Chapter 24 #3
The fireman motioned towards his colleague again, and I shook my head, pointing to Harper. “Take her first.”
He nodded and helped to uncurl her hands from around my neck.
Watching as the fireman got Harper to safety, relief sank into my stomach even though I could see she was frantically looking for me.
“You next,” our savior said.
Raising slowly to my feet, I stepped towards where I could see the cage section, as he had called it.
It was attached to ladders that had been extended to reach the window.
I could feel the structure of the house groaning beneath my feet.
The fireman must have felt that too, as he hurried me along and we both managed to lift ourselves over the sill and onto the ladder.
“OK. We’re clear. Go go go!”
“Hold on to the rail,” the second fireman shouted, and the cage started to move away from the window. And then, the entire external wall of the house shook as the floor of Harper’s bedroom gave way.
Both emergency service men grabbed Harper and me, holding our hands against the metal edges of the cage.
Dust and smoke flew up into the sky, and I shielded Harper with my body the best I could.
The ladder continued its slow decline, and the clean air had never tasted so good. My eyes stung against the bright light of the sky. “Do either of you need medical attention?” the guy using the joystick to lower the crane questioned.
I shook my head. “I don’t think so?” I hoped Harper hadn’t swallowed too much smoke. If I threw my guts up, I was sure that’s all there would be.
As they took us down, two other firefighters and a paramedic were waiting at the bottom.
“What the hell were you kids doing in there?” The bigger of the two said as we reached the ground. Harper was still shaking in my arms.
“She was trapped inside,” I replied. The paramedic threw a blanket over Harper and pulled her away from me. I could see she was in shock, and I nodded to encourage her to go with him. A blanket was also placed over my shoulders, but I pushed it off and handed it back.
“Suit yourself. Follow me, please,” the man who I assumed was their chief said. The colors he wore were slightly different, and he had that bossman vibe. He led me behind one of the fire trucks as the hoses continued to fight the fire.
He showed me into the large container I had seen earlier. It appeared to be a breakout room.
“Will she be alright?” I asked, wiping my face; the skin there felt gritty and sticky, and as I glanced down, I could see my clothes were covered in black particles.
“She’s in good hands, son. You can see her in a minute. First, you need to tell me what happened.” He took off his gloves. I noticed the chief wasn’t wearing an oxygen tank like the guy who had saved us.
“So, she was trapped inside, and you went in after her?” As he revealed his face, he appeared to be around fifty with craggy eyes and gray hair.
I shrugged, “Bout sums it up.”
“Well, aren’t you the hero son,” he replied. I didn’t care whether he was being sarcastic or not; I just wanted to get Harper home.
And then I was asked to explain what happened.
I kept it brief and said that the house used to belong to Harper’s parents.
He explained that the contractors appointed to demolish the building had hit a gas main.
The digging equipment must have caused a spark, which, due to the high winds, created a small fire.
One which had soon spread. He explained that a full investigation would need to be carried out and a report filed once the fire was fully out.
“If you could just write your phone number and address on here. We will need to speak to your girlfriend at some point.” He then went to leave, and as he got to the door of the cabin, Hudson appeared, ashen-faced.
“Where’s Harper? Is she safe?”
I looked at him and nodded. “She’s in the ambulance just getting checked out.”
“What in hell is this place?”
I then shook my head, my message clear: this was not the time. “Later. Let’s go find Harper and then get the hell out of here.”
The only coherent thought I had was that my girl was safe and I needed to take her home.
HARPER
It seemed to take forever for the emergency services man to check me over. I wasn’t sure where Phoenix was.
I was sitting on a gurney in the ambulance, with what was left of the fire eating away at my old house. The water hoses were firing into the air, and it was almost out.
I noticed members of the public, standing on the perimeter of my old estate, all staring in horror. Some were even filming the fire.
I kept sipping from the bottle of water I had been given, waiting for that moment when I could go and find Nix.
“The police will want to ask you some questions, sweetheart.”
I didn’t reply, and then Nix and Hudson appeared by the door of the ambulance. Our eyes locked, but he didn’t look angry. He just looked relieved, and I felt so thankful for that.
“Is she good to go?” he asked the paramedic without breaking eye contact.
“I don’t see why not. Just keep drinking that water, young lady, OK?”
