Everybody shrieked with terror as Beatrice screamed that the house was on fire. Bernard turned off the music and stood up on the couch, cupping his mouth with his hands.

"Everybody listen up! STAY CALM! Move towards the front door….move it! Move it!" Bernard yelled. The guests rushed out of the living room and towards the front door, only to see it too was on fire. They screamed and ran the opposite direction. Some started sobbing; a woman held onto her husband as he looked frantically for an exit.

"UPSTAIRS! WE'RE GOING OUT THE WINDOW! GO, GO, GO!" Bernard shouted, leading the way up the stair case. The guests ran hurriedly up the stairs, pushing and shoving each other. Beatrice got lost in the middle of the crowd and held onto the staircase for dear life. She broke down into sobs and fell against the railing.

"Beatrice! Get up!" Dianne ordered, yanking on Beatrice's arm. Her mascara ran down her face and she choked on her breath as Dianne pulled her up the stairs. When they finally made it to the window and saw how high up they were, they grew very frightened. They started crying harder and screaming louder and begged Bernard to find another way out.

"Do it or die," was Bernard's one and only answer. The fire cackled downstairs and everyone jumped.

"Do it or die," the women repeated, shaking their heads. The men puffed out their chests, held onto their wives and made the jump out of the window. They landed safely. When the other guests saw they were okay, they did the same. Bernard pulled Beatrice aside and guided people out the window. One by one they jumped and everyone who did was safe. Suddenly, the fire made its way up the stairs and flashed at the guests. Some fell into the flames while other people desperately tried to get away, but failed. Beatrice screamed at the top of her lungs and cried hysterically as she saw people burning. Bernard scooped her up and carried her into the bathroom. He took two towels, dunked them in water and gave one to Beatrice.

"Put this over your nose and mouth! Do it now, Beatrice. Quickly!" he ordered as Beatrice shoved it over her nose and mouth. Bernard then did the same and he guided her out the bathroom door, only to see that they were stuck. All of upstairs had caught on fire. Bernard quickly shut the door and started filling up the bathtub. He dunked towels in it and threw them outside, trying to put out the fire. It was hopeless. Beatrice pulled her towel off her face and pulled Bernard's off, too. She plunged her lips onto his and kissed him passionately-their last kiss.

It was then that the second story collapsed, falling into the flames below. Bernard held onto Beatrice and Beatrice held onto Bernard. They held onto each other as they fell. They would not let go of each other even though their fall was a long one. They hugged tightly as the flames devoured them, and their last thoughts were both the same.

All they could think about, as they were being burned to death, was how the children were at the beach, unaware of what was going on. How in a few minutes, the children would be orphans. They were leaving the world as they knew it, and they were leaving their beloved children behind.

THE END.

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-Saturnella