Never in a million years, would Luke have expected to pull onto the familiar street that was home to WJUB radio station, to see it up in flames. He had heard the sirens, but didn't think much of it. People had already begun to surround the area, emergency crews were already on scene.
He hit the gas and floored it the rest of the way to the station stopping in the middle of the road, where he leapt from the car and bolted toward the burning building. He could see the fire crew preparing the hose, and police tape was being lined up to keep people back. He didn't make it far before he was stopped by a man dressed fully in a fire suit.
"Young man, step back!" He called, not seeing the frantic look on Luke's face as he placed his large gloved hand on Luke's chest.
"What happened?" He demanded, still trying to get passed.
"We don't know yet, we are working to put it out, please, step back!" He said shoving him lightly before turning and moving away to help with the fire.
He stepped back, gripping his hands in his hair, and began scanning the rapidly growing crowed, for Beca.
XXXXXX
"Chloe, did you hear the sirens?" Aubrey asked walking into the living room and sitting down beside her on the couch, handing her a glass full of her favorite soda. They were waiting for Stacie to return. She decided she would go grab dinner, and pick Beca up on her way back, but she hadn't returned yet.
"Yeah, I did, what do you think happened?" She asked taking a sip of her cold carbonated beverage. Aubrey shrugged, picking up the remote to flip through Netflix.
"I don't know, I hope no one is hurt though, that was a lot of sirens."
Chloe nodded, as she looked at red screen, taking another sip of her drink.
XXXXXX
Stacie wore a smile on her face as she drove the short distance to the station. It was still a little early, but she didn't see Luke having a problem with Beca leaving a bit early. Her smile however, faded quickly and her face became panicked when she turned onto the street, like Luke had, to see the building up in flames.
She pulled the car up as close as she could and got out of it, holding onto the car door to steady herself, as she watched the burning flames dance in front of her. Her stomach lurched, and her eyes watered. She took off toward the building.
Luke was able to get the attention, through frantic yelling, of a fire fighter.
When he finally ran over to the man Luke was nearly hysterical.
"There is a girl in there!" He yelled grabbing onto his fire jacket.
He looked at look for a split second before grabbing his walkie talkie and yelling into it.
He then ran off, as Luke once again gripped his hair tight, tears welling up in his eyes as the firefighters suddenly became panicked knowing there was someone inside.
"LUKE!" He turned to be plowed into by Stacie, her hands fisting into the front of his shirt.
"Where is she, where is Beca?!" She cried.
He finally broke and looked at the building, his tears falling in streams. She followed his gaze and a choked sob escaped her as she stepped back.
"She's inside." He gasped, and bit into his clenched fist, trying to hold in his emotions, but was failing miserably.
"Why the fuck is she in there? Why you aren't in there if she is?!" She screamed gaining the attention of the people standing around.
"Someone is inside?" A girl asked, looking in horror at the building.
"Fuck!" Stacie screamed and fumbled for her phone, pulling it out of her pocket and did her best to call Aubrey, with her shaking hands.
XXXXXX
Aubrey had settled on an old TV show and she and Chloe were watching in silence when Aubrey's phone started ringing. She picked it up, and smiled at Stacie's picture. Chloe smirked at her before returning her attention the TV.
"Hey Stace, what's taking so lon-"She was cut off and Chloe looked over at her, seeing her eyes widening and he posture straightening as she set her drink down. She could hear yelling through the phone, but couldn't make out what Stacie was saying. This paired with Aubrey's panicked expression put Chloe on alert.
She set her own drink down and the moment Aubrey stood up, Chloe was on her feet.
"We're on our way," She said and Chloe followed her toward the door.
"What's happening, Bree?" She asked, her voice small and scared as Aubrey pushed shoes toward her, her face frozen in an expression that sent chills along Chloes spine.
She looked up as she opened the door.
"The station is on fire, Beca is trapped inside."
And that is when Chloes whole world, seemed to crack. She couldn't hear, and though she was following after Aubrey as they hurried out of the building, she wasn't fully aware of what was going on.
XXXXXX
Stacie stood, her tear ravaged face illuminated by the flames that were still out of control. Her eyes puffy, as she hugged herself. Luke crouched down next to her, his face in his hands.
"Stacie!" She didn't even turn, she couldn't take her eyes away from the building. They had just gotten close enough, to break through the front windows, and they were heading inside, to find Beca.
