I smell burned bacon.
I get up from bed.
Nobody should be home.
Is someone there? I turn to my phone. It's dead. Just beyond my curtains, I see a crude flashing of lights. Pulling them open, I see flashing red.
I open my window, and heat spreads through my face. The smell of char flooding my nose.
"What the hell—?!"
I dash right through my bedroom door, and see the chair still covering the doorknob
Smoke slowly fills the room from the cracks in the door.
Black, ominous smog.
I look to my left; the balcony is up in flames.
What the hell is going on?!
...
Was it Mary?
No... there's no way...
Who else is there?
Nobody else was here.
No...
I probably just didn't notice them!
...
DID THAT CRAZY HAG LIGHT A FUCKING FIRE?!
I dash back to my bedroom window and scream.
"SOMEBODY! HELP!"
I see them! They're all here!
"HEY—!"
!!!
They're all… just…
Staring…
What are they doing?
Aren't you going to help me?
Call for help?
"HEY! I'M STILL UP HERE!"
They're looking at me. They're definitely looking.
So why... are you all ignoring me?
How did they all make it so fast?
Did they know there was going to be a fire?
Why aren't they doing anything?!
THEY'RE JUST STARING AT ME!
"HEY!"
...
It's hopeless.
They're just going to leave me to die.
They're looking at me like I'm not even there.
Just like him.
Just like Mary.
Do you want me gone that badly? What did I do?
What the hell is going on?!
I look to the sides, and the fire's already engulfed the neighboring apartments.
How did it spread there so fast? The apartment is filled with fire doors...
...
Did they... leave their doors open?
Did they know this was going to happen?
No... there's no way... they wouldn't do all this just to kill me... it must be a mistake.
I run back to the entrance. The heat tingles on my skin, even through the door.
What can I do?
Is there anything?!
That door won't last forever, and I don't even know if anyone called the fire department.
No, surely someone did.
Even if none of my neighbors did… the smoke should be visible even blocks away…
Help will come…
Someone will come…
Please…
The pure smell of ash is overwhelming.
All I can do is curl up into a ball.
***
It feels like I've been waiting forever.
I don't even hear sirens.
Nobody is coming.
I'm going to die.
I don't want to.
I don't want to die!
I just need to jump! I just need to jump from the window.
That's what I need to do.
My legs shake as I walk over to my window.
It's bright.
Hot.
My face flinches back from the heat.
They're still there.
The fire, reflecting off their empty eyes.
Their heads are empty.
Mindless static.
A girl, holding her mother's hand.
Linda's hand.
They're both just watching the fire.
Still as corpses.
We were talking earlier. I thought you were nice. I thought you were all normal!
My knuckles crack as I clench my fist.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU LOOKING AT?!"
Bastards.
BASTARDS.
I look down to the ground.
I can't.
What other choice do I have?!
I need to.
I can't.
I need to get out!
Who knows how much longer those doors will last?!
I grab the bottom of the window; it burns my fingers.
I grip the opening firmer.
It's now, or never.
I ready my legs to jump.
They don't move.
Jump.
They don't move.
Please!
My burned fingers fly away from the window.
I press my fingers against my pants, trying to numb the pain. "Ah... ah... it hurts... it hurts..."
Tears prick my eyes.
"You… idiot…"
So, this is how it ends.
You shouldn't have come back here.
Someone just tried to kill you.
You knew Mary was acting strange.
You came back anyway.
You had two warnings.
You ignored them.
"Shit…"
Now you're going to die.
Will you miss me, Mom? What would you say right now? What will you say when you find out?
...
Should I get over it with?
Open my door?
Everyone's waiting for it to happen anyway.
They're waiting for you to die, so you should just do it.
...
I look back at my window.
Even if I do get the courage to jump.
What then?
Would they help me then?
I choke back a sob.
"Tch…"
Even now, all you can do is cry.
I sit on the floor.
I wait.
For rescue that isn't coming.
***
How long has it been?
I see the main doorway.
The corner of the door… it looks like it's going to cave. Smoke is trying to escape the hallway.
Smoke pours through faster.
Faster.
It looks like a dam ready to burst.
Still, no sirens.
Funny. So much for that.
!!!
Sirens bellow in the distance.
I see.
So, they are coming.
Why did you take so long?!
Please!
It'll be okay. I'm going to be okay!
A roar of flames explodes in my right ear, and my door shoots open.
Heat sears my skin.