Gerard

The first thing that struck me was how much the smoke stung my eyes and the back of my throat. I started to practically cough up my lungs the minute I took a breath. Then I stopped. What was it that they taught you when you were in a fire? Crawl on the ground?

Yeah. That was it. Crawl on the ground because it’s easier to breathe because there’s less smoke.

But did I have time to crawl?

Fuck no.

I only had time to run as fast as I could.

Which was what I did. I threw myself forwards into sprint, skirting round the flames and falling ceiling. I held my hands over my mouth and squinted, trying to see through the thick grey smog. I raced along the main ground floor corridor, practically skidding round the corner and crashing into the wall as I shot down the left passage.

I flew towards the door right in front of me, gasping in fear when the flames leapt towards me. I smacked my hand against my jeans when I saw my leg was now sporting its own little fire, putting out the flames quickly. I carried on, wrenching open the door and flying down the stairs.

It was a little hotter at the top of the stairs than it normally was, but apart from that, it was as if nothing had changed. The air was still freezing and it was still completely silent and pitch black. The fire hadn’t managed to get through the thick heavy door.

Yet.

I raced down the stairs, stumbling and tripping a few times until I found myself at the bottom of the twisting staircase.

The cells and cages were left completely untouched and the air was filled with the usual quiet groans and sobs.

I grabbed the keys that were hanging from the wall and headed over to the first cell.

The women inside stared at me in horror.

“No, please, don’t!” one of them begged whilst the other shrank back into the corner.

“You have to get out,” I explained in a rushed and frantic tone. “The palace is burning down, you’ll die if you stay in here. Just get yourselves out and be careful.”

I stepped out of the cell but they made no move to leave, staring at me in disbelief.

“Go!” I yelled at them, moving on to the next cell.

Once I’d unlocked the cell doors and screamed at the people inside to get out, I moved on to the few cages that contained some of the older and more badly wounded people.

I unlocked all of them and helped them to the staircase, instructing them to help each other up the stairs and out of the palace the best they could.

The last cage had a tiny girl inside of it. My heart crumbled when I saw her, cowering away from me with a panicked shriek.

“Hey,” I whispered, gently, reaching out and touching her wrist. “Hey, it’s OK. I won’t hurt you.”

She looked at me through tear filled eyes. “Promise?”

“I swear. I won’t hurt you, I want to help. Come on, why don’t we get out of here?” I said softly, gripping her tiny, thin grubby hand in mine. “It’ll be OK.”

She nodded and scrambled forwards.

I hadn’t even known that my family kept children in the dungeons. That was going beyond low. It was just fucking sick. This was the last place on earth a child should have to see, never being locked up in one.

“What’s your name?” I asked her, scooping her frail little body into my arms and heading towards the stairs.

“Heather,” she mumbled, hiding behind her dirty long fringe. “Who are you?”

“Gerard,” I answered, jogging up the stairs two at a time. “How old are you Heather?”

“I’m five,” she whispered.

She let out a startled gasp when I threw the door open, the flames worse than before.

“Gerard!” she yelped. “Every where’s on fire!”

“I know, just… just close your eyes and hold onto me, OK? Don’t look Heather, it’ll be OK,” I told her gently.

She nodded, burying her face in my shoulder and gripping onto my shirt with her tiny fists, her skinny frame trembling against my chest.

I took a deep breath and ran.

It was far worse than before. I was practically diving and throwing myself out of the way of the fire. The ceiling was breaking and falling through, chandeliers and furniture from above crashing down.

But I somehow managed to make it.

Or at least, I thought I did.

Just as I was about to reach the door, I heard a sickening crack above me and looked up to find a giant burning mass falling towards me.

I threw Heather forwards out of the way, hoping to God she was alright. I didn’t have time to check, because before I knew it, I was being crushed to the ground and into unconsciousness.