Alice sleeps, her stuffed rabbit tucked in her arms. Her
breathing is smooth and even and a slight smile is on her lips as she
dreams of Wonderland.
There is a meow, a thump, and the crack of glass. The cat has jumped onto the bedside table, knocking down the lamp. The hot oil spreads, the flames licking over it to the pictures Alice had left scattered on the floor.
The intense heat wakes Alice. She sits up sharply, sweat dripping into her eyes, to see that her room is burning. She tumbles out of bed and crawls to the door, coughing as the smoke chokes her lungs.
She uses the door as leverage and stands, the rabbit still stuffed in the crook of her arm. The heated stressed wood gives way under her weight and she tumbles forward into the hallway.
Alice throws herself down the passage blindly, not knowing what to do. Her toes catch on a throw rug and she flies down the stairs, her fingers tight around the rabbit's middle. She lands expertly with all muscles relaxed. Her head spins as she chokes on the billowing smoke.
Crawling, Alice tries to find her parents' room by touch. She can hear them calling, but it is only an indecipherable babble. She needs to get closer.
The flames lick in front of her and Alice can go no further. She feels tears course down her cheeks as the smoke irritates her eyes. A blast of superheated air hits her. Alice is thrown forcefully into the front door and it breaks, depositing her body on the snow.
Alice spins into oblivion.
There is a meow, a thump, and the crack of glass. The cat has jumped onto the bedside table, knocking down the lamp. The hot oil spreads, the flames licking over it to the pictures Alice had left scattered on the floor.
The intense heat wakes Alice. She sits up sharply, sweat dripping into her eyes, to see that her room is burning. She tumbles out of bed and crawls to the door, coughing as the smoke chokes her lungs.
She uses the door as leverage and stands, the rabbit still stuffed in the crook of her arm. The heated stressed wood gives way under her weight and she tumbles forward into the hallway.
Alice throws herself down the passage blindly, not knowing what to do. Her toes catch on a throw rug and she flies down the stairs, her fingers tight around the rabbit's middle. She lands expertly with all muscles relaxed. Her head spins as she chokes on the billowing smoke.
Crawling, Alice tries to find her parents' room by touch. She can hear them calling, but it is only an indecipherable babble. She needs to get closer.
The flames lick in front of her and Alice can go no further. She feels tears course down her cheeks as the smoke irritates her eyes. A blast of superheated air hits her. Alice is thrown forcefully into the front door and it breaks, depositing her body on the snow.
Alice spins into oblivion.