13 THE FIRE

Fire!, fire!!, fire!!!!!

Nelson shouted with a loud knock on Betty's door which alerted her out of her sleep– she instinctively sprung out of bed with the voice which hit deep into her sleep. Her room was filled with thick smoke which made it hard for her to see. She felt dizzy and spontaneously bursted into a profound cough as she sauntered off the bed to the door.

"Dad!!! , Dad!!!! , Dad!!!" She called admits cough and on an impulse, exclaimed. " Help me !!!!! – I can't see anything." Her voice faintly penetrated through the wooden door and she fell to the flood, choking with the heavy smoke which was gradually turning thicker.

Betty! Betty! Betty!!!

Nelson and Nicole called but there was no response. Without further options, they broke the door and found her on the floor almost lifeless.

"Betty!!! " Nicole shouted as he rushed to her aid.

" Betty, Betty , please wake up."

Nelson called shaking her but to no avail– her breath was off. Nicole swiftly scoped her into his arms and dashed out with Nelson, tailing after. They made a dash to the door in an attempt to flee the flame which was determined to consume the house but the fire had already caught up with them.

OUTSIDE THE HOUSE

The neighbours who stood outside the scene kept screaming, shouting and wailing for help– others tried distinguishing the fire but was already out of rage.

"Call the fire service !" One exclaimed with panic.

"We've already done that– they're on their way." Another shouted

INSIDE

The smoke made visibility quite difficult for them which made Nelson slip and fell from the stairs– he got stuck under a huge wood which had fallen earlier, unable to move.

"Ouch!" He groaned, hit by the faith of his kids, he shouted. " Nicole!, get yourself and Betty out of the house. " His voice was a little faint and weak voice.

"No dad! – i'll get you out of there!" He objected and dropping Betty on the floor, he went to the aid of his father. With much effort, he went pulling him out–just then, the unexpected happened.

"Dad!!– Dad!!" Nicole screamed with terror.

"Nicole...!!!! – Get out" Nelson shouted and his voice was silenced with the collapse of the house which fell on.

The fire service van soon pulled over in front of the house but it was too late to rescue the victims inside the house. They begun putting off the fire in order to retrieve their bodies.

"How many were they in there?" A fire fighter officer asked.

"They were three, sir" A man in his mid 20s,replied.

THE HOSPITAL

Solidad was beside Aimscious' with her head on the bed–Mart had already left leaving her alone with Aims. Aimscious was still not awake and Solidad had slept off while waiting for her to open her eyes. Suddenly, her phone started ringing with a

buzz... buzz... buzz...., sound.

She woke up startled by the ring of her phone– Solidad answered with a stressed look.

"Hello, is this Mrs. Solidad Nelson? " The voice asked to which she answered with a confused gaze.

"Yes, please – who's this?" She asked.

"I'm Mr. Philip, from the Police crime investigation center–" On an impulse, he added. "I'm calling to inform you of a development at your home– Can you kindly rush over to your residence now?"

"Okay, sir – I'll be there soon. Thank you."

She responded , leaving the hospital in a hurry.

THE NELSON'S HOUSE

Solidad after a few meters drive, finally got to the street leading to her house which looked surprisingly heavy with people exiting her compound, wailing and cursing.

“What's going on here?" She asked in a confusion.

Soon the cab pulled over in front of her house– Shocked at the scene that met her eyes, she bolted out of the car with the speed of lightening.

“Nelson! –Nicole! – Betty!" Her voice shook with terror. A lot raced through her mind and her eyes glistered with unshed tears.

Without further thoughts, she raced in– about entering the house when a fire fighter pulled her out.

“Where's my family?– Nicole, Betty and Nelson. Where are they? ; Someone please answer me.” She screamed with pain, crying.

“Sorry, Ma'am– we lost them” A voice replied.

“No!!” That was the only word that escaped her lips and she collapsed.

HOSPITAL

Aimscious lay in her bed ,still not awake. A shadow slowly opened the door and entered. It quietly crept towards the bed in order to prevent any suspicions.

The shadow instinctively stopped in front of the bed, gazed at her and sneered.

“Let's see how you escape this time.”

The voice uttered, and gave an evil smile. Its lifted it hand to pour a liquid substance in a small bottle on her when its suddenly saw a nurse coming towards the room.

"No matter where I go, I'll be back for you Aims" The shadow cursed and flee from there.