“Move back! I’m here to rescue you!” Kevin shouted against the door. The beating against the door didn’t stop at first, and he waited a moment to be sure whoever was inside would be out of the way. Then he pulled the door down with the force of his entire body, opening the dark, musky closet to the world of heat and smoke that surrounded Kevin. He spotted three children inside, two probably about the age of eight, and one much younger.
He immediately charged inside to embrace them, all three of which were crying and gladly flew into his arms. There was no time to spare, however, and he opted to secure them against his body before they knew what was happening or thought to run from him. After turning around to make sure there weren’t more kids, he raced out of the classroom, but only into a wall of smoke and fire. He’d only been inside the room for about a minute, yet the fire had grown exponentially. The flames that were beginning to surround him before were now barring his every path, and the heat no longer just pressed into his clothes, but his skin and muscles as well. The children began to fall limp in his arms, the lack of oxygen stealing all their strength.
There would be no safe way through the fire, and because of how fast it had grown, there was no time for him to check for any more survivors. No matter how badly he wanted to rescue everyone, the lives of the three children in his arms depended on him. If he were to save them, at the very least, he needed to get out, and get out now. It was a tough decision, but it was one that had to be made.
Kevin covered the children with his arms, trying to guard them from the fire. He braced himself, and then dashed through the fire; the flames licking at his skin and clothes. It burned his clothes and ate through his skin, but he didn’t let it get to the children. He kept them in his arms even if it slowed him down, even if he had to take the fire’s wrath for them.
There was too much running, and finally he collapsed. The heat was still around him, the children still in his arms. His eyes closed.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow...)
[The complete Book ‘MAN FROM TOMORROW’ can be downloaded at amzn.to/2MSf1ng]
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