Burn

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONEMARCUS

DAY ONE

“Look out!” Marcus leaped towards Dillon, grabbing him around the waist and shoving him out of the way. As they slammed into the ground, a massive flaming tree trunk crashed to the ground beside them. They rolled away, gasping in breaths and trying to avoid the burning debris.

Dillon coughed. “Thanks, man.”

Marcus nodded, got to his feet, and pulled Dillon up with him. As he was coughing out the smoke filling his lungs, his radio crackled to life. “Engine One! The fire has jumped the logging road! Get to Carson’s Creek! Get out of there, now!”

Marcus met Dillon’s eyes. He nodded his head and grabbed his gear. Coughing to clear his burning lungs, Marcus yelled. “On me, guys! We're moving! I need full accountability!” He watched as his men gathered around him. Taking a quick head count, he saw everyone was there. “We need to move to Carson’s Creek. The fire jumped the logging road.” The men exchanged nervous nods and started to move down the mountain. Even though they were all experienced firefighters, he could understand their nerves. With the fire jumping the logging road it was roaring unchecked towards them. If they didn’t get out of its way, they would be trapped on the mountainside —And burn to death.

A strong breeze blew another cloud of smoke towards him. His lungs seared with pain as he tried to breathe. But there was nothing he could do, what few compressed air tanks they had, had run out long ago. If he wanted a breath of clean air, he needed to keep going.

His boots slid on the loose stones as he reached out to steady John. “Careful, you fall and your sliding all the way down.”

John grunted. “At this point, I’d take that option.”

Marcus shook his head. “Not smart. You’d look like you had slid down a cheese grater. Bad option.”

John coughed and nodded his head. Marcus cast his gaze around. All his men were still with him. If they kept this pace up, they just might get to Carson’s Creek before they died.