The smoke was unbearable.

Warm. Suffocating.

The crackling of the flames could be heard from the other side of the door. Red and orange lights danced through the gap under the door.

Yakko sat cowering in the corner of his once happy bedroom. The drawings, in which he had worked long hard hours on, were beginning to singe at the corners and fall off the walls. The temperature of the room was rising at an alarming rate. Sweat began to form on Yakko's forehead and the back of his neck. Regardless, he remained hiding under his thick, blue striped quilt in the corner. Yakko could feel the heat coming through the wall onto his back. He was obviously surrounded by flames, the walls of his room - the only protection between him and his end. With his chest tightening and his throat beginning to close up, his panic peaked.

'Where's mum and dad!?' Yakko wondered frantically. 'Surely they should have came to get me by now…unless…' He began to fear the worst.

What if his parents weren't coming for him…what if they…

Crash! Thud! Smash!

It sounded like all of the portraits had fallen from the walls in the hallway and crashed onto the marble floor. All of mum's priceless crystal ornaments may have fallen off the sideboard and smashed. With every loud noise, Yakko buried himself further into his duvet. Tears began to well up in his eyes and eventually over flowed onto his hot cheeks.

'Mom….' Yakko whimpered, catching his breath. 'Dad…."

THUD! THUD! THUD!

A mighty force shook the bedroom door. Shaking, Yakko held onto his duvet for dear life.

'MOM!' Yakko shrieked hysterically.

Bursting through the door came a young woman carrying two children, one in each arm. Her fur, which was originally black and white, was charred and severely burned. One of her eyes was swollen shut and a large gash in her leg made it difficult for her to walk. It was obvious she had went through a struggle to make it to the oldest Warner's bedroom. Both kids were covered in blankets, protecting them from falling ash. Their mumbled cries could still be heard.

'YAKKOOOOOOOO!'

'MOM!' Yakko managed to yell amongst his sobs. He was so relieved, he even smiled slightly. She was alive and so were his siblings. They were ok. Thank goodness. He wasn't worried about his father. Likelihood was he was already out there, fighting to save them all. Priscilla, however, was not with them.

'COME HERE QUICKLY!' She gestured violently with her head and neck as her two arms were full. Yakko, as quickly as he could, sprinted across the floor to the door and grabbed hold of his mother's singed night dress and squeezed his eyes shut. He did not want to see the carnage. He could hear the clatters and smashes but they were so much louder. Unbearable even. Each sound made him wince and clutch tighter to his mother. She stopped midway down the hall. It was then that Yakko opened his eyes.

The scene that was before was worse that he could ever imagine. The tall white stone pillars that lined the hallway were either split in half or the whole pillar had fell. The portraits that were on the wall had smashed on the marble floor and the photos was being destroyed by the travelling flames. The marble floor itself was discoloured and cracked in so many locations. Yakko began to fear that the floor would give in and they would all plummet to the floor below.

'Come and face me! You coward!'

The voice echoed through the hallways. It was a deep, hoarse voice which made Yakko's mother freeze in fear. Her eyes widened and her breathing became more harsh and panicking.

'...no...not him...please god not him...'

She looked to her eldest, who still grasped at her hip for protection, and then to her two sobbing young children she was holding. No matter what she had to keep them safe.

'MOM!' Came a voice from just behind them.

'Priscilla, thank god! How were things down there?!' She quickly asked, eager to get her children to safety.

'I found a safe passage down the back stairwell! It should take us to the front entrance via the dining hall!'

'Perfect...great...' How could she do this? This was impossible... They were her children. She was supposed to be there for them, watch them grow, teach them right from wrong, teach them the values of education, life and how to love others as they have been loved.

She knew she had to. No matter what she would keep her children safe. She gave her two youngest one final squeeze and whispered 'goodbye' into each of their ears; she then handed Dot to Priscilla and Wakko to Yakko.

'Go!' She demanded. 'I must go and help your father! Head to the river and find a boat! Get as far away from here as you can! You mustn't hesitate or stop for any reason! Now go!'

'What are you talking about!? You're coming with us! NOW! Let's go, c'mon!' Priscilla retorted, in complete disbelief. With her free hand, she gripped her wrist tightly and attempted to drag her with them.

'Listen to me! For once, could you please just do what I say!? Take them NOW!'

She looked to Yakko with tears in her eyes, and pulled him close. 'Live. For me. Please. Take care of them.' She muttered whilst trying to withhold her tears.

'GO! NOW! I WON'T SAY IT AGAIN!' She blurted out whilst she stood up and took a few steps back towards the flaming hallway.

Priscilla could see there was no swaying her mother's decision. She gave a swift, assuring nod and grabbed her brother's free hand. The two eldest kids ran down the hallway, dodging falling ceiling panels and plaster shards. Swaying in and out of fallen pillars and sideboards and broken glass pools, they eventually reached a large light coloured wooden door. Yakko remembered this door from his many games of hide and seek. It was the back stairwell that led to ever floor in the entire house, leading to many different rooms dependent on what door you took once you entered this one.

Priscilla, with her free hand, managed to spread the door wide and ushered Yakko through. Before he did, he glanced back towards the hallway. His mother stood with tears in her eyes, the flames slowly obstructing his view of her. He could think of nothing else to do but wave a little. It seemed so inappropriate once he had done it, but she waved back. A sad, slow wave. And with that they went through the door and closed it firm to prevent the flames from spreading quickly.

Emotions ran through Yakko's mind as they tumbled down the back stairwell. Grief, as he had just lost his mother, confusion at the speed of events that night and rage. Rage to whomever was responsible for destroying his family's life. Rage as strong as the fire that was destroying his family's home. Rage considerably large for someone as young as Yakko.

Whoever did this shall rue the day. They shall rue it.