric. “Tell me he’s okay.”

He shakes his head.

“I don’t know. The entire thing might come down at any moment. He didn’t want to leave without everyone, though.”

“Oh, God...”

And then Connor appears. He’s racing out of the house with a child held under each arm. The kids are crying. Connor looks determined. He gets out of the building just as there is a mighty boom and an entire section of the roof gives way and crumbles into the flames behind him.

He’s safe. He’s safe. He’s safe.

There’s another cry from the mother as she sees her children. I watch as Connor gently lowers the kids in his arms to the grass safely far away from the collapsing debris. The mother has torn free from the paramedics to sprint across the yard to hug her kids. Connor stands up tall and removes his jacket, bending back down to wrap it around the crying children lovingly as they embrace their mother.

“Is there anyone else inside?” he asks the woman as she clutches her babies tight.

She shakes her head.

“No, no. This is everyone. Thank you.”

But one of her kids speaks up.

“My doll...”

Connor sighs.

“I think I saw your doll on your bed,” he mutters. “That side of the house hasn’t given way yet...”

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