NEVER REAL

Chapter 1 My breath is heavy as my muscles tense up, I feel my lungs shrinking as I wonder if that's even possible. My vision grows dark as my hands begin to shake, the noise around me grows louder as if I could almost see the vision of waves with their increasing amplitudes and frequencies. Tears trailing my face for no reason. My thoughts spiraled as I wondered "what on earth was wrong with me?". I layed on my bed trying to figure out what was happening to me but the pain in my chest had felt overwhelming. I've never fought so hard against gravity to try get up and finally I realised the reason I fought myself was because I was not conscious of my surroundings, merely an air particle within my own head, I couldn't wake up, yet my surroundings seemed normal and I felt awake, smoke began to trail the air leaving it's wicked sense in my lungs but my visions still seemed normal, I began to panic I couldn't wake up and I was conscious of it. I couldn't help but feel as if I was trapped in a dream and something horrendous was unfolding around me. As I managed to grasp reality I refused to let go, I had to get up, it was like trying to hold onto an invisible rope and be lead by nothing except faith and just pray you're actually holding onto something except the inside of your own palm. Panic washed over me as I felt myself wake up to the sight of various dancing flames waltzing around my room as if I'd missed an invitation to my own party. I had every reason to feel panic as the flames danced around contagiously consuming everything it touched. I didn't live alone and I couldn't just save myself, my first intentions disagreed as I ran but the innocent screams of my siblings taunted my conscience and I had to save them, even at the cost of my of my own life, I had to get my sister's out. My youngest sister sat in the middle of the room, I could feel her fear as the flames danced around her as she was bound to the bars of her crib, the only hope for her getting out might have been the tears that trailed her face but I wouldn't imagine that being nearly enough to extinguish the flames. The thermal radiation released had intensified as the open window only allowed the flame to grab more motivation to burn. I cradled my sister in my arms as I tried to relax her restless fear, she was only a year and her fear was more matured then most adults. Little Kiyuki's tiny hand trailed my cheek as her smile escaped. Her curly blond hair and bright eyes filled with various of emotions. I had to figure out where to put her but there was no time I had three more sisters to save and my parents weren't home. The fire looked as if it started in the living room which left my only option to escape alive, being the back door, how ironic. As a sharp, pungent smell filled the air, making it hard to breath with a combination of a metallic smell combined with one of dry and ashy wood that had an identical scent to burnt toast, the scent is overwhelming and nauseating, making it hard to breathe and think. A choking cloud of smoke and ash filled the air, reeking of burnt wood and melting plastic. The acrid smell of burning fabrics and electrical wires made my eyes water and throat close up but I couldn't give up now, the walls were about to collapse, I had to think fast. The back door to my advantage hadn't been locked as I crashed through the door with my sister cradled in my chest hiding her from the glittering ashes that filled the air, I wish I wasn't forced to leave her by herself on the grass patch but my other sister's were still inside. I laid her on the grass and sprinted inside, hearing her giggle as left, I was loosing my senses by the second, my vision blurred and my hearing was muffled. I made it into the bedroom as I grabbed my other two sisters, four year Emiko whom I put on my back as her tired head fell against my neck and her shivering words echoed in my ears "what took you so long" and a seven year old Miayiko who's hair covered her vision but revealing her bright blue cowering eyes, I carried her in my arms tightly as her words sent shivers through my heart, she was barely conscious as she requested, "please don't leave me." I felt their grips tighten up in response to their fear but I would prefer them holding on for dear life then letting go midway. I tried to run as fast as I could but my speed had been disastrous due to their combined weight. I refused to slow down regardless, I still had to save my nine year old sister who would probably sleep through a hurricane, i was running out of time as I screamed her name "HIOKI!" "HIOKI!" No doubt she didn't hear me. I ran down the long passage going as fast as I could as the flames spread, I slid out the back door once again the feeling of the delicate grass strands on my bare feet that had been burnt by the stranded coals on the ground had shattered my balanced like hopeful dreams destroyed by a hopeless mindset. I couldn't feel my legs, my shoulders had gone numb, my feet had been burnt in multiple occasions but my sister was still in the house and I needed to save her, even with the possibility that I would have to accomplish it with my last breath. My sister's stranded to the back yard and their own thoughts. I held them responsible for little Kiyuki whom I left on the grass "you need to take care of her, ok?". They nodded as I felt the guilt pump through my veins as if it replaced my blood flow, I had one my sister left to save "I'M COMING FOR YOU HIOKI. JUST HANG IN THER-!" My speech became inaudible as it dried up from the smoke I'd inhale.I held on to hope as my feet moved in a desperate bid to reach Hioki. Each step felt like a struggle, my feet dragging along the ground as I fought to save her. I felt my side scraping against the floor as I slid through the door, narrowly escaping the collapsing roof. My chances of escape through the back door were gone, but I had to worry about that later. The creaking stairs and snapping sounds echoed through the hallway, accompanied by the crackling of flames. Despite my determination, my body gave up, and I collapsed on the floor. Hioki's door was a beacon of hope, and I saw her sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the chaos around her. The flames cast a golden glow on her face, but their tranquility was deceptive. As I caught my breath and struggled to get back to my feet, the flames showed no mercy, consuming her blanket in an instant. Hioki's eyes snapped open, and she jumped up, her gaze locking onto mine as she took in my condition. The last thing I heard was her anguished scream "MAIYUKI !" My eyes snapped opened at the desperation in her voice. The roof above her was about to collapse and she couldn't see it! My voice was in audible. I couldn't shout to save her. I felt my strength return as I ran to tackle her out of harms way. I closed my eyes preparing for impact. My speed picked up. Her eyes saw me charging. And in the next moment. Everything was gone.