Page 248 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“Listen to me, Baby Girl. I’m going to get you out of here, but I need you to hold on to this jewelry box,” I urge.

I know from the look in her eyes, it won’t be long before she passes out, but if there’s a chance of bringing her important heirloom with us, I’ll take it.

Even if it becomes a failed mission.

“We gotta protect your mom, too, yes?”

She stares at me for a moment before she attempts to nod.

“Y-Yes.”

She holds the case in a death grip and presses it to her chest.

“Mad…dox… I’m… sleepy.”

Fuck. She’s inhaled too much smoke.

I work on wrapping the damp handkerchief around the lower part of her face, making sure it covers her nose and mouth. It’s flimsy and nowhere close to a proper mask, but it’s better than being completely exposed.

“I know, Baby. We’re going to get some fresh air now. Just lean on me.”

I have her in my arms, my body moving out of the room, which I now realize is the next victim of the flames. Racing back to where I came, I’m greeted by flames as the ceiling in front of the door collapses.

A sound that reminds me of a whistling kettle reaches my ears, and I realize there’s a gas leak somewhere.

My eyes land on the balcony door.

It’s all I can hope for as an exit as I race to it. Opening it with my hands full is impossible, so I use the same injured dominant leg and break the glass on impact. I have to thank those kickboxing classes I used to do to up my endurance and hope my leg won’t be fucked up if we survive this, but all of that is gone as I race onto the balcony to see ours is the only one that isn’t engulfed in flames.

“MADDOX!” The scream is from multiple people.

My friends.

My hockey mates.

The coaches and administrators.

My mom…

Her highly-pitched voice hits all my heartstrings as I find her among the massive crowd of bystanders that’s formed far away from the blaze.My eyes lock with her watery ones, seeing the piercing fear that consumes her as she watches from afar with no way of helping me.

Helping us out of here.

The eye contact only has her begging and screaming my name, but she can’t do anything.

No one can at this point.

I take a single glance at Mikayla in my grasp, noticing that she’s completely unconscious.

If we died now, she wouldn’t feel the scorching pain of the flames, taking every limb and layer of flesh until she was nothing but bone and ash.

I’d wrap her in my arms, shield her, so maybe there would be a body left to bury. Make sure she can be mourned the right way, even if it means I’m nothing but ash by the end of it.

“I love you, Mikayla,” I whisper in hopes she can hear me in the sinking depths of her unconsciousness. “I love you with all my heart. With my very soul. Whether in this life, or the next, you’ll always be my Baby Girl. My shining moon in the starry sky.”

I lay a gentle kiss on her lips and hold her tight before looking over the balcony edge to see the inflating life net that isn’t fully set.

If I manage to hit the middle, I could potentially survive without too many broken bones.

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