A Brand New Ending

Chapter 28

Braeden



My body heaves as it tries to recollect oxygen, but my nerves are still on high. The night is eerily quiet. I watch the steam come from my breath. My ear catches a sound. I swear I heard her voice. Looking up at the house, I squint, seeing something off in the distance coming from the upper bedroom window. And then I smell it. Smoke.

Before my brain has time to process my legs are running forward. I climb up the steps, taking them two at a time, reaching the front door in a millisecond. My mind immediately shifts to my dream, the emotions flowing through me right now match those in the dream. Backing away from the door slightly I run straight at it, my body collides and it flies open, smacking against the opposite wall with a loud bang.

The veins in my body fill with adrenaline. Consciously trying to slow myself down, I take in my surroundings, the downstairs is completely quiet, nothing but the glow of a TV filling the room. But the strong odor of smoke fills my nostrils, it making my heart race even faster. Pulling up the collar of my shirt, I try to block myself from inhaling it and ascend the stairs. My eyes begin to water intensely due to the smoke, my vision almost completely dark.

"Phoenix!" I scream out, hoping that she will hear me.

Nothing. Feeling my way around I find an opening and wipe the water from my eyes, the room illuminated by a fire that is currently billowing from the curtains by what looks like a desk. I don't know what told me to pick this room first but from what I can tell by the things on the floor, it's a girl's room. As I continuously wipe my eyes I make out a rather large form on the floor. I don't have to think twice about what it is. I fall to the ground beside her body, the heat from the flames excruciating. Her eyes are closed, her body gravely still. My mind tells me to do a million different things at once, it resulting in my muscles frozen in place.

"Phoenix," I scream again, jolting her body.

Nothing. But finally something in me kicks on, my mind clear on what I have to do. Reaching my hands underneath her I pick up her delicate body and make my way downstairs, trying to find an exit through my burning eyes. When I find the front door again I bound down the stairs and set her and myself on the sidewalk. Laying her out flat I tilt her head back, listening for normal breathing. I rub my hands on her face, waiting for her to open her eyes, my uneasiness not settling.

I know now that I have to have to give her CPR. My lungs are already on fire, wondering if I even have any oxygen left to give. Placing my palms on her sternum I push, trying to remember the right repetition. I finish pushing after thirty, then immediately place my lips on her, blowing as much oxygen into her lungs as I can.

"Come on!" I scream, my anger now taking over. Nothing. "You can't do this to me. You're not dead. You can't leave me too."

I don't know how many times I repeat the process but I'm well aware of tears running down my face. They are not the result of the smoke anymore. But I continue to give CPR until every muscle in my body becomes weak. Just when I am about to give up, I hear something. My mind must be playing tricks on me. But when I pick my head back up I see her eyes looking back at me. They are full of fear. Pulling my hands from her chest I scoot even closer to her, my hands automatically rubbing her forehead.

"Phoenix," was all I could breathe out.

Her eyes instantly start to swell up with tears, the vision absolutely heartbreaking.

"Are you hurt?" I ask.

She nods. I go to put my arms underneath her to lift, but she starts shaking her head violently, her body fighting my every move. I can tell she is trying to talk.

"What?" I ask, trying to understand what she wants.

Phoenix puts her shaky hand to her throat. "Mmmmyyy mmmoooommmm," she says, her voice harshly disfigured.

"You want me to get your mom?" I ask, my voice partly shocked.

Part of me wanted nothing more than to get as far away from here, but the look in Phoenix's eyes were desperate. Pleading.

"Are you going to be OK out here alone?" I ask clearly concerned. She just nods. "I will be right back, OK?" I say, squeezing her hand.

Getting up from the sidewalk I run back into the house, the smoke ten times more intense. I hated having this distance between us again, my mind always on her as I navigate. Walking over to the sliding door I open it, ventilating the downstairs slightly. Finding the stairs again I bound up them, but move slower than before. The house is quiet except the crackle of the flames. But then I hear a cough that's too feminine to be his. I try to think back to Phoenix's chart, but my mind is fuzzy. But then it snaps.

"Elaina?"

The cough becomes louder. And then I see her. Walking over I bend down so that we are face to face. I can see a river of blood flowing from her nose, her right eye almost swollen shut.

"Can you walk?" I ask.

"I don't know," she says.

Leaning down I put her arm around my shoulder and lift her up. Luckily she seems to not stumble badly as we stand and begin heading back to stairs.

"OK, were going to take one step at a…."

My words are cut off when I feel an excruciating pain in my shoulder, my grip on Elaina faltering, her body leaving my fingertips. Turning around I see him behind me, a knife in his hands, its tip drenched in my blood. Within seconds his hands are around me and my body is being tossed back and forth. Every time I land on the ground I cry out, my whole body in agony. Getting back up I look at his face, an eerie smile across it. The f*cking sick bastard is getting joy from this. I can feel blood start to slide down my face, my right eyebrow on fire.

"Got a little blood there," he taunts, wiping his own eyebrow.

"Go f*ck yourself," I spit, my new found rage shocking even myself. His smile widens as he looks over the blade again. It's now that I realize I am against a wall, his massive figure towering over me.