Kane(131)

 

I focused and used the swipe motion to unlock my phone. I saw the light grow bright, and I could make out the light-green phone app that brought me to my call list. I pressed it and then hit the last person who called me.

 

“Miss Collins?” I heard a shout from outside the door.

 

I screamed, “Help me, please!”

 

“Miss Collins!” a familiar young male’s voice shouted. “Are you in there? I see smoke.”

 

Caleb.

 

“Caleb!” I screamed. “Help me.”

 

“Miss Collins!” his voice hollered. “I’m goin’ to get you out of there!”

 

I heard banging on the door and I whimpered. He was trying his very best to kick it in.

 

“Aideen?” I heard a voice shout.

 

I didn’t know who it was, my ears were starting to ring. I cried out as my mind refocused on the pain in my leg.

 

“Help me!” I cried and spluttered.

 

“Aideen!”

 

I blinked my eyes and looked down to my phone.

 

Someone answered my call.

 

“I’m at the school,” I screamed. “He is goin’ to kill me. He set everythin’ on fire-” I cut myself off when a fit of coughing hit me.

 

“Aideen!” I heard his voice, screaming.

 

Kane?

 

I whimpered, “Kane. It’s Big Phil. He’s tryin’ to-”

 

I coughed again and dropped my phone in the process. I couldn’t see a thing so I tried to feel around for it, but I couldn’t find it.

 

I screamed, “No!”

 

I searched for my phone as a table next to me collapsed and the burning timber fell against me and burned my arm. I bellowed in pain and kicked myself away from the fire.

 

“Miss Collins!” Caleb’s voice screamed. “I’m goin’ to pull the fire alarm- Hey! Let go of me!”

 

I looked up as my classroom door opened and a body was thrust into the room. The door slammed closed once more and this time laughter followed.

 

“There, you have a little brat to keep you company.”

 

“You bastard!” I bellowed.

 

Philip laughed, “Give my regards to Marco, Miss Collins.”

 

I was about to reply when I suddenly felt hands on my arms. I screamed with fright because I couldn’t see anybody in front of me. The room was growing thick with smoke, and laying low on the floor seemed to be the only option.

 

“It’s me,” a voice said then coughed, “Caleb.”

 

Caleb.

 

Oh, God.

 

“Caleb,” I spluttered. “Get out of here right now.”

 

“And leave you?” he asked, coughing. “No. Come on.”

 

I cried, “Me leg, I think it’s broken.”

 

“Fuck,” Caleb growled then hooked his arm around my waist and pulled. He grunted as he hoisted me up to my feet.

 

I instantly began to wheeze when I stood upright. The smoke was thicker, the flames were higher, and my throat felt like it was on fire.

 

“The window,” I coughed.

 

I cried in pain as Caleb pulled me along with him. He rested me against a desk that wasn’t ablaze and tried to open the window closest to us, but it wouldn’t budge.

 

“It’s locked!” he shouted and covered his mouth and nose with his hands.

 

I did the same thing.

 

“Try smashin’ it,” I said, coughing into my hands.

 

My throat started to feel like a razor blade was wedged in it, and the more I talked and breathed, the more lodged it became.

 

“Cover your face!” I heard Celeb shout.

 

I did as he asked and covered my face. Seconds later I heard a loud crash as Caleb slammed one of the chairs into the window. I heard the glass shatter then Caleb’s voice.

 

“Help us!” he roared out the window. “Please, we’re trapped! Help us!”

 

I heard people’s voices shout in reaction to Caleb’s plea.

 

“There’s a fire in the school!” a woman screamed. “People are trapped!”

 

A man shouted, “Call nine-nine-nine! Quickly!”

 

The school was situated in the middle of a housing estate so all around us were houses.

 

“Help us!” Caleb screamed again.

 

I leaned over the desk to rest a little. It was then I realised I couldn’t feel the pain in my leg anymore. I couldn’t feel anything, but the overwhelming tiredness that filled me.

 

“Miss Collins!” Caleb shouted.

 

I felt his hands on me then.

 

“Hey,” he coughed, “wake up!”

 

I leaned into him and closed my eyes.