Chapter 9 - Out of the Ashes
The sheriff lunged forward, catching the burning beam with his bare hands.
He roared in agony as the fiery wood seared his palms, but he shoved it away before it could crush me.
Adrenaline finally cut through his concussion.
He pulled a tactical knife from his boot and sliced the rough rope binding my wrists.
My arms fell free, heavy and aching.
He told me to put my arms around his neck and hold on for my life.
I clung to him tightly as he stood up, dragging my weight against his chest.
The main staircase was entirely gone, reduced to a pile of blazing ash.
The only way out was the metal escape hatch my husband had padlocked from the outside.
The sheriff charged toward the back wall, ignoring the searing heat melting his uniform.
He shoved his shoulders against the heavy metal door, but the padlock held strong.
Smoke completely filled the room, dropping visibility to zero.
I began to lose consciousness, my grip on his neck slipping.
The sheriff drew his backup weapon from his ankle holster.
He aimed the tiny barrel directly at the locking mechanism of the heavy metal hatch.
He pulled the trigger three times in rapid succession.
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The steel lock shattered completely, sending fragments flying into the smoke.
The sheriff kicked the hatch open, and a blast of cool, fresh night air rushed in.
