Chapter 38

A cough wrecked up my whole body as I heaved. I staggered forward but I pushed my legs to keep moving. Keep running.
Sobs left my body as I looked everywhere only to be met by the fire that casted a dim illumination in the hall. Dancing, mocking and taunting me on how helpless I was against it. The flames licked the walls, swallowing whatever is in its path into its heat and charring the furniture. I screamed out Adam's name in panic.
"Where are you?!" I screamed out in frustration. I looked back and forth between the exit and the flames, tears of desperation escaped my eyes and trickled down my ash coated face.
The smoke was getting thicker and thicker by the second but I didn't want to leave any of them in this house. I've spent minutes trying to get to the bedrooms but even as I sprinted there, I knew it was hopeless.
I decided to sprint out the house to check if they made it out even though it wasn't likely but it was a better try than worrying in the middle of the burning house.
With that, I broke out into a mad sprint from the kitchen's entry to the only exit out of the enflamed house.
Once I was greeted by the fresh air, I didn't stop running and kept on sprinting around while circling the house, outlining the perimeter of the area in search of any signs that they made it out of the house.
"It's alright mom, we're safe now." A deep voice reassured and I was quick to distinguish it as Preston's. I rounded up the house again to see where the voice came from.
Carla was lying on the ground as she coughed weakly with her head resting on her son's lap.
Adam was right there with her, clutching her hand tightly, murmuring things hurriedly and trying to get his mom to calm down although his face was alert as he looked from one side to another looking like he was searching for something.
A girl with wavy dark locks similar to Carla's, who I assume is Cali, crouched beside Mr. Jones, huddling closer to him. I stared at the picture, my mind was screaming at me that something's not right about the picture.
The Jones' family had 4 children.
I whipped my head back to the house when I heard light thudding and a faint scream of a child. I raised my gaze towards the burning house that has smoke escaping through the windows and caught a glimpse of a tear stricken face of a boy that was screaming his head off, trying to get our attention.
When he saw me looking, he started screaming my name, banging his small fists on the glass. He was on the second floor of the house, in his room, looking frightened out of his wits. I didn't have to think of what to do because my feet were already running towards the entrance only to see that the entrance was engulfed in flames.
There's no way else in. If I try the windows, it'll take up too much time and I won't be able to get to Pio fast enough.
My mind decided to remind me to the things Bryant used to do when we were kids to annoy me. He would find a candle and instead of blowing it out like any normal people would do, he'll play with the flames, let it lick his fingers and cover it with the ashes of its smoke.
I would worry my head off when he would press his forefinger and thumb together on the charred rope that kept the fire going, effectively killing it.
I remembered what he told me back then. As long as you don't keep your hands on them more than 3 seconds, you'll be fine.
I closed my eyes and breathed through my nose as I prepared myself, imagining that I was those fingers but this time, the candle would be slightly bigger.
I didn't waste any more time before barging in the house and I felt the flames lick my skin as I skidded through the pool of dancing flames.
I whirled to where the staircase was, only to find them half burnt and that the fire was already burning the wood, causing half of the stairs to break into flames and a pile of ashes but all thoughts went out the window when I heard Pio hoarsely calling out for me.
His voice sounded weak and I could feel the anxiety drowning me. I rushed up the staircase, climbing them two at a time and rushed to Pio's bedroom. I went to touch the knob and twist it but immediately released it when I felt scorch my palm. With a hiss, I thought of another way and backed up a few steps before running towards the door and kicked it for a few times. After a few kicks, it finally went down with a loud crash.
I rushed inside, still coughing my lungs out from the smoke that was suffocating me and entering my lungs. It was unimportant at that moment though. I felt my heart stop beating and my whole body stilled as I saw Pio's small form lying on the floor.
I let out a silent cry and I dropped to my knees beside him. The tears were fresh as new ones start streaming down my face.
I screamed out in despair and with a new found determination, slipped my hands beneath his limp body, carrying him with me to the way I came and a small scream was forced out of me when a part of the ceiling collapsed somewhere nearby.
I kept Pio's body close to mine and I ran down the stairs, almost slipping on the last set before heading for the flames that were blocking the exit, taunting me on my bravery.
I looked down at Pio's tear stained face and pressed my lip to his forehead, I tucked his head under my neck and shifted his body to prevent as little heat there was from reaching him.
With Pio's face in mind, I ran into the flames, my head lowering to protect Pio's.
I felt the burst of fresh air but I didn't stop there, I kept on sprinting and finally saw a frantic Adam who broke down when he saw Pio's limp body in my hands.
I gave Pio to him and watched while he tried to nurse his brother back to consciousness.
I held my breath once Adam pressed his fingers against Pio's tiny wrists for a pulse only to look even more panicked. He hurriedly pushed at his brother's chest and gave him CPR. He checked for a pulse once again, going for Pio's neck this time but his face said it all and I broke down.
I fell to the ground and weep into my hands. Now, I understood why Bryant chose to save me, chose to protect me from death. I felt the despair and helplessness bubbling up in me. I thought silently on how I never want to feel this feeling.
It finally dawned in me and I understood why Bryant did what he did that night. I understood his intentions and forgave him for it. I knew now that he simply wanted me to live my life to the fullest.
I did the same thing Bryant chose to do that night, I put Pio's priority first when I was about to step out that door but the difference was that while Bryant succeeded in saving me, I was too slow to save Pio. I was too late.
I sobbed and cried when something on the ground right beside my feet caught my eyes and I tentatively picked it up I wiped the tears away only to have more tears replace them.
I inspected it and instantly knew that it was a lighter and I stood up abruptly, turning around to find other things that can tell me more about the cause of the fire but nothing else was there.
My gaze dropped to the lighter. I stared at it and I looked under it to see that a small piece of paper was taped there.
My heart skipped a beat and my stomach lurched when I read the tiny handwriting.
You thought you scared me, party girl? Let's see how you like it when someone is taken from you.
I stared at the paper and the words ‘party girl' rang through my head. My thoughts flew to the bald man I confronted.
I was foolish to think that he was a harmless idiot.
How could someone be so cruel as to take the life of an innocent child?
I stared at Pio's face. He looked neutral. As if he came to terms with dying and has accepted it and that was certainly not something a child should seem like when they are in the brink of death. My ears rang but I continued to stare.
Carla was sobbing uncontrollably and no amount of soothing would will be able to calm her down.
I remembered thinking, ‘I caused this. I killed Pio. I led that bastard to him and took his life'.
***
I woke up with a gasp. Sweat covering my being and I shot up from the bed, throwing the duvet off half of my body. I was feeling flustered and my hair stuck to my forehead whilst my shirt clung to my drenched back.
I croaked out a cry in relief as I finally realized that it was just a nightmare and a tear escaped. I breathed slowly.
I completely forgot about the pot-bellied guy and I felt my body tense up. How he set the house on fire in my dream ruthlessly and without any hesitation, without checking if there were kids inside.
The thought causes the hair on my skin to stand and I shivered under the warm covers.
I can't afford to lose that kid. He's practically a little brother to me and I won't lose him. Not like I lost Bryant.
Don't worry, Pio. I'll protect you. I won't let anything happen to you.