Page 97 of The Firefighter's Fate

Parts of it are already crumbling. The roof is collapsing. By the end of the night the mansion is going to be nothing but ash, even despite the best efforts of my team.

My childhood melting away...

I close my eyes and try to make my mind go blank. Everything’s racing. I need peace. I need silence and solitude.

I cast my mind to my cabin in the woods... my secret space hidden from the world...

I end up standing there against the tree for a long while before I’m tapped on the shoulder. I turn around. It’s Jacob.

“She’s a bit shaken and needs some medical attention,” he tells me softly and expertly. “But she’s going to be okay. You did a good job.”

She’ll be okay, and that’s all I need to know.

And now I can finally fall apart.

49

CONNOR

Eric punches me on the shoulder.

“You idiot,” he snarls at me. “You went in there alone. Without me. Without protection. What were you thinking?”

Jacob has gone back to the ambulance to take care of Ember, leaving both Eric and me alone standing by the tree.

“Yeah,” I reply slowly to my friend. “I am an idiot. But Ember was in there, and I just didn’t think.”

With that admission, I crumble to the ground. Everything is really catching up to me now. Seeing my childhood home on fire... the shock of Ember trapped in the building... running in to save her... seeing her in pain...

It’s like all the energy has left my body as I sit here in the dirt. My breathing is so fucking heavy.

I can’t breathe.

“You okay, Connor?”

I nod slowly at my friend as he stands over me.

“I am,” I reply. “I just need some water.”

Eric nods back.

“Here.”

He’s already holding a water bottle. He hands it to me. I scull it down in massive gulps. I didn’t know how much I needed water until my lips touch the liquid. I didn’t know how much pain I was actually in until I have finally stopped running.

“Are you going to be okay?” Eric asks me.

“Yes. I’ll be okay.”

“I’ll be around,” Eric says. “If you need anything, just call my name.”

“Thanks.”

Eric backs away. He knows I need to be left on my own.

But I’m not on my own for long. Someone’s approaching me from the direction of the burning mansion.

“Hello, Waylen,” I growl at my father.

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