Page 100 of Burn With Me

This job is what I was born to do, but the thought that Amelia is hurt on the other side of the door. . . or worse, it makes my chest tight.

With a hand on my shoulder, like he can infuse me with strength, Sam says, “I got the door, man. I’ll take point.”

I just nod and step aside, thankful he is with me.

He tries the door handle . . . because why break the door if it’s open?

We aren’t that lucky this time though. The door is jammed, so he grabs his Halligan to break it down.

Over the roar of the fire coming from the front of the farm, I hear my radio crackle, followed by the voice of the captain. “I should have known you two wouldn’t just take passive roles.”

“Sorry, Cap, but the team is needed at the front to try and slow the burn to the back so we can see if Amelia is still in there.”

“I don’t disagree, but we’ll talk about it later. What’s your plan?” he asks.

“Sam is gaining access to the back door. We can see that the fire has spread to the new section. It’s moving back this way fast, so I’m thinking of having the second hose brought back this way.”

“10-4. Don’t do anything dumb, and keep the line open. Part of the team is on their way to assist.”

The wood on the door snaps at the frame, and smoke surges past us. Keeping pace behind Sam, I follow him in. Half of the walls are covered in flames, and it’s spread to the wood being used to finish up the area.

“Based on the feedback from Pam, this is the section where she last saw the three of them.”

“I think since it isn’t set up like the rest of the areas, we should walk up the middle. You cover the right, and I’ll take the left?”

“Sounds good, but we need to move fast. The fire is coming in faster than I thought it would.”

We nod and scan the room as we start our search.

After a couple of minutes, we get to the front of the section when an ear-piercing scream breaks through the roar of the fire. We turn and see someone flailing around as the fire quickly covers their body.

I run toward who I’m guessing is Leo or Brian because they’re far too big to be Amelia. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sam bend over to try and use his gloves to help put the fire out on him.

He is a better man than I am.

“Help. Help me!” he yells at us.

“Where is Amelia!” I yell.

“Help me, and I’ll tell you.”

My blood pressure spikes. How dare he try to bargain with us. We’re going to help him either way—because we have to, not because we want to.

“You have to stop moving if you want us to help you,” Sam says.

He flails around as Sam continues doing what he can to put the fire out.

“Cap! We’re gonna need a hose close by! We have one of the perps, but he’s on fire,” I say into the radio.

“Someone will meet you with an extinguisher by the door in one minute.”

“I got him. See if you can find Amelia and do it fast,” Sam says as he goes to drag Leo, mumbling about him being a piece of shit.

I couldn’t agree more.

My heart is in my stomach as I try to look around, but the smoke has become so dense I can’t see more than a couple of inches in front of me. I can hear the team getting closer, which means the front part must be close to under control.

I have to find her. Losing her is not an option.

---