Composer... (Complete)

Chapter 4 (Part 1 & 2)

I tuned out after that. The rest of the night was pretty much the same. Jokes and jeers and singing happy birthday to Bob over a round of flaming shots of liquor. Bob said he hated cake. I got to drink that round since it was a special occasion after I promised to never tell my father. After all... he could fire them. Though the fact I've never drank a drop of beer or liquor before.... that one shot threw me for a loop. The night ended and I had to be helped out by Bob, who drove us home slowly.

"Careful. " He said helping up the steps to my apartment. My feet seemed to catch on every step. I never felt so relaxed and numb. Like taking and smothering your brain in Ambesol.

"You know I think this place is great Bob. Maybe I should help fix it up." I could hear my own slurring of every word but didn't care. He laughed shaking his head.

"You know you're going to have a hell of a headache tomorrow. I'll bring my own special recipe for hangovers in the morning." He helped me into the apartment and dropped me onto my bed pulling off my shoes. I sat up and my eyes found the piano. He never looked at it when ever he came in to say hi, or check on the plumbing. "You need to go to bed now Casey." He stood up and pulled the blankets down. I barely dragged myself up and he covered me tucking the sides in tightly. I smiled like an idiot up at him.

"Did I ever tell you how great you are... Bob?"

He quirked his brow at me. "You're drunk. Say it when you're sober and I'll believe you. Now get some sleep." With that he turned around and left. I swallowed feeling as if I had cotton in my mouth. I licked my lips and smacked my tongue against them but nothing helped. Then the darkness began closing in on me like someone closing a door.

I dreamed of a beach, the sun beating down on me. The sound of waves like the licking of flames in my head. I heard a voice but when I looked around I only saw sand and water. I coughed and squinted as the sun got brighter.

Casey! I turned around hearing the voice calling me. It sounded so familiar but for some reason I couldn't remember. Casey! Wake up! Part of me wanted to obey. I wanted to wake up, I knew it was a dream but there was a sense of dread in the back of my mind. I began coughing more.

I opened my eyes and sat up feeling my head rush as my apartment was engulfed in flames. I looked around but I was surrounded by a red and yellow gleaming wall. "Help!" I screamed.

I tried to stand up but my legs wouldn't work right. I couldn't stop coughing. Finally I fell to the floor keeping my head down where the air was supposed to be cleaner but I still couldn't breath. I saw a small window of opportunity along the side of my dresser where there was a small path that I didn't see before. Crawling towards it I ignored the burning in my lungs and repeatedly blinked as my eyes were also burning. I heard cracking and groaning as the structure weakened. I knew I had to get out soon or it would collapse on top of me.

Squeezing through the small opening between the wall and my dresser I had to pull hard when my hips got stuck. My heart stopped and I looked up as the ceiling came down. The thunderous crunching of everything resounding in my ears. The pain that shot through my back and legs caused me to scream and suck in breath making me coughed only to send more pain through my body. Everything quieted except for the flame's roar. I could just see the piano engulfed like a roman candle. I wanted to cry but nothing came. Then I saw a shadow...a silhouettes against the brightness of the fire. It knew I had to be seeing things, I was simply dying and my mind was playing tricks. He jumped through the wall of flames and rushed taking a hold of the massive piece of roof on top of me and wrenched it off like it was a toy. "Casey hold on." I heard him say. He lifted me up cradling me like a baby in his arms. I coughed.

"Devon?" His expression was nothing short of agony but his lips turned up into a smile.

Hang on I've got you.