Page 20 of Aspen Heat
MELISSA
I'mstartled awake when Aspen shakes me hurriedly. I smell smoke all around us and try to put on my clothes as fast as possible. When we leave the room I get this flash of heat and I look in horror to see that the back of the house is already enveloped in flames. I remember something that I need to go back to get.
"I have to get something from my closet."
"You can't go back, Mel. This place is an inferno."
"It's important, Aspen."
He reluctantly lets me go and as he opens the front door and goes to his truck I dig back into my closet in search for a necklace my mother left me when she passed away. I start to panic when I don't find it and then feel more than hear Aspen at my back.
"We have to go, Mel."
His tone is demanding and I bristle at that, but I understand he's all about safety. I can't leave my only connection to my mother, though and I keep rummaging through my closet's contents. Just as I feel the cold metal touch my fingers, I feel Aspen's strong arms envelop me and pull me out of the closet.
Unfortunately, the fire has moved closer and we're trapped. Aspen curses but doesn't hesitate and starts looking for an alternative route of escape. We go into the bathroom and he starts trying to break the window to get us out that way.
The house seems to be making strange noises as it threatens to come down on us and as I peak out into the hallway I realize the flames are literally lapping at us. The roof is completely engulfed and I see pieces of debris and beams start to fall.
Aspen helps me out the window, but when he's about to come out a flaming beam falls down on top of him and knocks him out. I go back in and use a towel to put out the flames on the beam so they don't reach Aspen and then try to shake him into consciousness.
I try to drag him out but he's too heavy. I go out and run to his car and try to use the radio. It takes me a couple of tries until I get someone to hear me. I tell them that the fire caught up to us and that Aspen is hurt. They give me instructions to see if I can keep most of the fire away from him while they reach us. He had already called them telling them about the fire and luckily they are close.
I close the bathroom door and start tugging Aspen so he's closer to the window. When I've got him propped against the wall, I crouch next to him and hold him tight. This is my fault, and I don't know how I'm going to ever repay him for everything he's done for me.
Thankfully, I soon hear noises outside and someone starts calling our names near the bathroom window. I find one of Aspen's friends looking inside the bathroom and breathe a sigh of relief.
"Miss Stone, let me help you out of there."
"I can't leave him like this."
"We're here to help. There's nothing more that you can do right now but to keep yourself safe. That's what Aspen would want you to do."
His words ring true, so I disentangle myself from my unconscious lover and climb out the window with the firefighter's help. Another firefighter pulls me away until I'm safely away from the fire engulfing my home. I stand there watching the flames eradicate everything I hold dear and a feeling of despair hits me.
Pretty soon they bring out Aspen in a stretcher and I hear the ambulance sirens in the distance. He is still unconscious, and I wonder if my actions have hurt him irrevocably. I wait by his side until the ambulance arrives and the paramedics take over his care.
Someone pulls me back and whispers into my ear.
"Let them work."
I nod but still try to get closer to where Aspen is. After a few minutes they haul him away. I try to get them to let me ride with him, but a firefighter, probably the squad leader, insists I can't go. I'm certain they're going to blame me for this and I won't be able to contradict them.
"Miss Stone, I'm Callum Phoenix. I'm in charge of Aspen's squad. Why were you two here?"
Heat rushes up to my cheeks and I worry that it will give me away.
"He fixed my door and wanted to show me."
"I don't really understand. Aspen knew this area was still under the threat of fire."
"I…"
"Why was he hurt? It looks like he found a way out for you two just before being hurt."
"It was my fault. I went back to get something priceless to me and that gave the fire a chance to worsen. I'm so sorry. Can I go and be with him at the hospital?"
"Lomont is taking Brook's car back, he can take you."
