Page 5 of Chasing Sarah

Flashing red and blue lights fill my vision. My lungs scream in agony. The smell of smoke penetrates my nasal cavity, coating my taste buds in a bitter, soot flavor.

Someone opens my eyelid wide, and I’m suddenly blinded by a bright light.

“Pupils are responsive,” a deep, slightly muffled voice says.

“Oxygen levels are really low, sitting at 65%, and her heart rate is 120 and rising,” another voice responds.

It’s then that a mask is placed over my face, the strap pressing against the back of my head.

I sag in relief when fresh, clean oxygen flows through the mask and into my suffocating lungs.

My mind is in a deep fog, barely registering that I’m being lifted and placed onto a gurney. I blink slowly, trying to focus my vision, trying to clear my mind enough to figure out what the fuck is going on.

“Clear!” A distant voice shouts, drawing my attention.

The blurred silhouettes of two people hovering above a body starts to come into focus.

My heart seizes. Images flash through my memory at blinding speed.

The fire.

Screaming.

The floor collapsing.

Xander pushing me out the window.

My brothers!

Arms are pressed against my shoulder, holding me onto the gurney when I scramble to propel myself toward them.

“Ma’am, you need to lie down. We are transporting you to the hospital. You’ve been in a fire.”

“No! My brothers! My brothers are in there!” My throat burns, making my voice sound scratchy.

I rip at the mask on my face, still fighting the EMT trying to hold me in place.

“Let me go! Please! Let me go!” I cry.

Another gurney rushes passed me with an unconscious Tommy. He’s rapidly loaded into the back of an ambulance before speeding away down the street.

“We need you to lay down so we can help you. Your brothers are being helped.”

“BP is 198/116!”

A blood curdling wail explodes from me when I see a fucking body bag on yet another gurney.

I can’t fucking breathe. My vision is tunneling, my entire body is trembling uncontrollably. My hand presses against my chest, my heart completely shattering, turning into the ashes drifting around us.

My mind becomes weightless, and I sway, falling back against the mattress.

“She’s losing consciousness.” The voice fades, replaced by a loud ringing.

I feel my soul dying when I see the two EMTs in the distance pull away from the body on the ground. Their heads fall to their chests, shoulders slumping.

My body gently jostles as I’m loaded into the ambulance.

My eyes fall closed, and the doors slam shut.

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