Mate, I’m listening

Help

Smoke engulfs the room, a deadly python poisoning me with it’s fangs. The venom slipped into my throat, burning and causing me to cough. Flames batter the door and walls, a violent tiger attacking its prey. Its claws scratch at my skin, marking it with burns that will stay for a long time.

I can no longer bang on the door, it is a death trap. If I stray any closer. Even by just a step, I could loose my life altogether. That’s not what I want, I want to survive.

No…

I need to survive!

Swiftly, I run to the window. There has to be some way to smash it. As soon as my hands touch the glass they retract, it is burning hot. I gaze longingly at it. For hell’s sake it’s double glazing! A tiny me won’t be able to break it even if I threw myself at it.

Outside the window there are people gathering, they must be the students. Of course! High schools have fire alarms. Surely they should do a register and see I am not here?

Would they have time?

No, I need to get their attention now!

I am pretty sure we are on the second floor of the school. It is enormous, the students and teachers are really far away so I don’t even know if they’ll hear me.

Looking around the room I study what is in front of me. There are some books but they will soon be no more as the fire is growing increasingly closer. I can’t use them; they’ll make as much sound as my fists banging against it.

Outside I notice my brother running around frantically. He is trying to find me, probably begging I made it out. He most likely thought I saw students leaving and followed or was guided by a teacher. He couldn’t be more wrong.

Beside him was Blake, he was rushing around too. My heart flutters, just looking at him sends electricity up my spine. How can he calm me in this situation?

The scorching heat of the fire brings me back to the problem at hand. Coughing more I feel fainter, the smoke is in my lungs- the venom constricting my airways, Soon, here would be no more me, like the burnt books and walls.

There was nothing in the room to help me, I could only wait for the death to happen. I keep banging on the windows, staring into Blake’s frame. He keeps showing more worry by the second.

Then our eyes meet, for a second he is soft until I continuously bang on the window. His eyes go pure black; the flames are less than a meter away from me now. As quick as a flash he sprints into the building, Teachers try to stop him but he turns and seems to shout, they submissively back off- watching him helplessly.

As much as I want to be saved I don’t want him to get hurt. There is a pain in my chest as he rushes into the school, quickly lost in the building as he tries to find me. Maybe he isn’t even trying to find me- maybe some other girl he noticed on the floor below.

Collapsing to the floor I struggle to control my breathing. Reds, oranges and yellows surround me, trying to give me a deathly hug. There was no way of dodging this one though, once they make contact with my skin I’ll be lost forever.

I want to be buried not cremated.

I don’t really have a choice.

Black dots cloud my vision as I try to stay focused but it is difficult.

I feel strong vibrations as the door suddenly slams to the ground. Crimson sparks fly all around where it lands. I expect to see Blake standing there but instead there is a massive black wolf, his eyes are pure green.

Shock keeps me conscious, for some odd reason I am not scared. Slowly, I reach out my hand and touch its fur. The softness weaves through my fingers as they play with the clean neat strands. This isn’t no ordinary wolf.

Then the strangest thing happens, it turns into a person. The bone shrink, and changes into skin. There is no colourful gleam of light like I would expect but a pained expression is on the person’s face.

Blake.

For some odd reason he has a pair of trousers attached to his leg, which he puts on quickly only to leave his very toned chest. Wait, why is that the bit that concerns me?

This fire is making me delusional. I didn’t realise that was a symptom of death by smoke inhalation.

His strong arms wrap around my body, which is still on the floor, as he lifts me into his warm chest. When our skin makes contact which each other little sparks of electricity run through my body. I have never felt his before, not even when crushing on the hot guy from my favourite movies.

He must of felt something too as he pulls me closer, intensifying the feeling. Blake walks through the flames as if they are nothing, guarding me protectively whilst not receiving a single burn himself.

The smoke continues to make me cough and splutter as I move closer than what I though was humanely possible to his chest. How is he even managing to carry me so effortlessly? It’s not like I am the lightest person ever.

I feel my lungs become clearer as we near the exit. Blake had been sprinting at some god-like speed to try and get us out. I noticed how the fire hadn’t gone anywhere else, only the principal’s office. How could that of been? Was someone targeting me? There weren’t any catering room next door- the walls around the room were merely blackened.

Why would someone want to kill me?

These thoughts were all that occupy my mind as the light of day blares onto my skin. I quint my eyes as I try to hide my face into Blake’s chest. Naturally I see rather than hear the commotion of the people around us.

Several teachers try to run up to us but I feel Blake tense. They step back like they did before, this time I really notice the conflict in their eyes as they try to do something but are stopped by some mysterious force.

Then I see Max running breathlessly towards us. His eyes seem a strange black too.

“Harper!” He shouts, trying to get closer but again- Blake seems to say something that makes him stay back,” Let me see my sister,”

The last part he signs, so I cannot tell what is going on. Blake isn’t letting my brother near me- why? His muscles seem clenched as his arms wrap tightly around me. There is no possible way of telling Blake to let go of me. He doesn’t understand sign language and I have nothing to write on.

An idea springs to mind, I tap on one of his very large biceps. Blake looks down quickly, I am surprised he didn’t crack his neck or get some kind of whiplash.

I sign his name slowly as recognition overcomes his face. Smiling he waits for more, I seem to be relieving his stress.

Now what is a universal sign for thank you?

I sign to my brother who nods with a fast pace.

“Harper says,” Max begins as I smile at him gratefully,” Thank you for saving her. You have a very special place in her heart,”

Blake loosens his death grip as Max continues to be the middle ground between us,” You do need to let her go though. She wants to see Max, oh sorry I mean me,”

I laugh as I lip-read his little add on. As soon as my giggle finishes Blake gently places me onto the ground. When my feet hit the floor the strange spell placed upon the teachers and Max lifts as they finally come over to me. Max hugs me tight, and I return it.

Turning around I try to find Blake only to see the back of him as he runs deeper into the forest that surrounds the school. Several other boys, including Tyler follow him.

Something tells me that the wolf I saw wasn’t just a dream.