We drive round the corner, my heart rate increasing the closer we get. I can make out the sound of the sirens in the distance and my breathing comes out erratically. The noise intensifies inside my mind, playing over and over again on a sick loop.
"We're almost there," Tobias says quietly, his eyes carefully trained on the road. One of his hands is resting on my bare leg, keeping me sane. My window is rolled down, harsh air whipping me back to reality. The night air smells like smoke, the taste of it making my stomach churn.
"Please hurry," I whisper, my voice shaking. My hands continue to tremble in my lap and I picture Leroy's face, contorted in pain and fear. Tobias curses under his breath as the road is blocked off in front of us, blocking our access with neon danger lights. He comes to a screeching halt, turning the engine off. Barely a second passes as he flings himself out of his seat, running around to my door to let me out.
"You've got to run with me, okay Trish?" He mumbles firmly in my ear, helping me step out of the car. The empty void inside my stomach increases until it's almost unbearable and my legs buckle underneath me the moment I take a step forward. The sound of the sirens is louder now, filling the morbid night sky with noise.
I shake my head, unable to open my mouth and tell him that I can't. I can't move. I don't have to speak because he's already one step ahead of me. In one swift move, his hand is placed under my legs, swiping me from the floor. My arms automatically wrap around his neck, holding on for support as he jogs around the barriers and towards my house.
I suck in a deep breath but immediately regret it as the repugnant taste of smoke in the air fills my lungs. In the distance, I make out my house, flames still burning brightly. The flicker of the flame illuminates the area and I gasp, my body freezing in fear. Several fire engine trucks surround the front of my house, firemen desperately working to subdue the flames.
"Leroy!" I scream, my voice finally returning. Tobias speeds up, his chest rising and falling rapidly from the strain. He makes it look so effortless, his face one of pure concentration and determination.
"You have to leave, it's not safe!" A fireman yells at us and Tobias ignores him, heading for the ambulances on site. My eyes are fixed on our house, the flames flickering in my vision. I can feel the heat radiating from the monstrous flames, protesting to die out from the efforts of the firemen. It does little to warm me up and instead, I continue to shake.
"Leroy!" I yell again, tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Trisha? Oh god, Trisha!"
I snap my head to a figure sat in the back of the ambulance, his arm swung around Mum's shoulders. He stands up when he notices me, his face a mixture of relief and pain. A thin blanket is placed around him, black ash etched onto his face and hands.
"Dad," I whisper.
Tobias comes to a slow halt, breathing heavily as he lowers me to the floor. Dad rushes towards me, his arms enveloping me into a tight hug.
"Oh Dad, what happened?" I cry, breaking down. His embrace is strong, fierce and I know he's grateful that I'm safe. I pull back and look at his face that's aged since the last time I saw him. His dark hair is visibly darker from the ash and I wince as I inspect him.
"Are you hurt?" I ask urgently, scanning him for any sort of injury. He's still dressed in his work attire, a simple white shirt and black pants. The shirt is completely ruined, full of soot and ash. He shakes his head, eyes filled with unshed tears. My mouth runs dry, flames continuing to flicker behind me. I drown out the noise of the monstrous blaze and the sirens, focusing my attention on my parents. My mothers eyes are red, barely a scrape on her. Her clothes are immaculate, no sign of any smoke damage or ash.
"Where's Leroy?" I finally ask, the words a struggle to get out. Mum's eyes fill with regrets and she lets out another pained cry, dropping her head down. I take a step closer, every hair on my body standing up pin straight in fear.
"Where is my brother?!" I demand, my voice rising but cracking with pain. Dad places a hand on my shoulder, pained tears flowing freely down his cheeks. He looks broken and I shake my head, refusing to believe his words.
"Is he, is he gone?" I whisper, taking a step back away from both of my parents. My back hits the warm body of Tobias' and I feel him wrap an arm around my shoulder, keeping me upright. I'm grateful for his support because without it, I fear I'd fall to the floor and break down.
"No! He isn't gone," Dad explains quickly, choking up. A wave of relief washes over me and I glance around at the multiple ambulances —
"Where is he? Which one is he in?" I ask quickly, wanting to get to him as soon as possible. Dad takes a step closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. When I look at him, his eyes are full of guilt and sorrow.
"They flew him to a hospital that specialises with burns. We weren't allowed to go with him."
A wave of fear cascades down my body and I frown --
"What? B-burns? How bad is it?" I ask, my breath trembling. Mum stands up, breaking her silence as she stands besides Dad. She raises the tissue to her nose, blowing into it.
"We have to go see him! We have to be there with him!" I yell at them, confused as to why they are still here. Do they not understand that Leroy is all alone right now? Scared?
"They won't allow us to go yet Trish! There was no room!" Mum yells back at me, tears glistening her eyes. I snap my head towards her, a sickening thought running through my head.
"How did the fire start?" I ask firmly, my stare fixated on her. She pretends like she can't hear me which causes me to clench my fists with anger.
"We'll drive down there as soon as we can leave. Yes, we'll all drive — "
"How did the fire start?!" I scream at her, cutting her off. Her eyes drop to the floor and Dad notices the change in her behaviour so he turns to face Mum with confusion —
"Honey? Do you know something?" He asks quietly, taking a step away from her. I don't dare breathe as I wait for her to respond. Moments of silence pass between us and I scoff at her cowardly behaviour.
"Leroy was cooking in the kitchen, it was an accident." Mum mumbles under her breath. I freeze, my eyes narrowing at her.
"He was cooking after midnight? Did you feed him today? Huh?" I yell at her, my entire body trembling. Her eyes continue to stare at the floor and I take her silence as my answer. A burning fire of anger grows in my stomach and I feel it twisting nauseously.
"He's a child! My baby brother! You didn't feed him and he was starving so he tried to do it himself! This is all your fault!" I scream, lunging for her. I vision Leroy withering in burning flames, screaming for help all because he was hungry. Mum's eyes widen and she takes a step back but I'm already heading in her direction. I feel a strong hold wrap around my waist, yanking me back into a hard chest.
"I hate you!" I HATE YOU!" I scream at her, tears rolling down my cheeks. I let out a pained cry, my sobs filling the chilling silence between us. Tobias continues to drag me backwards but I protest, struggling to free myself. The entire time, I keep my eyes locked on hers.
"I hate you!" I repeat, giving in and allowing Tobias to carry me away. My body shakes and pulses with sobs and he lowers me to the floor once we create some distance between Mum and I.
"I hate her!" I cry, my vision completely blurred. My chest heaves with heavy sobs and I suck in a deep breath. Tobias silently wraps me up in his arms, sitting on the road beside me and pulling me into his chest.
"It's okay, I've got you. I've got you." He murmurs down my ear, rocking me back and forth as I continue to spin into a downward spiral of darkness.