Just as everyone was leaving the school and the teachers were packing up, they were interrupted by a loud ear-splitting ringing noise. It was the fire alarm!

This wasn't a drill otherwise Nicki would know.

therefore she gathered up all of the students that were in the same corridor as her and led them outside. Her heart was beating fast like a pounding drum.

Where was the fire? Who had seen it? Had anyone been hurt?

She headed into the school grounds along with all of the kids she'd gathered up.

Her eyes scanned the vicinity. Tom was only a few metres away. She ran towards him.

'Are you okay?' She asked.

'Yes, apparently the fire is in the PRU.'

'What?' Gasped Nicki. I looked up towards the direction of the PRU.

Sure enough, black smoke was rising up from it and she was sure that she could see orange flames.

'For god's sake that's where I teach Tom! I can't believe it.' Nicki rubbed her forehead with her hand.

She looked around. All of her colleagues were present: Michael, Lorraine, everyone. At least she thought it was everyone.

She was pretty sure that someone was missing however she wasn't sure whom it was.

It took a while to round up all of the pupils. The fire was getting bigger though judging by the golden sparks erupting from the PRU.

'I'm sorry about the PRU Nicki,' muttered Tom, placing his hand on her shoulder.

Nicki looked around the crowd of pupils.

Hmm... she couldn't see-

Wait, but why did it matter?

She was probably there just out of sight.

And why did Nicki even care about her?

She'd caused her nothing but trouble.

No.

Nicki didn't care about her- that was it.

She didn't. She couldn't. Not now.

All of the teachers were panicking, checking again and again that all of the students were present. Whenever someone was reported missing everyone started whispering.

It was then that Nicki realised which member of staff was missing.

And, sure enough, Sonya soon came trotting out of the building, panting. Lorraine tried to ask if her sister was okay but Sonya was heading straight for Tom, Nicki and Michael who were talking to each other by the gates.

The look on her face was that of horror.

'Michael, I've just been by the PRU.'

'Why Sonya?' Demanded Michael, 'there is a fire!'

'I had to go because I heard screaming!' Persisted Sonya.

'I tried to see but I couldn't And then I recognised the voice as that girl.'

'Sonya are you sure you're okay?' Asked Lorraine.

'I'm not stupid you know!' Sonya shrieked so that all of the teachers could hear, 'Taylor Smith is in there.'

'What?' Shrieked Nicki, horror struck. Her heart turned over.

She looked in the direction of the PRU, panic-stricken, 'TAYLOR!' She yelled at the very top of her voice.

'Nicki,' whispered Tom, his eyes full of emotion.

However Nicki ignored him, 'TAYLOR!' She shouted even louder.

Despite all of the other teachers trying to calm her down, Nicki exited the crowd and ran towards the school at top speed.

This was way faster than how she had run on the beach the other day.

'Nicki get back here this instant!' Shouted Michael.

But she wasn't listening.

'Taylor I'm coming!' She bellowed as loud as she could.