She felt strong arms pull her around and engulf her in a hug. The smell of honey suckle invading her senses, told her what she already knew. Aubrey's eyes were locked on the building as she held Stacie.
"How Luke?!" Came a distraught, angry voice. Aubrey turned to see Chloe, her face so twisted in pain that it made her heart hurt. Her fists were clenched and Luke was now standing.
"Chloe," She started, but it was useless.
"Why the fuck would you leave? Where did you go?!" Chloe was screaming. "If you hadn't left, she wouldn't be in there! You would have both gotten out," She cried looking at the building, fisting her hand in her hair.
"I'm sorry, Chloe, I'm so sorry, I wasn't even gone that long, I don't understand what happened," He tried to explain.
Chloes blue eyes reflected with the flames in front of her. Knowing that the girl she loved, the one she would give her life for, was trapped inside this burning building.
She closed her eyes and let the terrifying sounds of the cracking flames, Stacie and Aubrey's pained cries, Luke's frantic apologies. She let them melt away, she blocked them out.
And when it was all gone, when there was nothing left, no sound. No sight, she let the visual of Beca enter her mind. Beca, smiling. Laughing. Blushing when Chloe compliments her. How she would look at her, and her stormy blue eyes held so much love, so much trust, that it could bring Chloe to tears.
She pictured her, the way she was that afternoon. The kiss they shared, the light smile Beca wore as she continued to try and rebuild her life. As she sought out the happiness she was becoming aware, that she deserved.
The way her eyes crinkled just slightly, when she smiled. Or how when she was nervous, she would scratch the back of her right wrist. Her smirk, and how it made Chloe weak in the knees, it was a confident smirk, one you wouldn't expect to see on the shy girl. And Chloe loved it.
She felt her eyelids begin to flutter, and her jaw clenched against the emotion flooding her. Keeping this image, of Beca in her mind. Of her smile.
Remembering her being happy. Remembering her fighting to be happy.
"Look!" She heard someone yell, and it pierced through her thoughts. She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was Aubrey and Stacie, their mouths wide open staring ahead. She looked over to see a large man, dressed in his suit stepping out of the broken glass, in his arms, bridal style, was Beca.
He ran with her as fast as he could, and was met with a stretcher about half way. Chloe wasted no time rushing over and was beside the stretcher as he lowered her down on it. She felt her chest tighten. Her clothes were singed, and her face was black, due to the smoke and ash. There was blood on her face, and down her neck, and she could make out the cut in her lip before an oxygen mask was placed over her face.
They began wheeling the stretcher, parting the crowed and she grabbed Becas hand and ran with them.
"Ma'am step back." An EMT said as they lifted her into the ambulance. She let her hand go long enough for the bed to be placed in the back.
"I'm family," Chloe said, as pushed her way into the back reclaiming her spot next to Beca. Stacie, Aubrey and Luke followed long enough to see her get into the ambulance, then bolted toward the car to follow them to the hospital.
XXXXXX
Chloe was made to move away from Beca while they worked on her in the ambulance. Her eyes wide as they kept the oxygen mask in place. They hooked her up to a heart monitor and that's when Chloes blood ran cold. It was so faint, it was barley there at all.
She couldn't make out what they were saying, she was slipping away again. She heard numbers being spoken, the voices frantic. The sirens of the ambulance were loud, but it sounded like she was under water.
"We're losing her!"
Were the words that brought her back and she looked at Beca in horror as they ripped her shirt open. Exposing her stomach and chest, exposing the bruising over her rib cage.
She heard something that sounded like it was powering up and looked to see the EMT holding two handles in his hands. Her brow furrowed and she shook her head slightly, clearing it.
That's when the sound of a long steady beep filled Chloes ears and she looked up to see the continuous green line on the screen.
The one that told Chloe, Beca was dead.
Her face contorted into was of anguish and she cried out, her tears coming out in streams as she sobbed.
The last thing she heard was someone yell, "Clear."
The two handles were placed strategically on Becas bare torso and she watched as a shock was sent through her small body, lifting it off the bed.
Her vision blurred and she could faintly hear another shock, and Becas body being jolted off the bed again.
She swayed in her seat, reaching out, trying to find something to steady herself. She felt her head become heavy. Right before she lost consciousness, and fell to the floor of the ambulance, three steady beeps cut through the fog that surrounded her.
Three beeps. And Chloe was unconscious.
