Chapter 50- The Rescue
Wiley kept crouching between the bush and the stroller when Dex walked towards them.
Dex suddenly heard a car and ran to the backyard.
Amelia stopped crying, and Wiley watched the car driving down the street.
Sonny, Nina, and Donna pulled into the driveway behind Carly's car.
Sonny scrunched his face. "Carly must be back already."
Nina screamed and pointed to the house. "Fire!"
She and Sonny jumped out of the car.
"Donna, stay in the car!" Sonny ordered.
Nina threw both hands over her mouth. "Wiley and Amelia are in there!"
Wiley was about to run over to them but looked back at Dex still peeking out from the backyard, so he stayed where he was.
"And Carly and Josslyn, might be too." Sonny took off his jacket and threw it over his head. "I'm going in there."
Nina stood in horror as Sonny ran into the house.
She pulled out her phone and dialed 9-1-1. While she waited, she paced back and forth wondering if she should follow Sonny inside.
Soon, another car pulled up behind Sonny's car and Morgan jumped out.
Nina turned to him.
"Is anyone in there!?" Morgan asked anxiously.
"Sonny ran in. We think Wiley, Amelia, Carly, and Josslyn are in there."
His face paled. "No, no, no, no." He cradled his head in his hands. "No one was supposed to be in there!"
Nina glared at him. "Did you set the house on fire?"
He was about to respond when Nelle walked over to them. Nelle teared up. "My dream was true!"
"Nelle, what are you doing here?" Nina asked.
Morgan clenched his jaw. "I told you to stay in the car!"
"Were you kidnapping her?" Nina asked.
"No!" Morgan shook his head, then ran into the house.
"No, Luke…." Nelle buried her face in her hands and started trembling.
Nina wrapped her arm around her. "I'm sure he'll be okay…." She studied Nelle up and down, still in her pajamas and slippers, with no coat. Nina took off her coat and covered Nelle's shoulders with it.
They turned when another car came from down the street and stopped in front of the lawn.
Nina groaned when Willow got out of the passenger's side. She almost toppled over and had to hold onto the car.
Sasha went to her and helped her walk.
"Willow…." Nina said, and reached for her arm when they got closer. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry, Nina," Sasha spoke up. "I was visiting Willow, when I got to my car, she had followed me…."
"This isn't Sasha's fault," Willow said. "I came here on my own accord."
"But you need to be in the hospital… and why aren't either of you girls wearing a coat?"
Sasha took off her jacket and offered it to Willow.
Willow smiled slightly, then turned and realized Nelle was there.
"Sister Willow…." Nelle brightened up a bit and hugged her. "Our mom was truthful. You are alive!"
Willow's eyes widened and she didn't return the hug.
Nina regarded her daughters, amazed that the three of them were finally together and with Sasha who was like a daughter to her. If only it were under better circumstances….
"Why are you here?" Willow asked.
"I don't know," Nelle said, shaking her head in defeat. "I don't know anything about anything."
Willow pulled away from Nelle and gaped up at the house just as some flamed trimmings fell away and landed in the bushes with a loud crunch, and the bushes set on fire.
Willow's breathing sped up. "I need to get in there…." She tried to walk closer to the house, but almost lost her balance again.
Nina reached out to her and held her up. "Sonny and Morgan are in there. They'll find them. You need to go back to the car.
They whipped their heads around when they heard a scream from the burning bushes. And they finally spotted Wiley crouching between the stroller and the end bush. The fire was spreading rapidly towards them.
Willow shouted, "Wiley!"
Nelle stared ahead at the frightened boy. "It's the baby from my dreams."
Willow gaped at Nelle.
"Sasha, help me!" Nina yelled. She forced Willow to hold onto Nelle for balance before she and Sasha charged over to the bushes.
Willow gripped onto Nelle, her vision cloudy.
"Wiley, come to Grandma!" Nina reached for his hands and yanked him from the bush, while Sasha grabbed the stroller and pulled it away.
Wiley clung tightly to Nina and cried into her shoulder.
They finally heard sirens in the distance. A police car and a firetruck pulled right onto the lawn.
Willow let go of Nelle and crouched by the stroller and stroked Amelia's cheek.
Nina set Wiley down beside Willow and he clung to her. "Mommy, I was scared."
Nelle's mouth dropped slightly, then she smiled. Wiley looked over Willow's shoulder and glanced at Nelle curiously. Nelle waved at him.
Nina made her way over to Nelle.
"I thought he was my baby," Nelle said. "But I dreamed of my nephew."
"Uh…." Nina glanced between them, then turned her attention to the firefighters.
"Anyone inside?" one of the firefighters asked while the others started hosing down the house.
"Yes," Nina said. "Two men for sure and possibly two women."
A couple of the firefighters charged into the house and the police searched outside.
Willow checked Wiley and Amelia over.
Nelle slowly approached them and knelt down beside them. "Hi baby boy."
Willow jerked and put an arm protectively around Wiley.
"Hi baby," Nelle repeated. "I'm your Auntie Isla. I'm your mommy's sister."
Willow scrunched her face.
"Hi." Wiley waved.
While Nina was relieved her grandchildren were safe, she stood anxiously waiting for news on Sonny.
Soon, one of the firefighters returned with Morgan, covered in soot and coughing.
Nelle didn't even glance over, she was so focused on the boy from her dreams.
The paramedics arrived and gave Morgan some oxygen. One of the medics came over to Nelle, Willow, and the kids.
"We'd like to take the kids in just to get checked just in case."
"Come on, Sonny." Nina couldn't keep still. He had to make it.
The firefighter who rescued Morgan, approached Nina. "We found the other man. He's unconscious and trapped under debris. I'm heading back to help."
Nina threw her hand over her mouth as he ran back inside. Sasha slipped an arm around her. "They're going to get him out. He'll be okay."
They turned when there was a huge gasp behind them.
Carly and Billy Bonka had returned.
"My house!" Carly gaped. "Josslyn… the kids… where are they?"
Nina pointed to Wiley and Amelia. "We're waiting on news about Sonny and Josslyn."
Billy shook Nina's hand. "Billy Bonka, at your service."
Nina raised an eyebrow.
"I am Carly's boyfriend," he said.
Carly glared at him. "You are not!" She turned back to the house. "Josslyn…."
Nina thought of something smart to say, but her mind drifted back to Sonny.
Billy wrapped his arms around Carly's waist from behind. The top of his head just reached her shoulders. "There, there."
The paramedics started loading Willow and the kids onto the ambulance.
"I'll meet you there," Nina said. "Once I know Sonny is okay." She turned to Sasha. "Can you please take Nelle back to Shadybrook?"
"Sure. But will you be okay?" Sasha asked.
Nina nodded. "I guess I'll wait with Carly."
Carly pulled away from Billy, turned, and saw Morgan on a stretcher with an oxygen mask.