Page 99 of Something Borrowed

Terror has taken over.

I’m about to die. There is no escape. My mind knows it, even though my body is desperate to fight until the last second.

It’s inevitable. My death.

But I don’t want to die.

I scream.

But when I open my mouth sand pours down my throat, straight into my lungs.

Red, hot, desert sand that seers my insides and wraps around my outsides like a clay furnace, roasting against my skin.

Iwake up choking on imaginary desert sand, gagging and heaving to get it out of my throat. The more I breathe in the worse it gets.

Sitting up on the bed I realize the air is thick with grey smoke.

It’s not sand I’m choking on.

Its smoke.

I roll off the bed and land with a thud on the floor.

My head hurts. I can feel a throbbing point in my temple where that asshole punched me unconscious, but right now it seems like the least of my worries.

As I scoot underneath the bed, I try to remember what happened, but I can’t figure out why the entire room is engulfed in smoke.

The door is still closed. Where is everyone? Why didn’t the guards let me out of here?

I leopard crawl across the floor to the door, rolling onto my back I kick against it and shouting for whoever is there to let me out. No one answers and the door doesn’t budge.

Reaching up I push the food slot open to look through, but the brass metal is so hot it burns my skin and I wince, yanking my hand back to my side.

“Fuck.” I say breathlessly.

If I can make it to the window, I can try to break the glass.

I need air.

I’m so desperate for air.

My eyes are watering so much I can barely see the surrounding room.

I crawl out from the door towards the window and heat from above scorches down on me. It’s too hot. I’m too scared.

I’m going to die here.

For a moment I’m frozen in place and waiting for death. Paralyzed by the inevitable.

Fuck that. I’m won’t give up like that.

Rufino is coming for me. I know he is. All I have to do is survive until he does.

I belly crawl towards the window, but half way across the carpet a massive explosion sounds from somewhere nearby. I let out an ear-piercing scream of fear and rage. Determination to live and the terror of dying.

Part of the ceiling caves in and flames spread across the dry plaster.

I roll onto my back and look up at the water stained dragon, being licked by beautiful orange tongues, devoured piece by piece and turning black.

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