by Clare Revell
The stairs were packed and Hector could smell smoke. Lots of customers, crying children, worried adults. He passed several people, and came across a lady trying to carry a buggy, shopping, baby and toddler. Other people pushed past her. She was franticly trying to persuade a terrified toddler to move. “Let me help.” He held out his arms to the toddler. “Want to help Santa carry the buggy down the stairs? That way Mummy can carry the baby. What’s your name?”
“Roger,” the child said, clinging to his mother tightly.
“And what’s the baby’s name?”
“Leah.”
“Okay, Roger. You want to help me?”
The child nodded slowly, letting go of his mother and gripping Hector’s hand. Hector looked at the lady. “Take the baby out and collapse the buggy. We’ll have you out of here in no time.”
She smiled, despite the fear and worry in her eyes. “Thank you. I’m Rachel.”
“No problem, Rachel.” He lifted Roger into his arms and settled him onto his hip. “Now, Roger. I need you to keep watch and make sure Mummy and Leah are right beside us. Can you do that?”
“Yes. I’m scared.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’m scared, too, but so long as you hold on tight, I’ll be okay.” Hector looked at Rachel. “Let’s go.” He grabbed the buggy with his free hand and headed down the stairs.
Once on the street, he set the buggy down.
“Thank you so much,” the lady said. She strapped the baby into the buggy and held her hands out for Roger. “What do you say to Santa?”
“Thank you for saving us.”
Hector smiled. “You’re welcome.” He glanced up at the toy shop.
Smoke poured from the top floor. Thick black smoke. He’d seen enough TV shows to know black smoke wasn’t a good sign.
Leon jogged over to him. “Any idea how it started?”
“No idea. I was eating when the alarms went off.”
Leon glanced around. “Where’s Brie? I thought she was with you.”
The police moved them back from the building as two fire engines arrived, blue lights flashing and sirens blaring. “No, she didn’t turn up for lunch. Has anyone seen Grand…Mr. J?”
Leon shook his head. “I haven’t seen him. Was he in today? And we all know he’s your grandfather. You don’t need to hide it any longer.”
Hector nodded. “According to the text I got, yes he was in today.”
Lizzie staggered out of the building.
Hector caught her, steadying her. “Have you seen Grandad or Brie?”
“They’re still in there. In his office, I couldn’t get to them. I’m sorry.” She coughed, a hand covering her face, the other one clutching her stomach.
Hector’s heart sank and his stomach clenched. Fear gripped him as he gazed at the burning building.
He glanced at Leon. “Get Lizzie some help. I’m going in after Brie and Grandad.”
Leon wrapped an arm around Lizzie, and began leading her over to one of the ambulances.
Hector ran over to the nearest firefighter. “There are at least two people still on the top floor. That’s where the offices are.”
A massive explosion ripped through the building, sending showers of glass raining to the ground. Hector covered his head, as a chorus of screams echoed in the air behind him.
He looked up. The entire top two floors were ablaze. Flames shot from every window. Stomach wrenching dread gripped every part of him.
Oh, Lord. Brie and Grandad are still in there. Protect them.
Chapter Twelve
THE FIREFIGHTER STANDING NEXT TO Hector requested back up, making pumps twelve. Hector assumed that meant an additional ten fire engines and crews would arrive. Around him other fireman aimed hoses at the blaze. More hoses thudded into place as they were unrolled. People screamed and cried. A TV camera appeared from nowhere and began filming.
Hector sucked in a deep breath as ash began to fall. That was a mistake. He coughed. He couldn’t stand here, no matter what anyone said. Maybe the staff entrance would be free of smoke or at least give him access to the top floor. He shook off the jacket, hat, wig and beard and tossed them to the ground.
More glass exploded as he ran around towards Gun Street. Voices called behind him, moving people to the other side of Broad Street, away from the fire.
He keyed in the code and pulled open the staff entrance door. Smoke drifted down the stairs. Pulling his handkerchief from his pocket, he held it over his nose and mouth and headed up the stairs two at a time. As he reached the third floor, his steps slowed. Winded, he wondered how fire fighters managed this in full kit plus breathing apparatus. He touched the door handle to the shopping area as he passed. It was hot.
He could hear fire crackling just behind it, smoke crept underneath it. Adrenalin flowed through him, giving the strength to run the final couple flights of stairs. He pushed open the fire door on the top floor. Thick black smoke rushed through to greet him, along with a wall of intense heat.
Keeping the handkerchief clamped to his face, Hector raised his other arm to protect his head as he moved slowly down the corridor. Zero visibility and intense heat were the least of his worries. Flames licked the walls, the floor tiles under his boots cracked and steamed. Thank you Lord for the thick boots that I hate wearing so much. “Grandad! Brie!” he yelled.
He coughed hard. “Is anyone here?”
Main reception was a firestorm. “Grandad!”
No answer. He turned to go. A glint of gold caught his eye. He bent and picked it up. Brie’s necklace. The clasp was broken. She was here. “Brie! Hello?” he yelled, coughing. “Is someone there?”
“Help…” The faint voice came from a door on the other side of reception.
