It was nearly pitch black when I opened my eyes; the only light in the room came from the digital clock sitting on the nightstand. Even the sky offered no light on this moonless night. I glanced up at the clock and groaned inwardly. It was two in the morning. Too damn early to be awake, if you ask me. I closed my eyes again. Just as I felt myself drifting off, I heard the soft, high-pitched wail of the hinges as my bedroom door squeaked open. Rocky must have figured out a way to get out of his kennel again. Dumb dog. I knew I should've gotten a cat. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up slowly. The floor felt like ice beneath my feet.
"C'mon, Rocky," I mumbled, still half-asleep, "let's get you back in bed, okay?" I stumbled down the hallway and into the kitchen. Flipping on the lights, I realized I had all but forgotten what I was doing there in the first place. I grabbed a cup from the shelf and filled it with water. Before I left, I glanced over at the door to the back yard. The kennel sat a short distance away; behind the locked door, my two-year-old Australian/German Shepherd was curled up, fast asleep. I thought nothing of it and went back to the bedroom.
Walking in the door, I swear it felt cooler than it had when I'd first gotten up. I glanced around the room in a dazed, sleep-deprivation-induced stupor until I realized that the window was open. Andrew must have cracked it while I was in the kitchen. I shrugged; that was fine with me. I thought nothing of it as I crawled back in bed, pulling the blankets over me. Just as I closed my eyes, I felt something hit my cheek. I put a hand up to touch it. As soon as I made contact, my eyes flew open in shock. It was wet. I switched on the lamp and looked at my hand, swallowing the terror that came with seeing the tips of my fingers turned scarlet. Blood.
Another drop splattered against the sheet just behind my shoulders. Where the hell was the blood coming from? A wave of dread washed over me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up straight. No, this can't be happening... Please, God, no...
I looked up. There was Andrew, a look of fear on his face as the lower half of his white shirt turned dark red.
I could barely suppress a scream as the ceiling burst into flames.
I could hear Rocky barking in the kitchen as I sprinted from the room. I stopped in the kitchen just long enough to grab the phone and let Rocky out of the kennel. I dialed the phone and put it to my ear as I ran outside with the dog.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"317 West Maple Drive. There- there's been a fire."
Author's Note: Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been active in... Forever, really. It's been a long time. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this new story. Thanks, guys :)