Licked By Flames

A Series Of Unfortunate Events Fanfic by James Berry

He ran into the burning building and was hit by smoke. He collapsed on to the floor and coughed wildly. Through the smoke, he could just barely see his way around. He got on to all-fours and started to crawl about. He went (acctually, he crawled) into the first room he saw. This room was less- filled with smoke but he still coughed. The smoke was making him feel queasy and his mind was eveywhere.

Olaf, He thought, Olaf! You did this! This was only one of the things that was going through his mind. The man got up and went back through the doorway. The inferno that swept the corridor had gotten worse. This way and that, flames licked his face. The pain was unbearable but he ept walked, from room to room, looking for any survivors.

He heard a moan from one of the door. It must be her! He thought and ran to the room. As he touched the doorhandle, pain surged through his body. He let out a loud yell and went in. Smoke bellowed in his face. He ran into the room and started to search the floor. He couldn't even see his hands because of the smoke. So black and powerful and yet the flames were more powerful even though there was less flame than smoke. All of it was over- powering. He almost gave up entirely unyil he saw something. A woman.

"Beatrice!" He yelled and the man went up to her, "Beatrice. Are you okay? Are you alive?" He kept yelling at he until she opened her eyes.

"Yes," She let out with a breath. He picked up the woman and carried her to the doorway. For one reason or another, the door had shut. He kicked it open and quicken his pace. The corridor was worse than ever. Smoke was covering all of the ground. No escape. Just running. So he did. With Beatrice on his back, he ran towards the door and kicked it open. That was it. The fire propelled him and Beatrice forward and them fell on the ground. He got up and saw a man on his cellphone, obviously rining and ambulance and the police, and a woman running towards them both. He went to the woman.

"He-Help!" He said in an angry, paniky voice. "Her! Help, her!" He said and went to look at the fiery abomanation that was before him. He looked at the window and was his refelction and gasped. His face was mangled, burnt. He was bleeding and half of his faced was scared. All of his face was red. He knew he couldn't show his face again. Ever. He ran to Beatrice and whispered in her ear.

"I'm sorry," He said and ran. He ran far away. He ran and didn't look back. Lemony Snicket never looked back at the burning, Baudelaire mansion.