“Cae, c’mon!”
Her throat burned, and she tried to yell back.
“Caitlin!” Booker yelled.
Something shook her, and the darkness fell away.
“Wake up, darlin’, c’mon!”
Gasping, Caitlin bolted upright.
Her eyes burned and she still couldn’t breathe.
Disoriented, she flailed her arms, searching for Booker.
“Jack?” She coughed as smoke filled her nose and throat. “What’s happening?”
“Buildin’s on fire,” he said, hoisting her up by the elbows. “We gotta go.”
She blinked, tears already starting to well from the thick, noxious cloud.
Their room was enveloped in a blanket of deadly grey.
“Grab your gear,” Booker told her. “Make a run for the nearest exit.”
Snatching the rucksack she never unpacked and her shoes, she covered her mouth with the crook of her elbow, trying to gain some relief from the smoke.
“Booker, where—”
“I dunno,” he said, grabbing a blanket off the bed to cover them with if necessary.
Testing the door handle, he found it wasn’t hot, and opened the door, another billowing cloud of fumes rushing in.
Caitlin could hear the screams.
Chaos had taken over the hallways. People scrambling to gather what they could and get out. Several were yelling, asking where the fire was coming from, others giving orders.
“Caitlin?!” Nicole’s voice cut through the noise.
“Over here!” She yelled, breaking into a cough, chest tight from lack of fresh air.
Booker guided her through the smoke towards the side exit.
Trying the knob, he cursed. “It’s locked.”
“What?”
Caitlin tried it herself. It didn’t budge.
“Shit.” Covering her nose and mouth with the sleeve of her shirt, she turned. “We have to go out the front.”
Something—someone—collided with her in the haze.
“We can’t figure out where the fire is,” Nicole said. “It might’ve started outside.”
“Well we ain’t stayin’ in here to find out,” Booker said. “C’mon.”
Gripping each other’s hands tight, they ran together towards the lobby of the school.
“Where’s Scott?” Caitlin asked, trying to see through the smoke.
“Trying to save as many medical supplies as he can,” Nicole said. “I can’t leave without him, Booker.”
“And I ain’t lettin’ you die of smoke inhalation,” he snapped. “We’ll getcha outside. I’ll come back for Scott.”
Caitlin dug her nails into the back of his hand. “Jack—”
“’S alright,” he said, forcing himself to seem calm. “We’re gonna be fine, I promise.”
Terrified throngs of people were running towards the same door, crowding it.
“Everyone, stay calm,” Nathaniel shouted over the panicked yelling. “Single file, run for the parking lot and stay as far away from the building as possible.”
“Nate!” Booker called. “What caused it?”
“I have no idea,” Nathaniel replied, helping people through the door. “We can’t even figure out where it’s coming from. It’s all smoke right now.”
Caitlin knew the old adage was true—where there was smoke, there’d be fire. But if they couldn’t find the flames, they couldn’t save their home.
As they got closer, Nathaniel took the duffle bag he held off his shoulder and passed it to Booker.
“I grabbed our weapons and ran,” he admitted. “Figured that’s the necessity we can’t live without now.”
Clapping him on the arm, Booker nodded. “Good man.”
“Head for the parking lot,” Nathaniel told them. “I’ll stay here as long as I can.”
Reaching into the front of her bag, Caitlin took out a handkerchief and pushed it into his hand as they passed.
“Here,” she said. “To help with the smoke.”
Nathaniel gave her fingers a quick squeeze. “Thanks.”
The frigid Kansas night was a shock to her system as they jogged across the short lawn towards the expanse of asphalt.
Vaguely, Caitlin realized she hadn’t put her shoes on.
Huddled together in one large mass, their group stared up at the school in terror.
Children’s fearful cries were soothed by Sister Agnes as she corralled them near the curb.
Booker dropped the duffle bag at his feet and bent down to check what weapons they had.
“Cae,” he said, holding out the revolver for her.
Taking it, Caitlin tucked the gun into the back waistband of her thermal leggings and hurried to yank her boots on.
“I still don’t see Scott,” Nicole said, wrapping her arms around her middle. “Booker—”
“S’alright,” he said, straightening to his full height. “I’ll get him.”
The millisecond he noticed Caitlin following him, Booker spun on his heel.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doin’?” He snapped.
Caitlin blinked up at him. “I’m coming with you.”
“Like hell,” he retorted.
“We go together, Jack.”
“I ain’t lettin’ you die in some tinderbox,” he shouted. “You stay here where it’s safe.”
“Not without you,” she yelled back, glare sharp.
Booker opened his mouth to argue when his stare drifted over her shoulder.
“Desi,” he breathed. “I don’t… Where’s Desi?”
Caitlin turned to scan the group of children under Sister Agnes’ care.
Brianna, Matthew, Tyrone, Lindsey…
She couldn’t find Desi.
She counted all the children again, but still, she didn’t see the brown curls she knew so well.
“She must still be inside,” Caitlin said.
From behind her, she heard a rustling in the duffle bag and turned.
Grabbing a small handgun, Nicole checked the clip and stood up, tucking it into her belt.
“If you’re going back in, so am I,” she said plainly, looking at them both.
Booker raked his fingers through his hair, yanking at the ends. “Since when did y’all get a death wish?”
Caitlin pegged him with a hard stare. “Together or not at all,” she said, starting back towards the school. “You know that.”
Exhaling roughly, Booker took up the rear, following as they ran across the lot.
The horrified look on Nathaniel’s face as they approached said it all.
“I know, I know,” Booker told him. “But we gotta find Scott and Desi.”
“I’ll do that,” Nathaniel said. “You should stay—”
Several windows from the west wing of the school exploded, and they all ducked
