Chapter 7

Burnt

Ethan's POV

We sneaked into the warehouse, carefully closing the door behind us as we entered. It was extremely dark and creepy, shadows danced across the walls and groans came from pipes around the buildings. Loud voices emanated from the back of the room, the half-bloods were discussing something which sounded important and we needed to get closer.

"Come on." I said pulling Sarah behind the wooden crates; we felt our way along the rows until we neared them.

"Are you okay?" Sarah questioned gripping my hand tighter.

"I'm fine, you?"

"Okay I think." She whispered. The voices got louder, it sounded as if they were arguing. I peeked round one of the crates to get a better look; there were six of them there, three of which were girls, three which were guys. A blonde headed rogue stood nearest to us with the two other girls on either side. The leader seemed to be a guy who with dark brown hair and tattoo of fang inked on his arm, he began shouting.

"Don't argue with me! Our master needs this elixir and we need more so find it!" He snapped at the group.

"We have the girl though, we don't need this junk!" The blonde girl argued.

"Yeah, why do we need more." One of them piped up.

"Because our master ordered it you fools! The girl escaped and we wouldn't have been able to use her blood anyway as she is still not mature enough! We need this stock to get by and we will run out unless you get more! So do as I say or I will not be responsible for my actions." The leader shouted punching a nearby crate in anger.

"They want to use Amanda's blood!" Sarah cried but she spoke too loudly. The vampires hissed before racing after us.

"Move Sarah move!" I shouted. We turned and ran as fast as we could but they gained on us within minutes, I was pinned to the ground in an instant, the blonde headed rogue hissed in my face before snarling; slowly she dragged her sharp nail down my arm, cutting deep into my skin. Excruciating pain shot through me, I felt numb with worry and pain as my warm red blood oozed out within seconds. The smell of my blood hit her instantly; I could see it in her eyes. They glazed over as she licked her fangs in pleasure. The distraction gave me enough of a chance to draw out my stake, piercing It into her instantly before her grey ashes descended upon me. Lifting my arm I examined it cautiously and felt sick to my stomach, she had cut in deep and red liquid had spread everywhere. I heard footsteps coming closer; I had to move out of view. Slowly with my one good arm I dragged myself behind a crate and lay panting, I could barely breathe my heart felt as if it would burst right up and out of my chest. Peeking around the crate I could see three vampires fleeing, one which turned to dust just as it reached the door, ash and a stake dropped to the floor. A piercing scream echoed around the warehouse. Sarah! I thought instantly, I knew I had to get to her somehow but I was in too much pain. Slowly I grabbed the crate with my hands, piercing pain shot through my arm as fresh blood gushed out. I began running but I kept coming to dead ends blocked off with crates.

"Sarah!" I screamed

"Over here!" she yelled, I followed her voice and she was being held down by two vampires, both were leering at her with stakes in their hands.

"Back off." I said, clutching Sarah's hand I pulled her to safety but in the process she knocked her stake down the aisle of boxes, the rogues glared viciously upon us, I had left my stake near the entrance, the only weapon I had left to protect us was the flames. I grabbed a match, struck it then flicked it at one of the rogues, she howled violently before turning to dust but she was standing too near one of the crates. The flames licked the wooden box hungrily sending the whole crate alight, then another and then another.

"Ethan, run, run!" Sarah yelled pushing me down one of the rows. The last rogue hot on our heels, we went round and round getting lost and finding dead ends. Hundreds of crates were burning a vibrant orange, engulfed by the flames. Black smoke writhed around us in frenzy, I could barely breathe. Sarah began coughing violently beside me.

"Sarah? Sarah are you okay?" I asked, she wheezed heavily shaking her head.

"There's too much smoke." She choked. I pulled her in close.

"Here breathe into my jumper." I said lifting it over my head and handing it to her.

"Ethan, I'm not going to make it."

"What, no of course we will Sarah I promise!" I said hysterically.

"Ethan, if anyone of these flames touches me I'll turn to dust!"

"Sarah, I will get you out of here if I have to give my life!"

"Ethan….."

"Sarah don't, let's just be positive please." I said grabbing her arm and running again. The flames were too much they had engulfed almost everything now. The blazing heat suffocated us both, Sarah was still wheezing chronically and I was still coughing. The black smoked curled everywhere; we could barely see a thing. The flames had begun to climb up the sides of the warehouse, the whole room was ablaze.

"I can't see a way out of this Ethan!" Sarah coughed.

I can see a way, come on!" I said pulling her along yet another row of crates all of which were a light. The floor was ablaze with the orange flames, licking and spurting.

"Sarah, climb on my back!" I shouted

"What?"

"Just do it, the flames are everywhere and we are going to have to run through them and you can't. My arm is too weak to carry you so get on my back! I yelled

"Ethan, won't you get burnt?"

"I don't care, it's the only way out and at least I won't turn to dust! Now come on." I said hauling her up onto my back. The pipes had begun groaning and the roof would be caving in on us too. I didn't have time to think about it I just began running, the orange flames climbing up my legs and burning through my jeans. My legs hurt immensely, I could barely walk. The flames scorched them violently; I could feel the skin peeling off and began groaning in pain.

"Ethan this is too much just leave me behind and go!"

"No, I would never even consider that!" I shouted over the noise of the crackling flames. I pushed further on, I could see the door. Black smudges had begun to appear at the sides of my eyes, I was losing focus and in desperate need of fresh air. I was ready to collapse but kept going so at least Sarah could be saved. She climbed off my back; there weren't as many flames here yet.

"Ethan come on! Sarah shrieked.

"I can't, I can't move my legs anymore! Just go!"

"Ethan no!" she lifted me up and began running to the door, any second now I would black out. Sara put me down and began wheezing again, the flames had begun to spread here quickly.

"Sarah go, I think I can make it on my own, there are too many flames here you need to go quickly." I urged

"Ethan I can carry…"

"No!" I cut her off. "You need the air before you choke to death, just try and get the door open!" I said, watching Sarah run to the door and pull it right off its hinges and turning around to come back for me. I was drenched in sweat from the heat. With my last bit of energy I hobbled towards Sarah focusing on her beautiful face all the while until suddenly a flaming beam descended from the roof blocking my way.

"Ethan!" Sarah shrieked. I could hear her but I could not see past the flaming beam. The roof was collapsing in now; several other beams came crashing down nearby. I could still hear Sarah shrieking in hysterics.

"Sarah, go quickly get help!" I shouted.

"Ethan just remember I love you." She said

"I love you too I choked, I could hear her crying before turning and running out the door. My legs wouldn't stay up anymore they buckled and descended to the flame ridden floor. The black smudges had come back this time worse than before and I felt light headed. I waited and waited until finally I heard voices, fire fighters in uniform lifted sprayed water across the burning beam putting out its vibrant flames before tossing it aside then racing towards me and picking me up. The black smudges grew bigger and bigger in my vision and it was difficult to see. I knew they had carried me out into the fresh air as I could breathe better but I still felt dizzy.

"Sarah." I choked

"sh,sh." The paramedic said before placing something over my nose and mouth.

"Here breathe through this is will help." He said. I began panicking where Sarah was. I tried lifting the breathing piece off so I could call her name but the man put it back in place, saying I had to wear it. Where was Sarah? I began feeling sick with worry. Dizziness took over and then the black smudges clouded my vision and everything went dark.