Hector sent up prayers for protection and ran into the blazing room. For a moment sheer panic and terror flooded him. Was he mad? What could he possibly hope to achieve? He wasn’t a fireman.
But Brie and Grandad were up here somewhere. The fire brigade would never make it on time. He pounded on the door which led to his grandfather’s office. “Is anyone in here? Brie? Grandad?”
“Hector…help…”
He shoved open the door. Smoke and heat burst into the room with him.
“Come on, need to get you out of here…” He broke off as he realized Brie was on the floor, kneeling over the prone form of his grandfather. He shut the door and dropped to his knees beside her. “What happened?”
“We were talking and he clutched his chest and fell to the floor. He’s not breathing. I’ve been doing CPR for ages.”
“Let me help. How long has he been down?”
“I don’t know. We tried to get out, but it was too bad out there, so we came back in here.”
Hector caught his breath. Too long. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed 9-9-9. He put the phone on speaker, taking over the heart massage from Brie.
“Operator, which service do you require?”
Hector coughed as smoke crept under the door. “We’re trapped on the top floor of Jennings Toy Store. The fire brigade is already in attendance. Grandad had a heart attack. There’s still no output.”
“I’ll get a message to them. Stay on the line.”
“I can’t. Just send someone up here.” He hung up and glanced over at Brie. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She breathed into Grandad’s lungs twice. Her outfit was stained and burned in a few places, her hands red.
“Liar…” he whispered.
“It doesn’t hurt. Might later, but right now…” She broke off, her teeth white against her smudged skin as she smiled. “I can feel a pulse. Faint but it’s there.”
“Thank you, Lord,” Hector whispered.
Grandad coughed and tried to roll over.
Brie put a hand on his chest. “Lie still. We’ll get you out of here soon as we can.”
Smoke filled the room. “We need to plug that gap under the door.” Hector glanced around and grabbed the coat
s from the hat stand. He shoved them along the base of the door. “That’ll give us a few minutes.”
He knew it wouldn’t be long as the door handle glowed red.
Brie picked up the vase of flowers from the desk and emptied the water over the coats. Then she threw the contents of the coffee pot on for good measure.
Hector smiled. “Good idea.” He dragged Grandad around behind the desk. He settled him in the wide gap where the chair normally went, then tugged Brie behind the desk as well. He sat beside her, his hand resting on her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay? Your tunic is burned, and your hands…”
“I’m fine.”
He rubbed her arm. “If I lost you—”
“I’m right here,” she interrupted.
A massive explosion shook the building. Ceiling tiles rained down around them.
Hector flung his arms around Brie, covering her with his body. Glass shattered, the door to the outer office blew open.
Tongues of flame licked the door jamb.
His phone rang. “Hello…”
“This is Station Officer Haynes. Where in the building are you?”
“Top floor. Office behind main reception. It overlooks Broad Street. But we can’t get out. Main reception is an inferno. There was a massive explosion just now. It brought part of the ceiling down. The room is on fire.”
“The central lift shaft blew. Can you get to a window, show us where you are?”
Hector staggered to a window, coughing hard. He pounded on the glass.
“We see you. We’ll be with you in three minutes. Get away from the window and cover yourself.”
Hector crawled back to Brie. She was lying on the floor gasping for air. He lay beside her, putting himself between her and the flames. If this is it, Lord, if my time has come, then let my death not be in vain. Save Brie. She has so much more to do here.
Grandad lay motionless under the desk. Hector pulled Brie towards him and held her tightly. “They’re coming.”
She coughed hard, clinging to him. “Pray?” she asked.
He smiled. “I haven’t stopped. Our Father, who art in heaven…”
The building shook with a massive explosion.
The wall behind them gave way.
Glass smashed.
Hector closed his eyes and tried to stay calm. Heat seared his back, the hot air burning his lungs as he struggled to breathe. The firefighters were on their way and he’d done all he could. The rest was up to God.
Chapter Thirteen
BRIE SAT ON THE TROLLEY in the ED. Hector sat on the bed next to hers. He’d insisted on being treated with her. He had an oxygen mask on, same as she did. Her hands, to his relief, were minor burns. She’d actually had worse sunburn, but wasn’t going to tell him that. Tinsel hung around the nurses’ station, but other than that there was no homage to the season at all.
The department was busier than normal, due to the fire. She looked at Hector. “Mr. J will be fine.”
“Hope so.” He looked at her. “We’ve lost everything.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Brie. The walls caved in. The ceiling fell. It’s gone.” He broke off as the doctor came in. He checked the machines above them. “Okay, those numbers are looking a lot better now. You can both go home.”
As the nurse removed the SATs monitor, Hector pulled off the mask. “How’s my grandfather, Simon Jennings? He came in around the same time we did, also from the fire.”
“He’s been taken up to CCU.”
“What’s that?”
“Cardiac care unit. He suffered a major heart attack. He’s very unwell.”
Hector paled under his smoke darkened face. “Is he, is he going to die?”
“The next twenty-four hours are critical. You can go up and see him if you like. CCU is on the third floor, but its restricted visiting. Family only.”
Brie looked at Hector. “You go on up. I’ll make a few calls and then meet you up there. I can wait in the corridor or something.” She hugged him.
