Page 105 of Crush

Max appeared by my side with a flustered Dexter, “You need to leave, Amber. The whole place could come down,” he yelled. The noise of the burning rafters muffled the sound. He had his top pulled up over his mouth. “Go get the other doors loose,” he ordered Dexter who nodded and jumped into action.

I was in the process of removing the next bolt lock on Autumn’s stall, but Max brushed my hands away and took over, freeing it instantly. He then rammed his booted foot against the kick bolt and yanked open the door. Autumn whinnied and raced out,burstingpast us both and knocking me over. I watched as her chestnut flanks sped past feeling slightly dazed.

Another crash, followed by a hiss and sparks of fire shot towards us. I felt Max grab my arm and pull me up before we were both knocked to the side as Ace, my father’s palomino cantered past us; Dexter having managed to free her from her stall.

“Please, Max. Stall four,” I shouted, my eyes stinging like fuck, and visibility was rapidly becoming worse. Another bang hit the air as part of the roof at the back where Shadow’s thankfully now empty stall collapsed, and I jumped towards Max as the sky appeared.

We both lowered ourselves to the ground, almost crawling. Pain in my feet shot up my calf muscles. Shadow, Autumn, and Ace were clear and I saw Dexter was in the process of freeing Piper. The only horse left to free was in stall four.

Lady was rearing her hooves, stomping, her ears drawn back in terror, her cry shooting shivers of fear down my spine. Lady was our eldest horse, a beautiful chestnut mare, and most importantly, she had been my mother’s horse. A fist gripped my heart as Max, taking control, started to rattle the bolt lock, the sleeve of his jumper covering his fist against the heat of the metal.

“Fuck, it’s stuck,” he yelled out, using his elbow to try and free it. I helped by freeing the lower kick bolt, but the top wouldn’t budge. Lady as a retired horsewasn’t exercised as much as the other horses which could have been why the top lock had jammed.

I found myself on the edge of hysteria, “Please, you’ve got to free her, Max. I can’t lose her,” I cried, despair dripping down my face, my cheeks stinging at the hotness of my skin. I wondered if I’d have blisters and there was an acrid taste in my mouth.

Dexter appeared at our sides, his tone low and deadly, “We need to get out of here, it’s all coming down.”

Max’s eyes crashed with mine and I shook my head, I would rather die than leave her there. He must have read those thoughts through my eyes.

“She was my mother’s horse, Max.”

He searched my face, a pained expression twisting his features before a look of determination wiped away any weakness.

“Get her out of here,” he growled at Dexter before taking a step back, glaring at the bolt lock and lifting his leg. Maxsmashedhis booted foot against the bolt, attempting to kick it free. Once, twice with a roar as if he could open it with his anger and frustration. Hopesurgedin my chest. He glanced back at us in between his ferocious kicks.

“Are you deaf?Get her out of herenow!” he yelled aggressively.

Dexter grabbed me by the arms and started to drag me out, but I struggled, “Let me go Dex. I need to help him.”

He ignored me and half carried me out of the stable. As we both fell out onto the ground, I inhaled the clean air into my lungs, my entire body broken from the lack of oxygen and extreme heat. Pushing up to my knees, Teresa and Marcel rushed over. “Are you OK? The fire brigade are on their way. Oh my God, how did this happen?” Teresa’s shrill panicked voice screeched.

Choking to the point where I thought I was going to throw up, I managed to say, “Get the gates open. They won’t get the engine in otherwise.”

Marcel’s hand was on my back and shoulder, and I shrugged him away, “Go. Now. Do it. Dexter, go with him.”

As I attempted to see inside the barn, I strained my eyes. Where the hell was Max? The smoke was now a mixture of brown and black. The scene was devastating and another sob forced its way from my throat.

And then my heart stalled as half of the buildingcollapsed, taking one of the doors off with it, glass shattered, and a large section of the roof folded in on itself. A plume of smoke hit the air with a crackle and a hiss.

“No!” I screamed, clawing at my chest with my hand.

As I pushed to my feet, Dexter ran back to help me up and I lunged forward. I needed to help Max.

“No, Amber. You’re not going back in there,” Dex yelled, holding me back, physically restraining my arms as I pulled and pushed.

And then everything seemed to go in slow motion, I could hear the beeping noise the electric gates made when they were opening, like a lorry reversing. Our beautiful stable was gone. Horses were dotted around the yard, two had made it into the paddock and were racing around it in circles, spooked and terrified, sweat-sheening their coats. All the lights were on in the house casting an eerie glow over that part of the yard. I could hear my heart beating it was so loud.

“Max!” I screamed again. Genuine horror that I had lost him jarred through me, it was like an agonising pain and sobs shook my body as Dexter pulled me into his chest.

“No, please!” I screamed; my vocal cords felt like they’d been cut with a razor.

I couldn’t seeanything, there was so much smoke and debris and then came a thudding noise. It was faint, like a familiar beat.

Dexter and I looked at each other before turning back to the half-unrestricted door into what was left of the building. Flames reached for the sky like hothands and there was no doubt in my mind that it was spreading fast. The scene before me wasdevastating.

Max, I need you, where are you?

Through the thick smog, I could see movement, a nose, a head and a horse, mymother’shorse. Lady’s hooves pounded down the narrowed section, with Max mounted on her back, leaning over her neck. His strong hands wrapped into her bridal and just as she cleared the open doorway, the entire frame collapsed shooting clouds of ash and splintering wood into the yard. I watched, opened-mouthed as Max yanked on the bridal to bring her to a halt and she started to slow up as she cantered past me and Dexter.

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