I don’t necessarily have to personally pick up Hannah’s parents, but I wanted to see where Joshua grew up.
At night, I slept in his room. It was clean and simple, with a few photos of Joshua from his student days. I stared at these pictures for a long ti as my eyes got all misty
That night, I dread of Joshua. He was working part ti in a bar, and I asked him, "Joshua, how have you been?"
Joshua gave a bright and cheerful smile, his voice still clear "Ms. Brooks, I’m doing alright. There’s no need to worry about "
When I woke up. I found my pillow wet with tears, and outside the door, I heard the voice of Joshua’s mother, Mia. "Ms. Brooks, ti for breakfast"
"Alright" I replied and got up
I had planned to leave after breakfast, but before I could, soone ca to see Joshua’s father, Calvin, to discuss so land sale matters. I didn’t understand the details, so I had to wait.
I ended up waiting all day, so my plan to return to the city was delayed by another day.
That night, sothing unexpected happened.
I couldn’t sleep due to the things on my mind, and Damon called. I didn’t reject the call and hastily picked up.
"Eliana, where are you? How can you go so far all by yourself?" The voice on the other end was Lisa Coleman’s She sounded worried but also a little bit happy. "I’m glad you’re still willing to pick up Damon’s calls."
"Maam, I’m fine. I’m here to fetch Joshua’s parents." I was a bit sleepy, but this call woke up, and soon my eyes were wide open as I listened to Lisa’s voice.
How could Lisa be calling from Damon’s phone?
Before I could think of what to say, Lisa spoke again. "Eliana, I’m completely against Damon and Ariel dating. I just gave him a piece of my mind today. If he insists on being with Ariel, I’ll cut him off completely! From now on, I’ll treat you like my own daughter. Daughters are better than sons!"
If Damon were here, he’d probably feel super awkward.
"Ma’am, please don’t say that. These are Damon’s choices, and he and I really aren’t suitable" I tried to soothe Lisa.
"You’re the best match for him. He just doesn’t appreciate you Eliana, if you return to your parents house , let know. I’ll co to see you. I heard your mother woke up, so I want to visit her." Lisa rushed through her sentences, as if she were afraid that I’d reject her.
I figured my mom wouldn’t want to see Lisa, so I had to tactfully refuse. "Ma’am, my mom needs to rest for now, and I don’t want her to know about certain unpleasant things so soon. Once she’s better, Ill invite you over for dinner, okay?"
Lisa was silent for a while and then sighed. I could hear her disappointnt.
"Alright, I wait for you" Lisa finally said, resignedly.
I was about to hang up when Damon’s voice ca through. "When are you coming back?"
I glanced at the ti on my phone. It was already half past midnight. Even if I set off early in the morning, I’d only reach ho late at night
"Late tomorrow night" I replied. Just as I finished speaking, I heard what seed like footsteps outside my window. I thought it was Calvin and Mia, so I didn’t give it much thought
"I’ll be waiting for you at your apartnt" Damon spoke in a low voice, as if he were afraid that Lisa would hear
I felt a bit awkward, as if my apartnt had beco a secret rendezvous spot for Damon and with no other purpose
I could tell from Damon’s voice that he seed to want to tell sothing he couldn’t say over the phone.
Just as I was figuring out how to respond, I suddenly slled smoke wafting in through the window gap.
I turned my head to look outside again and saw flickers of fire
Panic set in, and I quickly jumped off the bed, flung open the window, and saw that Joshua family’s yard was already ablaze.
How could there be a fire here? The smoke made cough, and Damon asked. "What’s happening?"
"Fire" I quickly replied and hung up, imdiately dialing the fire departnt
I dashed out of my room Jas lived next door, and Calvin and Mia were in the room opposite mine, but they were all sound asleep and didn’t seem to have noticed the fire
I ran to Jas’s door and banged on it frantically while yelling towards Joshua’s parents’ room. "Fire Fire! Wake up!"
It took a minute for Jas to finally open his door in a panic. He looked at the fire in the yard, clearly in disbelief.
The yard was covered with a glass roof, so the smoke couldn’t escape, and my throat was already feeling uncomfortable. But Calvin and Mia still hadn’t woken up.
Jas ran over and kicked their door, and they finally woke up.
"What’s happening? What’s happening?!" Calvin shouted in panic. "Fire! Help!"
Normally, if there was a fire, shouting for help would get the neighbors to co over. But tonight, the surroundings were eerily quiet, so no one ca to help.
Calvin then ran to open the yard gate, only to find it locked from the outside!
We were now trapped in this yard, which was like a furnace. Our lives were in danger.
I called the fire departnt again, and their reply sent chills down my spine. "A big truck is blocking the road; we can’t contact the driver, and this is the only way..."
They then told so self protection asures, but the temperature was rising and the smoke was getting thicker. I hung up, grabbed Jas and Mia’s hands, and ran towards Joshua’s room, with Calvin following suit.
There was an en suite in the room, so I quickly found so clothes and a towel, soaked them under the tap, and stuffed them in all the cracks in the door and windows. All that was left to do was wait for help.
I asked Calvin to call the neighbors, only to find out there was a promotion going on at a night market nearby. Everyone who showed up would get fifty bucks.
Suddenly, it all clicked. This was too much of a coincidence. I had a feeling soone had deliberately set the fire and cut off all escape routes.
The room was getting hotter and hotter, and there was no one to rescue us. In this critical mont, the image of Damon popped into my mind.
But he was miles away; how could he possibly show up?
"Eliana!"
Through the roaring flas, I suddenly heard Damon’s voice, filled with urgency and anger. "Answer !"
How could Damon be here? I thought I was hallucinating. Was this so kind of deathbed illusion?
The door in front of was completely consud by the fire. I took a couple of steps back as the door teetered on the brink of collapse.
"Damon, I..." I was about to say sothing but stopped myself. If Damon were to rush in now, he’d definitely be in grave danger. Getting seriously burned by the flas would be inevitable.
Reviews
All reviews (0)