Chapter 1
brANDON CULVER
PRESENT DAY
Heat consumes the air as smoke smothers me. My skin is both sweating and still melting under the weight of my protective gear.
Flames lick at my cheeks, and my eyes burn from the fire flaring out the windows of the three-story building. The taste of ash resides on my tongue as I rush down the ladder for fresh air.
The singe of burnt hair lingers in my nostrils as black smoke shrouds my surroundings beyond the ears of the dog in my arms.
The spaniel hasn’t wriggled. Not a peep has been heard. I don’t know if he’s made it, but I take another step down the ladder, hoping to save him. I secure another rung underfoot before leaning down to whisper, “It’s okay, boy. I’ve got you.”
The ground should be near, but with zero visibility, I can’t make the call, so I take a few more steps, keeping my pace steady under safety guidance.
A blast strikes hot and fast, and the fire blindsides me. The ladder is lost, and as I fall, my hold tightens, and only one thing crosses my mind before hitting the ground.