11. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Lilah

C hristmas Eve is here and I have a cold, so I couldn't go with Gene to visit his mother. We had a small lunch together with the Mcallister boys and all I can think about is to set my weary body on the bed and let the medicine take over.

We've all been working had on the youth center project, but I've noticed the twins are more withdrawn now than ever. I asked Connor about it, but he just ignored me. After these peaceful weeks I don't really feel like going through more trouble.

Of course, that's exactly what happens. There's pounding on the front door and I rush to see who it is. I open the door and two people push me aside and come into my apartment.

"Where are the kids?"

"Who are you?"

"Where are those brats? They hang out with your brother all the time."

"Are you talking about Brad and Owen?"

"Where. Are. They."

"They had lunch with us a couple of hours ago, but they left. They didn't tell me where they were going. Let me see if Connor knows."

I knock on my brother's door and he opens after a few moments. I fill him in on the situation and he comes out to the living room where the Mcallister's foster parents are waiting, smoke coming out of their ears.

"Owen told me you threw them out. Today of all days."

"What?" I ask.

I'm immediately angry on the twins behalf.

"It was a misunderstanding."

"That's not how it seemed to them." Connor says.

"We're not getting in trouble because of those brats."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Well, the nice lady at Social Services came looking for them. She wants to talk to them."

"I don't know where they are." Connor says.

With a lot of grumbling, swearing and complaining, Connor and I manage to the the foster parents out of our home. I immediately turn to him.

"Do you know where they are?"

"No, but I have an idea."

"I'll get dressed."

"You're sick. You're supposed to stay in bed."

"You're not going alone. I'll text Gene on the way."

I change as fast as possible for someone under the influence of cough medicine and let Connor drive us just to be on the safe side. Connor confesses that the twins have been staying on and off for the past few weeks on the Williamson estate where we're planning to have the youth center.

I text Gene where I'm going and add a short explanation. When we get close to the park we see a lot of black smoke coming from the property's direction which is not good. Once we park, I look for a way into the house.

"Connor, call the fire department. I'll go get your friends."

"You can't go in there, you'll get hurt, Lilah."

"Just call for help."

I look around the side of the house and see a window that is partially open. I know I shouldn't be going inside a burning building, but two lives are in danger right now. It's dark so I light up my phone so I can see where I'm going.

There's smoke everywhere, but I can hear the twins cry for help. When I walk into the living room I see that Brad is trying to drag a passed out Owen out of harm's way. I immediately start to help Brad but my brother's voice comes from behind me.

"Brad, it's me. Let me help."

A shiver runs through me. Of course my brother came after me. These are his friends. The fire is spreading quickly and the front door is blocked. I start looking for a way out. The house is roaring all around me and I'm praying we'll all make it out of here safely.

Connor starts dragging Owen with Brad but they're going the wrong way.

"Guys, I think our best bet is to go through the kitchen and use the back door that way."

I can't even tell if they see where I'm pointing at because of all the smoke so I touch their shoulders and pull them towards the kitchen. A lot of debris is falling all around us and I'm hoping the hallway isn't affected the way the foyer was.

When we get to the kitchen both Brad and Connor collapse next to Owen. They must have inhaled too much smoke. I go around them and reach for the kitchen door when a beam falls in front of me and bars the exit.

Things seem to be escalating and I'm at a loss as to what to do. How do I get these kids out of here? More debris starts to fall in this room and I rush over to cover the boys so that they are not harmed. I hear a siren in the distance and start to become hopeful. That's when I feel a sharp pain on the back of my head and everything goes black for me.

Gene

Lilah texted me a 911 and told me to meet her at the youth center. My heart starts racing a mile a minute when I see the fire truck racing towards the same direction I'm driving to. There's a ton of smoke and the police are already there. I'm searching for Lilah, but I only see her car.

I get out of the car and get as close as they let me. The fire captain, Charlie Pascale stops me as I try to get near the building.

"I think there are four people inside. My girlfriend, her brother and his two friends."

"You need to stay back Mitchell."

I tense up when he says my name, expecting some kind of harsh word, but he doesn't say anything, just runs along to do his job. The fire is engulfing the house and I'm terrified that the woman I love will die inside it. I haven't even had the chance to tell her how I feel about her.

I search the house for areas that are not on fire yet. The firemen are busy in the front so I start walking around the house. I find the back door and wrench it open, but there's a huge beam barring the path to the kitchen.

There's a heap on the floor a few feet back and I realize it's them, my family. I run back to the front and start waving at the firemen.

"Through the kitchen, they are there, but there's a huge beam I can't move on my own."

"Stay back." The fireman barks at me, but I just follow them.

Once we get back there all I can do is watch them work. More and more firemen come with tools and more backup. I'm having a hard time breathing.

"You need to get back to the front of the house and get behind the line there. You're going to pass out from smoke inhalation."

"I need to make sure they are sa-safe."

A wave of dizziness goes through me. I act as if nothing is wrong and step back a few feet as if I'm going to do what he told me to do. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, I see them pulling the kids out. When Lilah's limp body is being carried by a fireman I intercept him.

"Give her to me. She's mine."

I know I sound like a caveman, but right now I need to know that Lilah is okay. I follow the other firemen that are carrying the kids over to the ambulances. When I get there the paramedics take her from me. She looks pale and I start shaking. What if I had lost them tonight?

Suddenly I hear someone screaming Lilah's name and I realize that Connor is awake. I'm reluctant to leave Lilah's side, but I know she would want me to appease her brother.

"Hey, Connor. They are taking care of her right now. How do you feel?"

He takes his mask off and tries to talk, but he's having some difficulty. When he's finally able to talk his words fill me with unease.

"I'm sorry about the house."

"Were you there when the fire started?"

"No. We got here after. We knew the twins were inside, so Lilah went in to get them while I called for help. Then I followed her."

"You both shouldn't have done that."

"The twins would have died."

"All of you could have died, Connor. I could have lost Lilah and never had a moment to tell her how I really feel about her."

"She cares about you too."

I nod and look around to see where Brad and Owen are.

"I'm going to check on the twins and hopefully your sister will come to soon."

After checking on the twins I go back to where Lilah is being treated and see there's no change in her. The paramedics are getting ready to take her to the hospital. They won't let me ride with her because we're not related. I thought about lying and saying she was my fiance, but I don't want to lie to the people of Woodland Falls ever again.

They take the kids to the hospital as well and I follow in my car. I probably shouldn't be driving right now in the state I'm in, but I didn't want to ask anyone for a favor. So I drive as carefully as I possibly can, all the while sending up prayers that when I get to the hospital my beautiful Lilah is already awake.

In the hospital no one will talk to me and I'm losing my mind. Thankfully, Connor asks to see me and when I talk to him, he fills me in on Lilah's condition. She's got a concussion and is still not waking up. He tells the staff that its okay for me to visit with her.

Before I go to her I ask the question that's been circling my brain since Lilah sent me that text.

"What were the twins doing in the Williamson property?"

"Their foster parents have been treating them badly for weeks so when they can't stand it anymore they've been staying there at night. Tonight they threw them out so they had nowhere else to go."

"Your sister would have taken them in."

"They're not used to getting help from adults. They don't trust it."

I just nod and leave him so I can check on my girl. When I walk into the room I see the nurse taking Lilah's vitals. She nods to me and keeps doing her job. I go to the other side of the bed and take Lilah's small hand in mine.

"Come back to me, sweetheart. I don't think I can live without you."