2X The Heat (2X The Pleasure 1)

The cracking sound of the fire all around me made me almost deaf to anything else, and I strained to hear any voices or screams on my way up the stairs. The smoke was thick and I had difficulty seeing anything as I went through random doors of the seemingly vacant apartments.

“Help!” I heard someone scream, and my pace quickened as I made my way to the person calling from the apartment nearby. It was so damn hot, and I reminded myself to stay focused on the task instead of thinking about all the negative probabilities.

“I’m here! Don’t worry! I’ll come and get you out now!” I shouted to the person calling for help so they would know that help was on their way. “Get low towards better air!”

I kicked the door open and rushed inside, covering my head when I passed next to a hallway closet that had caught fire. The flames licked up the furniture, reaching the ceiling that was growing black, and I had trouble seeing anything through smoke and orange glow.

“Help! I’m in the bedroom!”

I had no idea where the fucking bedroom was, since there were three closed doors in the next hallway, but I tried my luck with the first door.

“I’m coming inside, so step away from the door!” I warned them before I kicked the door and darted inside.

I found an old man in his pajamas kneeling next to his single bed, his trembling form almost frozen on his spot.

“Sir! I’m here! I’ll help you get out of here.”

I approached him slowly, taking care not to come in contact with the flames that were dancing dangerously around the small room. It was almost impossible to see anything, since most of the space was completely swallowed by fire and smoke, and I had difficulty helping the poor man out of the room. He was crying, clutching onto my arm too tightly, and I willed myself to calm down my breathing.

“It’s going to be alright. Please, be careful when taking your next steps.”

“My home,” he cried out, letting me pull him out of his apartment and down the hallway of his floor. “My things... Everything is ruined.” He sobbed loudly, but his cries were almost completely drowned out by the cracking and popping sounds everywhere around us. It was so hot.

“It’s going to be alright,” I repeated. All that mattered now was getting this man out alive. “Come on. Careful. We’re close to the exit.”

Several minutes later we were out of the building, passing next to the guys who were working quickly to douse the fire, and an intense feeling of accomplishment for managing to save this man’s life washed over me for a few moments. There were more people outside now, some of them this building’s residents, and their shocked and terrified faces created a heavy weight in my chest. Hopefully, I would be able to reach all the residents inside, if there were any.

I rushed back inside, going up the stairs and through the apartments in my search for any remaining residents. I passed next to the apartments were the fire had already been put out, relieved that we managed to fight against the flames quickly. I came to the top floor, where the raging fire had devoured the most of its apartments, and concentrated on the sounds.

I entered the third apartment on my left. I covered my head and halted abruptly when the ceiling started falling right in front of me, and my heartbeat skyrocketed once more.

“Is anybody here?!”

I trudged through the place, trying to listen for anyone. The fire had already spread through most of the rooms, and I had to bend forward as I walked further inside.

“Is anybody here?!”

My heart hammered against my rib cage, because I was sure I’d heard screams coming from this place, but now I couldn’t find anyone at all. Had something happened to them?

Was I too late?

“Help me! Please! I’m stuck here! I can’t open the door!”

I heard someone hitting against the door next to me, and I stopped, more than relieved that they were alive.

“Please, move away from the door. I’m going to kick it in.”

I waited a few seconds until I was sure that the person on the other side of the door heard my instruction. I kicked it and stepped inside, and my eyes immediately found a teenage girl in the middle of a bathroom.

“Thank God!” She exclaimed and rushed toward me, pulling me into hug. “I thought I was going to die,” she coughed out, taking deep breaths, which just brought on more coughs. She needed oxygen, but I didn’t have the time.

I wrapped my arms around her shoulders reassuringly, leading her out the confined space. “It’s going to be alright. Just be careful where you step, okay? I’m going to get you out of here.”

Suddenly, a part of the ceiling fell down, missing us by inches. Shit. If we stayed here even a minute longer, we would be roasted.

“No!” She screamed, digging her nails into my waist, and her anxiety seeped into me. I brushed it off, refusing to succumb to it.

“Calm down. Are you hurt?” I inspected her body for any injuries, extremely tense because we couldn’t get out quickly enough and fire was everywhere around us.