"Tim!" Tony was being pressed against the other children and adults that occupied the third floor, fighting their way towards the elevators.
"Wait! Everybody! I know a way out!" Everyone ignored his pleas as he did his best to stay upright. The smoke was becoming thicker. The air was scorching and he was sweating profusely. Elbows drove into his ribs, others stepped on his feet almost tripping him and people fell into him almost knocking him over.
"Please! Excuse me! Lemme through!" What a time to worry about manners, these people didn't care.
Tony knew his main objective was to find Tim. If these people weren't going to listen to him there was nothing he could do. He shoved his way to the fire escape and pushed on the door. It opened and a huge blast of clean air filled his aching lungs. "Everybody! Look!" He quickly darted from the door's threshold and leaned against the wall so he wasn't trampled. These people could leave but he wouldn't till he made sure Tim was safe. "Tim!"
The frightened workers stomped past him-relieved as they hollered cries of victory. Tony ran down the hall towards the lavatories. The smoke was thicker. Tony pulled his collar up over his mouth as he coughed. His eyes watered and stung as tears ran down his flushed, red cheeks. "Tim?" It was becoming difficult to yell-his throat burned and it hurt to make any kind of sound. Tony wondered if he was ever going to see his little brother, ever again.
/
"Miss Jenny! Look!" Abby had met up with Jimmy, Ellie and Jenny in the park as soon as she returned from China. Ellie and Jimmy were playing tag, running around the trees for protection from each other.
"What is it Abs?" Jenny followed Abby's gaze towards smoke, surrounding the tops of the skyscrapers. "Oh my gosh! Where is it coming from?" But she already knew the answer. "Abby, please run to the docks and get Jethro. Could you do that, sweetie?"
"You betchya!"
"Please tell him to meet us at the factory Tony works at."
"Okay!"Jenny watched the young girl run away, curious to how she could manage the huge heels with such ease.
Jimmy and Ellie stopped running and gathered around Jenny clinging onto her skirt. Fire trucks raced by as the firemen rang bells. People ran down the streets frantically yelling-their words undecipherable.
"Come on children. Now I want you to keep hold of my hands, do you both understand?"
Jimmy and Ellie vigorously nodded.
"Good." Jenny directed them to the street so they could make their way to the Shirt factory Tony worked at.
"Jenny? What's on fire? Is it the factory Tony works at?" Ellie asked. Jenny frowned when she looked at the small girl. Her large, hazel eyes were filled with tears, her expressive, thick eyebrows-furrowed. Her knuckles were white from gripping Jenny's skirt.
"Are Tim and Tony going to be okay?" she asked.
"Don't worry, Ellie. They're very smart. They will be okay-don't you worry, okay, hun?"
Ellie nodded but her expression did not lighten.
Jimmy looked around Jenny to meet Ellie's gaze, "They will be Ellie! They will be okay. You'll see."
Jenny hoped the kids didn't hear the hammer of her own heart beat against her ribs. As soon as the firetrucks passed, they scurried across the street in direction of the smoke.
/
Tony sat with his back against the wall. He couldn't stop coughing. He forgot where he was in the building-he had run and run up and down halls calling for Tim but people just scurried by him screaming and shoving. When the smoke became to much to bare he crumpled to the floor and became disoriented-he couldn't remember where he had looked and he was tired-too tired to keep searching. The halls were now void of people and all he could hear were crowds of people outside of the building and the clang of firetruck bells. Would it be so bad to take a short nap?