Page 124 of Irreversible

“Over here!”

I jump to my feet and hit my head on the top of the cage. Jasper calls out, waving his arms through the bars as men in fire-resistant suits barge into the room.

I can’t believe it.

I’m dreaming.

“Help us!” Jasper yells. “Get us the fuck out of here!”

Bolt cutters slice through the padlocks.

Mine. Jasper’s.

We’re free.

As I’m crawling out of the enclosure, I’m pulled to my feet.

I’m numb. Alive. Moving.

Coughing and choking, I run toward my husband as one of the men intercepts and scoops me up, carrying me out the open door. Jasper follows behind, leaning on a firefighter for support. Flames crackle throughout the hallways as my eyes sting with smoke and tears. There’s an exit up ahead. Freedom. It’s everything I’ve wanted, craved,yearnedfor…

“Wait!” I beg, scrambling from the man’s grip. “Isaac. We need to find Isaac!”

He holds me tighter, his voice muffled through a face shield. “We’re getting everybody out, ma’am. Stay calm.”

But I can’t stay calm. Isaac might still be inside this burning building. “No, please, we need to go back.” I’m wiggling, writhing, pleading. “Please! We must go back!”

He doesn’t respond and keeps stalking ahead.

I glance behind me, watching Jasper cover his mouth and nose with the front of his shirt. He’s stumbling forward, chin tucked to his chest. The alarms are deafening. My desperate calls are drowned out by the noise. “Isaac!”

Maybe he’s already made it out.

Maybe he’s free.

God, please…

As we breach the warm, musky air, I slam my eyes shut, the swirl of police lights too bright, too intense. Burrowing my face against the man’s shoulder, I drink in my first nature-doused breath in two years.

I swallow it. Savor it.

I do it again, lifting my face toward the night sky, my eyes sealed shut. A breeze dances across my skin. My hair takes flight. Sound carries on all around me, but I’m lost to this moment. Something so simple, so ordinary, so pure…something I’ll never take for granted again.

I’m set on my feet, still gripping the arm of the firefighter as I fight for balance. I squint one eye open through the flashing police lights, but it hurts. It’s too much. Intrusive. Rubbing the heels of my palms to my eye sockets, I take a few minutes to adjust to the new environment.

Then, slowly, my eyelids peel open. One at a time. A fog of people comes into focus: SWAT teams, police officers, firefighters, hoses, ambulances.

Where’s Isaac?

Jasper grabs me from behind.

I let out a hoarse cry as I’m pulled into his arms, and I inhale another scent I’ll never take for granted again—him. Remnants of oaky cologne and tea-tree shampoo assault my senses, mingling with smoke and sweat.

I break down, sobbing against his chest, my arms coiling around his neck and bringing him closer.

“Everly…my God.” He peppers kisses to my hair, stroking both hands along my spine. “I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you.”

Squeezing him tighter, I press a kiss to the side of his neck, above his collar. He cups my shoulder with one hand and inches me backward, skimming his gaze across my soot-stained face. A look of pure awe spills across his features, furrowing his brow, parting his lips.

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