SAPPHIRE
Once I stepped out of the car, my heart dipped inside my chest. There was no fire whatsoever but beeps of sound alarm could be heard from inside. Instead of walking inside directly, I curved around the house and reached the window of Bella's room.
The windows were closed and because of the curtains in front of the glass, I couldn't see what was going inside.
First, I called the fire department and then looked around myself to find something for help. Knowing the Wests, they would stop the firefighters and I couldn't wait for them exactly.
The streets were dark and there was nobody around. Even Connor's door was locked. Looking around, I sighed when I found a rod placed near the grass. Picking it up, I throw it towards the window with full force. The glass cracked and smoke came out of it. Carefully stepping forwards, I reached the window. Pushing the curtains aside, I looked inside.
The carpet in her room was on fire and it was spreading to her bed. Bella was sleeping on her bed still, no movement whatsoever.
"Bella," I cried her name but she didn't wake up. I screamed again and again but she looked like she was unconscious. There was no other way; I had to go inside to save her. Bella had been doing her best to protect me and now, her life was in danger because of me. I couldn't let it happen.
Holding the window frame with my hands, I propped myself up. The window was high so it took all the strength I have to lift myself up. My arms were giving away but in the end, I was finally able to lift myself over the window.
Jumping inside, I reached Bella and gave some light slaps on her face to wake her up. The sharp smell of smoke was reaching my nose, forcing me to cough. The door of her room was completely blocked by the blazing carpet now and the heat was almost melting my skin.
"Bella," I shouted again and using her arm, pulled her off the bed. She fell down and her eyes shot open. Once she looked around herself, panic appeared on her face and she immediately rose to sitting position.
"Come on," I gripped her hand to stand her up.
The fire was spreading; it was reaching the windows at an alarmingly dangerous speed.
"Shit," she stood up and both of us rushed towards the window. She looked like she was in deep pain and it was taking all her effort to walk. "You go first. There is something happening to me, I can't walk." she said to me.
"Come on, let me help you." I said and pulled her forwards.
"I can't, you should go." she winced, clutching her leg.
"Please Bella," I said and coughed. The whole room had caught the fire by now and sooner, the windows will do the same. "Don't waste any time. Let me help you."
She nodded and I hurriedly dragged her to the window. Her face contorted as I lifted her legs and draped her over the window.
"I am going... going to push you now. It will... will hurt but it is important for your safety." I said between the coughs. My lungs felt like they were constricted and inhaling felt a lot difficult.
"Okay." she said and closed her eyes. I pushed her forwards and she landed straight on the grass, letting out a loud yelp. She tried to stand up to help me but her knees gave away.
"Come out," she said to me, holding her knee.
"Okay," I said and put my hands on the window but the curtains fell on my hand, burning my wrist. "Shit," I retreated from the window which was covered with the curtain that was on fire.
"Sapphire," Bella shouted.
"Call someone," I said to Bella as I tried to push the curtains away but failed.
I looked around to find another exit but as far as I could see, there was fire. I found a spot which was still not ablaze, and screamed at the top of my lungs.
Due to smoke, I had to put so much effort in breathing but it felt like all the oxygen was used up now. Any minute, this spot will also catch fire and I'll die. Everything around me had burnt and I was the next.
My vision blurred due to watering from my eyes. My skin burnt as a result of the heat. The loss of oxygen was now affecting my brain and I could feel my consciousness decreasing with every passing second.
That was not how I was supposed to die.
"Sapphire," A masculine voice called my name while I felt pounding on the door. Maybe I was hallucinating. Maybe I was dying.
I sat down on the floor and closed my eyes, to stop seeing the fire that was supposed to kill me.
"You win, Atticus West." I whispered as I hugged my knees, my head rotating.
"Sapphire," the door to my room shot open. I lifted my head to watch Connor as he attempted to enter the room through the fire. "Come here." he shouted.
I tired to get up, but I couldn't.
"Sapphire, get up." he said as he tried to make a way for him. He used a stuck to move away the burning carpet to make space for walking inside. That was the last thing I saw before darkness enveloped me.
°°°°°
When I finally opened my eyes, all I could see was white. Maybe I was dead; maybe I was in heaven.
As I squinted and could see better, I realised that I was in a hospital bed and my eyes were focused on a light source. I looked around, only to find myself alone. I tried to wake up, without disturbing the IV line but my body felt too tired to do so.
"You're awake." I heard Connor's voice. He was entering the room with a flower bouquet in his hands.
"The doctor said you are fine. You just have few superficial burns but your airway is fine and you can be discharged after a day. Hope the painkillers are working." he said as he effortlessly move around me to place the flowers near my bed and the fruit juice on the table beside me.
"Where is Bella?" I asked as he helped me in sitting up.
"She is in another room. She had some mild injuries on her leg but thankfully, no burns or fracture." he told me as he seated himself beside me.
"How about her house?" I asked in concern.
"Well, it will take some days to renovate it. But I have asked her. You both are staying at my house until that place is suitable." he said.
"You don't have to do that. I'll find some hotel." I replied.
"Why? Friends help each other in difficult situations." he said and placed her hand on top of mine, just beside the IV line. His warm green eyes stared into mine and I felt myself losing in them. "So tell me, do you consider me your friend?"
"Yes. But-"
"Not if or buts." he said and I figured it would be better not to argue.
"Thanks for saving my life." I said as I remembered how he was the first one to reach inside. I owe him my life because if it was not for him, I would have been ashes by now.
"Well, Bella told me how you saved her." he commented.
"She is my friend. Of course, I would have done anything to save her." I replied.
"And you're my friend so I rest my case." he smiled smugly and I smiled in response too. "Besides, it looked like the fire wasn't there to kill you. It had spreaded everywhere except where you were lying."
"Fate," I chuckled.
"Take care." he stood up to leave. "If you get bored, read this." he pointed towards a book that he probably brought for me.
"You're leaving?" I asked, feeling sad all of sudden. There was something about his presence which eased my mind and relieved me of the dreadful thoughts. I wish he could stay here with me.
"Yep, need to make some arrangements so you both can move in." he answered. "Don't worry, I'll be back with some food."
After he left, I rested my head back and closed my eyes. The fire appeared in my memory and I clenched my eyes harder. What if Connor hadn't reached in time? I would be dead within a second. Just like that.
But would dying be such a bad thing? He won't stop until I was dead so what was the point in trying? Isn't it better if I die? For me and everyone around me.
I stood up gathering my courage to walk into Bella's room to see her. I also needed to apologize to her for putting her life in danger.
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