It's the middle of the night when Stef's phone rings. She is awake and instantly worried. Her family is scattered tonight. Brandon is at his dad's, Marianna at Lexi's, Lena and Jude off on a school camping trip. Jesus has a weekend wrestling meet, and Callie is visiting the girls at Girls United. She is on automatic alert with the knowledge that these calls, the ones in the middle of the night are the ones you never expect, and they never bode well.
"Hello?" Her voice is gravelly with the last vestiges of sleep remaining.
"Stef…" Rita's voice is filled with regret and worry.
"What's wrong? Is Callie okay?!" The thought that one her babies needed her ripped away all traces of Morpheus's touch. Callie wasn't her easiest baby, but what else could she expect of the one Lena secretly called her mini me.
Emotions broke into the usually stoic woman's voice. "Stef, there has been a fire at Girls United. Callie and Becca are both being taken to Grace Medical right now. She is alive, but I don't know much more than that. I'm getting into the ambulance now. I will see you there." With that Rita ended the call. She knew she would have a somewhat irate blonde to deal with but that would just have to wait. Rita's own emotions were spiraling over tonight's horrors.
These girls have faced so much and have all made some big mistakes, but I know they can change their lives and get it together if they just try. It is so good to have Callie back in the house. The girls get to see success and find their own hope for the future my thoughts turn darker as I gets ready for bed; the stress of today's community day failure comes crashing in. One narrow minded man was quickly and easily undermining the progress Girls United was making aided by a tasteless prank. I lay down my hair brush on my bed side table, pulling back the covers when an alarm begins to sound. Is that smoke? The smell becomes stronger as I quickly make my way to my bedroom door. Smoke has filled the hallways making it hard to see and breathe. "Girls! Everyone out of the house! Down the front stairs! Out of the house." I rush up the stairs to the girl's co-habitated rooms on the second floor yelling instrucitons all the way. I can barely see doors begin to open in response to the alarm and my calls. My own panic begins to temper as I see the girls responding. Callie is the first one I see "Where's Becca" I am creating a check list as I begin to see the girls file past.
The smoke is making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Callie is fighting coughs to answer me. "Ugh. The bathroom." She turns to go get her automatically.
"No." I stop her, "I'll get her. Callie get out." I need them outside. I need them safe. They are just kids.
Becca check. Wait, where's Divani? My thoughts spin.
"Where's Divani Cole." Cole's mouth drops and her eyes widen. Shit, what did Divani do? I don't have time for games or lies right now. Somethings up. Callie answers me. "She's not here. She ran away."
I know I can trust Callie to be honest with me right now, but I have to make sure she is certain, "Are you sure?" I'm trying to yell over the cacophony of sounds.
"Yes 100%" she responds. "Ok get everyone outside." I trust her to make sure they get out. "Becca?" I yell opening the bathroom door. Nothing, there is no one in the bathroom. Callie wouldn't lie about this. Where could she be?"Becca!" My yells are panicked again. She is not in any of the bedrooms either.
I go downstairs hearing Callie directing the girls giving them jobs to waylay their panic. It would make me proud if all my emotions weren't geared towards terror towards my missing girl.
"Did you find her?" Callie turns to me.
"No. I looked everywhere" Where…? My thoughts are interrupted by Carmen.
"Basement, girls go down there to smoke." She says giving up the illicit information. Damn it. Why can't they just follow the rules! I throw my hands with instructions for Callie to get everyone outside once more. "Becca!" I push open the basement door to find flames licking higher with an influx of oxygen. "Becca!" I half yell half cough again as I begin to descend into the basement. Scanning the room in a panic I find her on the floor unconscious. I make my way to her. I can't lift her. "Becca, honey wake up." I pull her into a sitting position, but not before the flames have begun to eat into the wall and ceiling sending down a barrage of burning beams and debris. I can't breathe, I can't leave her. I can feel helplessness begin to overwhelm me. God help me! What do I do? The fact that I am actually praying to a god I don't believe in never enters my mind.
"Rita?" I hear a voice call.
"Callie!" I scream half in anger, half in elation. What the hell is she doing down here? I am going to kill her. I'm beginning to get light headed. The lack of oxygen is sapping my strength. Even with Callie's help we make little progress with Becca's dead weight. Chemicals and flammable liquids are starting to explode around us. We are finally at the stairs, but I'm afraid anymore time down here will result in both girls deaths. "Callie go. I want you to get out of here." I demand in a tone that brokes no arguing. She doesn't listen to me though. She knows I won't leave Becca in order to force her and she won't leave either of us. She's too reckless so selfless. Together we begin to navigate the stairs. We have almost made it when a hear wood begin to groin. The sound is going to haunt my nightmares I know it. Just as I take the last step out of the basement, The stairs disappear in rush of fire and smoke. I fall under the sudden full weight of Becca. Callie is gone.