Prologue 1

Jory (Ten years ago)

I proudly walked into the gymnasium on his arm, amazed at the transformation the Homecoming Committee had performed. It looked stunning, with fall leaves scattered about and sparkling lights strung everywhere. Smiling up at my date, I was shocked to see the look that flitted across his face. He looked almost – angry? Sad? I didn’t know for sure, but since he smiled down at me and squeezed my hand, I quickly forgot it.

The past six months had been wonderful. Being sixteen and dating your first-ever boyfriend? It was euphoric. I smiled at the memories of the beach trips, picnics, movies, and hanging out we had done. He was always respectful and hadn’t pushed beyond holding hands or kisses, although lately, I was hoping he would push a little more. At least then, I wouldn’t be the only inexperienced one among my girlfriends.

Dances, so many dances I had lost count, had me feeling thirsty. I looked at him and asked, “I need something to drink, Dorian, are you coming?”

“Naw, Jory, you go ahead. I’ll be over there, okay?” he asked as he pointed to the far corner of the gym.

“Okay. I’ll be right there.”

The line was so long, I went to the bathroom first and ended up in a discussion with one of my friends about who would be crowned Homecoming King and Queen. I secretly hoped it would be him because he looked so handsome in his tuxedo, but based on years past, it would likely go to someone from the football team. Making my way back into the gym, I found the line at the punch bowl had gone down and gratefully accepted a cup from my English teacher, Mrs. Hatcher. “You look lovely tonight, Jory. Yellow is very becoming on you.”

Grinning, I told her, “Thank you, Ms. Hatcher. I kind of feel like Belle from Beauty and the Beast.”

“With your dark hair and the color of that dress, I can understand why. Enjoy the rest of your evening, dear.”

I smiled my thanks as I took a sip of the cooling punch. I had heard stories of the football team spiking the punch and was glad that it tasted normal. Glancing around the room, I spotted Dorian over in the corner and was making my way toward him when the first shots rang out. Screams filled the air as panic overtook the crowded room and I was knocked to the ground, unable to stand.

Slowly crawling over to the side, I could hear more shots and then I saw the flames as they sprang up around the room. My confused mind couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing. Was that… was that Dorian with the gun? And why? As the flames grew and the smoke started filling the room, I began coughing, unable to find my way out of the gym.

* * *

When my dress caught fire, I didn’t notice at first until I felt the immense pain in my leg. Remembering the old saying “stop, drop, and roll,” I managed to put it out but was too scared to see just how bad it was. I tried several times to stand but the pain drove me to my knees each time, so I crawled toward what I thought was freedom, growing weaker and weaker as the flames stole the oxygen from both the room and my lungs.

My last thought before I lost consciousness was, I love you Momma.

Bryson

The two-alarm fire along with an active shooter at the high school during the Homecoming Dance had everyone on high alert as they raced to the school. Arriving, the firefighters jumped down and began preparing to put the fire out while the police and SWAT teams worked to clear the building. I grabbed my oxygen tank and with my buddy, Luke, we entered the side doors at the gym. As we found students, we carried them out and handed them off to the EMTs who were working to triage the injured. Luke motioned that we needed to leave because the fire was getting worse, but I shook my head no. I had just seen a flash of yellow over in the corner and I went toward it to make sure it wasn’t a student.

* * *

Seeing the young woman lying there, unconscious with obvious burns to the lower half of her body, I knew I had to get her out of there. I scooped her up as carefully as possible and, noticing the blue tinge to her lips, rigged my mask so that she would get some oxygen. Turning, I saw that my former exit was now blocked with a wall of flames.

“Hang on, Kitten, I’ll get us out of here,” I said to the unconscious teen.

Mentally, I thought about the building’s layout, grateful I was a former student and that there hadn’t been any renovations. I continued working my way through the building until I came to the front hall and finally emerged from the front doors.

“Over here!” I yelled as I put the teenaged girl on the ground and set about putting the oxygen mask on her fully. She was still limp and unconscious, but the blue wasn’t as evident, and I could see the rise and fall of her chest.

As the EMTs worked on her and prepared her for transport to the hospital, I dropped to my knees and said a quick prayer that she would be okay. This was my first major fire since graduating from the academy, and I hoped I had gotten to her in time.