Jesse Strong and Courageous Runaway

“Is your daddy out there, sweetie?” I asked.

His tear stung face nodded.

I hugged him to me and he clung back as we both watched the only place we had ever called home waver in and out of our grasp. Suddenly a harsh wind barreled through our town.

“Woah! WOAH!!” Firemen staggered back as the flames ignited with the fresh burst of air. Heat. Penetrating. Burning, scorching heat. I pressed the boy closer to me and tried to shield his face.

An echo of a scream.

A chirp of a radio.

“School. Fire. Athletes are still in the building.”

The school was on fire! What had I done?! And my team was in there! I let go of the boy and ran.

Dad's shouts. “No, wait!”

Feet pounded against the gravel.

Mom's cries. “Jesse, what are you doing?”

Lungs gasped for air.

A fireman yelling. “Stop!”

Legs turned to jell-o as I turned into the school parking lot and saw the flames. Like snakes the flames slithered around the building, jutting in and out, slowly consuming it.

Another shriek pierced the air. I ran toward the door and flung it open. Smoke. Screams. I coughed. What are you doing, girl? I asked myself. The building is on fire!! More cries for help. I dived into the smoke and headed toward the gym. The shouts grew more intense. A huge pile of smoking debris blocked the only way out of the gym. I knew that was a bad idea! Stupid. architect!

"Hey! You guys all right?”

“Jesse! Get us out! We're trapped!”

I didn't have a better plan so I began furiously scooping away the rubble from the door. The hot wood and sheet rock was burning my hands but I didn't care. This is all my fault. Fierce shouts echoed in the hallways. Suddenly strong arms pulled me away.

“Let me go! I can help them!”

No response.

Someone dragging me toward the exit.

The smoke swirled around my brain, creating a wall to the rest of the world. Slowly my eyes clos- “JESSE!! The catwalks Jesse!” Linda's screams penetrated through the smoke.

Of course! I struggled against the fireman's grip. He held firm, we were almost to the door. Finally I just kicked him in the leg. With a cry he let go of me.

“Sorry!” I yelled as I took of toward the janitor's closet. The door burned my skin with the promise of fire as I opened it. Flames fed off rags, mops and… That can't be good. Chemicals. Bleach and ammonia. Water would be useless on such a fire. I reached over the sink and pulled the ladder down. I scrambled up it with as much strength as smoke, the new ruler of my body, would allow. The catwalks groaned and swayed as I ran toward the other ladder, the flames would not these walkways hold for much longer. I kicked the ladder down.

“Linda! This way! Get over to the ladder.”

A basketball player's head suddenly appeared.

I breathed again. “Hey, Jake.” At least something is going right. I thought as I helped the ninth-grader up. “Go!” I gave him a gentle nudge. He took off down the catwalks and I helped the next one up. Finally after 23 people, Linda was the last one.

“Thanks for the tip!” I breathed as helped her up.

“Don't mention it. What are you doing here?”

“You know me, I can't miss out on the action.”

Linda smiled gratefully and ran toward the exit.

Suddenly I heard a metal bar snap. “Hurry, Linda!” I cried, as the metal started to crack. At last Linda reached the ladder going into the janitors room. I was right on top of her. In the distance I could hear the muffled sound of the catwalks collapsing down.

I shuddered at the heat as I hit the floor. The chemical fire was just getting worse. The last of the team thundered out, escape the only thing on their mind, and mine. Finally the end was in sight, the pale light of the world shone past the flames. And then I tripped; on what I'll never know for sure. As my head cracked against the tile a trophy cabinet fell on my ankle. Linda spun around to help me. “Just go.” I clawed at the floor trying to free my leg. Linda ran out to freedom as the firemen closed the doors.

I was trapped.