Hector hugged her back. She could feel him trembling, yet he was trying to comfort her. His lips pressed against the top of her head. “You will come?”
“Once I’ve made these calls,” she promised. “I need to let my parents know I’m all right.”
She walked with him to the lift, then headed outside into the darkness. Her breath hung in the air as she pulled out her phone. A dozen messages littered the lock screen. Mum, Dad, Mum again, Dad, Paris, actually three from Paris, then Mum another five times. And that didn’t include the missed calls.
Brie sat on the wall and pulled up the news page. The fire was the main headline. One hundred and thirty fire fighters were currently in attendance, struggling to bring it under control. Part of the structure had collapsed, but no deaths had been reported.
She sucked in a deep breath. Would she ever get the taste of smoke out of her mouth? Hitting the video call button, she rang her parents. The phone was answered immediately. Both her parents faces were visible. “Hi, Dad. Hi, Mum.”
Her mother’s face was tearstained. “Brie, are you okay? The fire is all over the news and you weren’t answering your phone.”
“I’m okay. Hector, Mr. J and I got trapped on the top floor, but the fire service got us out. I have a few minor burns, but it’s nothing. Mr. J is in CCU. I’m not sure he’s going to make it.” Even as she spoke, nothing about the moment seemed real. She could have been reading the news or talking about someone else.
“We’ll fly down first thing in the morning.”
“There’s no need. Honestly, I’ve had worse sunburn. I’m fine. I’ll be up next week for Christmas anyway. Plus, there will be a lot to do here the next few days. Insurance claims and so on. I can’t leave.”
“If you’re sure.”
“Yes.” She raised her hands one at a time. “See, just a little red. I’m fine.”
“Who’s Hector?” her father asked, backtracking the conversation as only he could.
“My,” she hesitated. “Hector is a friend from work, but we’ve been out a few times. I like him. He’s a Christian.” She refrained from mentioning he’d slept on her couch the previous night. That wouldn’t give the right impression at all.
“Is it serious?”
“It’s only been a couple of weeks, Mum. Give us a chance. I’ll bring a photo with me next week. I should show you what he gave me for my birthday.” She felt around her neck and her heart plummeted. “Or I would. I think I lost it in the fire.”
How was she going to tell him?
“That reminds me.” Her father spoke again. “Paris and Elina are going to be on the same flight up here as you. He’s said he’ll pick you up on their way to the airport. Help you pack up your things.” He paused. “They’ve got pictures on the news again. Looks like the whole side of the building collapsed. Don’t forget that job up here is yours for the taking. All you have to do is attend that meeting when you get here.”
Pack her things? How long did they think she was going for? She ought to tell them.
Brie sighed. “Actually, I need to talk to you both about that. I’ve decided what I’m going to do.”
Hector reached CCU. His parent sat in the small waiting area. Only from their reaction did he realize how bad he looked. His mother began crying again as she rushed towards him.
He hugged her back. “I’m fine, Mum. They’ve let me go. The same for Brie. How’s Grandad?”
“Not good,” his mother sobbed.
“Can I see him?”
“You’ll need to gown up,” Dad said. “It’s the bed by the window on the right.”
Hector washed his hands and face and put on a gown. He went into the ward. Monitors beeped all around him as he padded quietly across the room.
He sat beside the bed. “Hi, Grandad.”
His grandfather turned to look at him. “Hector. Is Brie okay?”
Hector grasped hold of his hand. “Brie’s safe. They got us all out.”
“I don’t know. It was well alight when they got us out. I’m going to go back in a bit and see. But right now I’m more worried about you.”
“Going to retire,” Grandad said. He moved the mask so he could be heard better. “I want you to take over the shop.”
“And if it’s gone?”
“Rebuild. Do the online thing you wanted, run it as you want. Make a profit again.”
“And if they decide the fire was arson? What about the insurance then?”
“Just trust God to work it all for His good.”
Hector smiled. “Romans 8:28. Your favorite verse.”
“Will you do it?” Grandad asked. “There’s no one else I can trust to run the business the way it needs to be run and cared for. All the staff I’ve spoken too, tell me how wonderful you are, how you seem to understand the children and what they need.”
Hector took a deep breath. “I’ll think about it. But there is one condition.”
Nan grinned as she slid into the chair the other side of the bed. “Here we go. Another Hector Clause.”
He looked at her. “A what?”
“When you were a little boy, four or five, you’d make conditions for doing things. You’d call them Hector Clauses.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“So, what’s this one going to be? Fifty percent pay rise? Every weekend off?” She winked. “An extra packet of sweets on a Sunday because you’re the youngest and have to grow twice as fast to catch up?”
“Okay, I might remember that one,” he chuckled. “No, I can’t tell you yet.”
Grandad looked at him. “Are you serious about her?”
Hector’s cheeks flamed. “Her who?”
“Brie, of course. Does she know how you feel?”
“I think so. I don’t know. I haven’t said as much, but, after today, I know I can’t lose her.”
“Then you need to tell to her,” Nan said firmly. “If your decision rests with her, pray about it and talk to her.”
