Page 177 of Between Never and Forever
I watch as they pass the dog between them, and Red hoists himself over the railing, drops as low as he can, then disappears, hitting the deck below with a soft thud less than a second later.
“Now you, Sav.”
I nod and climb, then mimic the motion I saw Red do. I lower down until I feel Red’s hands on my calves.
“Drop, I got you,” he says, so I drop, and he sets me on my feet. He looks back up and calls to Levi. “Can you get over with her?”
Levi’s already moving. He’s got Ziggy hoisted on his shoulder, secured with one hand as he maneuvers himself over the railing. It’s too far to just drop her, so he gets as low as he can.
“Ready?” he calls to Red.
“I got her. Let her go.”
Levi twists his body and drops Ziggy right into Red’s outstretched arms. She flails and yelps, but by the time Red puts her on the ground, Levi is next to us and we’re all hurrying across the deck to the stairs, then out into the sand.
I glance through the sliding glass doors that lead into the kitchen as we pass. It is nothing but flames and smoke, and the heat coming from it is almost unbearable, even outside. Ziggy barks and takes off running to the side of the house. I follow, shouting for her to come back, but then start to sob when I see Brynn. Oh, thank god, she’s alive. She’s out and safe.
“Dad!” Brynn cries out. “Dad!”
Levi pulls her into a hug, then frantically checks her for injuries.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt? Are you hurt anywhere?”
He runs trembling hands over her body, smoothing back her hair and cupping her face. She’s in the pajamas she was wearing when we fell asleep. There are black smudges mixed with tears on her bright red cheeks.
“No, Dad, but Ms. Sharon,” Brynn forces out, her words coming in the space between her gasping sobs.
I whip my head around the yard. My mom. My mom isn’t out here.
“She’s in there with him.He has a gun, Dad.”
“With who? Who does?” Levi asks, but I already know.
“That man. The man from before. With the police.”
Levi and I both turn to the house. Terry. My mom is in there with Terry, and he has a gun.
“She jumped on him. She told me to run. But she didn’t follow me. He said...he said he was going to...to kill her.”
I take off running. I don’t stop to think.
I hear Levi shouting at my back, telling me to stop, screaming no as I run, but I don’t listen. I keep running, my focus on the burning house, until thick arms hook around my waist, knocking the air out of me, and haul me around.
“Red, no! She’s in there. I have to get to her. I have to get—”
“No, kid! You’ll die in there! It’s too dangerous!”
“No! Please,please. I have to get to her. Please, let me get to her.”
Red fights with me as I twist in his arms. I kick at his legs with the heavy boots on my feet. I claw at his forearms. I beat at his shoulders and torso. Anything I can reach. He doesn’t budge. He doesn’t let go.
I switch tactics. I let my body relax. I fake calm. I go pliant. I do it just long enough for him to loosen his grip on me, just like how he taught me, then I drop hard to the ground and slip out of his hold. I throw all my weight into his side and swing my foot with the heavy boot at his legs, ducking away as he falls backward.
I don’t wait for him to hit the dirt before I take off running again.
I see flashing lights in my peripheral and hear sirens faintly through the sound of the roaring house fire. I’m still yards away and the heat on my skin is almost unbearable. I’m sweating. My eyes and nose and throat burn, but I don’t stop. It’s so hot that I imagine my skin bubbling. My hair singeing. The tears rolling down my cheeks evaporate before reaching my chin.
I don’t care about any of it. I just have to get to her.