Thanking the paramedic, I left the ambulance.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I buried my face into Nix’s shoulder. “Can we go home now?” I felt Hudson behind my back, almost like between them, they were protecting me.
“Did the guy say you were OK?” he asked, stroking my hair.
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go home, baby girl.”
And that one word vibrated pleasantly through my entire body.
Home.
* * * * *
When we attempted to leave the estate, we were stopped by the police. After giving them our details, they finally let us go.
I felt so tired and numb. What the hell just happened? I almost died, and Phoenix saved me!
We rode home in Hudson’s truck. I sat in the back, and the boys were up front. Phoenix kept turning around to check I was OK, and Hud kept his eyes on me in the rearview mirror.
Hudson explained that he had spoken to everyone so they knew everything was OK, but warned me that there would be questions.
When we arrived at the house, Ma raced down the driveway, opening my door and pulling me into her arms, and I allowed the tears to fall again.
“What on earth? My sweet girl. I’ve been worried sick. Are you hurt?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s just dirt.”
“She’s fine, Ma. I’ll explain later. We need a shower, and Harper needs to rest.”
Hudson then intervened and took Ma inside. “I’ll tell her what happened. You look after Harper.”
Micah, Reed, and Molly also raced over.
“OK, guys, give us some space.”
Phoenix helped me upstairs as Hudson did damage control with our family.
Nix helped me undress in the bathroom, carefully scanning my body for any bruises or marks. There wasn’t anything sexual in it; he was looking after me, and it felt so good after what had happened.
He must still care about you? I hated the fact that I still felt so insecure.
“Do you mind if I join you? Share the water?” He added the second part quickly, so I didn’t think he was after something.
I felt a twinge of disappointment that he was asking my permission. It almost felt like we’d gone back a few steps. I nodded.
We showered together, and it was a case of going through the motions. Making sure the dirt and grit was rinsed off our bodies. Nix helped me wash my hair, and I started to feel special again; the trauma of what had happened was wearing off.
Phoenix then took me by the hand and led me to his bedroom.
“Do you want to rest? You can sleep in my bed.”
I snuggled in against the lapels of my fluffy pink robe. It was the most girly thing I owned. Phoenix was wearing a black one that I sometimes saw Hudson in.
And I lost it, rushing into his arms as his door closed.
“Hey, it’s fine. You’re safe.”
“I know, I’m just so sorry for putting you in danger. I never thought you’d come after me like that.”
Pulling back, he held me at arm's length, his fingers were ever so gentle on my skin.
“Why did you run from me?”
“I didn’t. I just needed to clear my head,” I said miserably. “I only went to the house to say goodbye. I knew they were due to tear it down, but I didn’t realise it would be so soon. And why burn it?”
“They didn’t burn it. At least, they didn’t intend to. The demolition people hit a gas main.”
A gas main. Shit, yes. I remembered hearing a loud bang when I’d been half asleep.
Looking up at Nix, I explained. “That was the place I used to keep all the stuff I stole, Nix. And now it’s all gone, destroyed. So, I can’t give anything back.”
“You couldn’t anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“You said it started years ago. How would you remember who you took each item from?”
His point was valid, plus most people would have moved away. “I suppose I wouldn’t be able to.”
“So, I can’t ever make it right, Nix. I’m stuck with my sick secret forever.”
“It isn’t a sick secret, Harper. Considering what you’ve gone through in your life, you’re bound to have some baggage.”
And I lost it, again.
My voice was muffled against his skin. “I’m so sorry, Phoenix. I should have said something sooner, but instead I took the easy way out and tried to ignore it. We were in such a good place, and I didn’t want to ruin it.”
He ran his hand over my hair, “Shh, baby girl.”
I pulled back and looked up at him, my eyes swimming. “And now I have.”
He frowned and touched my face with his thumbs. “What the hell are you talking about, you’ve haven’t spoiled a damn thing.”
My eyes scanned his features; he looked so much better now that the soot was washed away. “But the picture I took, the purse, and everything else?”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass about the picture and even less about that entitled bitches fricking purse.
When I found out about the thefts, I wanted to skin you alive for putting yourself at risk. The thought of you getting caught and ending up in Juvie just made me lose my shit. I was angry, and I did what I always do: shot my mouth off. It was wrong of me.”