Chapter 29

"SCOTT!"

Virgil awoke with a start, Alan's voice echoing down the hallway. This was soon followed by the fire alarm wailing without end.

He leapt out of bed and ran to the lounge to find the whole room alight. In the midst of it all Scott was looking around in shock as if he'd just come out of a trance. Alan was making a bee line to the kitchen where the nearest fire extinguisher was positioned.

Virgil felt Scott's eyes on him. In that one look he could tell that his brother was terrified. He had no idea what was going on and couldn't regain control. Virgil then noticed that his brother was on fire. Flames began to creep up his distracted brother's jeans. Without a second thought Virgil ran into the flames dragging Scott out onto the balcony and down the stairs as fast as he could. Once at the bottom, he unceremoniously chucked his brother into the pool.

Thinking the danger had past; Virgil took some time to get his breath back, collapsing to the ground in the process. Glancing back up at the house, he saw Alan had been joined by Gordon and they were both attempting to extinguish the roaring flames.

Gordon spotted Virgil lying by the pool and ran to check on him.

"Virg are you okay?"

It was only then that he realised something. Scott hadn't resurfaced. Scrambling to his feet, he peered into the dark waters of the pool and sure enough Scott was at the bottom, eyes glazing over and mouth hanging open. Gordon followed his stare and immediately dived in pulling his eldest brother from the depths.

Virgil could only watch as his younger brother check his vital signs. Gordon looked up at him, his amber eyes appearing even more so in the light of the fire.

"He's not breathing."

As Gordon started to attempt CPR, Virgil heard a roar from the cliff face. Wandering in a daze to the other side of the pool to get a better look, he witnesses his beloved ship clumsily shoot off the end of the runway, not stopping for the launch pad, and fly off into the night. An intense feeling of defeat settled on his shoulders as he stood there.

The dream of international rescue had ended.