Woof!

Justice's unmistakable bark rings through the house. Diane looks at her clock. 12:46 p.m. What is going on? He never barks.

She quickly gets out of bed and throws on some jeans and a tank top, running down the stairs to the front door. When she sees a strange light from her kitchen, she calls justice and creeps in, astonished at what she is seeing when she gets there.

Bright orange flames are everywhere, smothering the entire room. She grabs Justice from the floor and her iPhone from the counter, not bothering to try and get anything else as she scrambles out the door into the cold night.

Looking back at her house, which is being covered in flames by the minute, she thinks about anything she might have left. Her files for work, her wallet and her purse, nothing she can't replace. She dials the number.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"I- there's a fire at my house, 706 Barrington lake drive." She can't stop her teeth from chattering as she talks into the phone, hugging her dog for warmth. She didn't bring a coat or shoes or anything.

"Please stand by, we're sending them right now."

"O-okay."

Beeeeeeeep.

The dispatcher is gone, and she's left alone in the dark. The two houses closest to hers are completely dark, and so is every other one she can see. She walks across the street, away from the smoke, and sits down in the wet grass, dropping Justice by her side. There is one number she can call.

"Hello?"

"Did I wake you?"

"Yes, Diane, you did. It better be important."

"Very important. Just get to my house as soon as you can, okay?" Tears are beginning to form in her eyes as she realizes she's about to lose everything she has inside that house. Every single thing, every single memory. Just gone.

"Okay, I'm on my way, bu-"

Her phone dies and she prays that he'll still come.

••••••••••••

By the time he arrives at her house the fire is about half gone. "Diane!" he cries, running over to the spot where she's sitting. "I came as fast as I could. Are you okay? What happened?"

She looks up at him, the sadness showing in her eyes. "I'm fine, Will. Thanks for coming."

"You're shivering! Why didn't you go to someone's house?"

"They're all sleeping."

He hands her his sweatshirt, despite the fact that he has nothing else on but a pair of gym shorts, and pulls her as close as he can.

"Here, I'm fine, you have nothing on-"

"No", he insists, pushing the jacket back towards her. "Keep it." She reluctantly puts it on and wraps her arms around him once again.

"I don't even know what started it, but it's all gone. Everything in that house that I put so much money into, and the money itself; everything for work…it's gone."

"What Happened?"

"Justice started barking and I knew something was going on . . . I . . . I was worried." She tries to wipe a tear from her face. "I just saw these flames and . . . and I grabbed him and my phone and ran."

"It's okay", he rubs her back and leads her to his car. "It'll be fine, I promise. Justice, come!" The dog had always listened to him well, just as he did with Diane. He runs up to them and jumps into the back seat, followed by Will and Diane.

"Excuse me!" calls a police officer, walking up to the car window. "Is this your house?"

"Yes", Diane replies almost silently.

"Do you mind my asking what started the fire?"

"She doesn't know." Will puts in.

"Okay, son", the police officer says, placing a firm hand on Will's shoulder. "Let her answer for herself."

"I-I don't know." Diane replies helplessly, with an exhausted shrug. "Sorry."

"It's fine." The officer says. "They almost have it put out. They managed to save an expensive looking coat, a few pictures, and a bag, though."

"Which bag?" her eyes brighten, hoping she hasn't lost all her files.

"This one." The look of disappointment re-enters her face as she takes her purse. At least she still has her wallet.

After what seems like the endless interrogation, the police cars pull out of the driveway, followed by the fire trucks. It's over.

"Bye will." She hands him his jacket and smiles weakly. "Thanks for coming, it meant a lot."

"Oh no, nice try." He says, grabbing her by the waist. "You're staying with me tonight."

And before she can protest, he leads her to his car, leaving nothing but ashes and darkness behind them.