Five Threads

by El Stormo

Five people begin their own stories, finding their way in the world. But lives rarely leave each other untouched, and paths that run as high as they can, will sooner or later cross. When they do, some walk together, and others will do all they can to push the other off the path and into the depths. Reviews are much appreciated, members and guests, but please keep 'em spoiler-free.

55. Reborn In Fire

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Reborn in Fire

Flames raged around him, the heat searing on his skin. Smoke hung in the corridor on the house's upper level, and Keljarn had to run bent-over to keep from inhaling it. The baby wailed and screamed. Good. If it could wail, it could live.

The boards cracked and splintered under his feet. Nine damn it, he had to hurry up! He kicked the door open and made for the crib, his hands and knees bonking on the floorboards. The heat was blistering, and he prayed to whomever would listen that his hair wouldn't just spontaneously burst into flame, the fire consuming him whole. He reached the crib and reached up, sitting upright on his knees. As his hand touched the metal of the crib, however, he screamed in pain, the iron so hot it literally melted the skin on the palm of his hand to itself. Tearing his hand away and biting the pain, Keljarn scrambled to his feet, lifted the little child out of the crib, taking care not to touch any metal parts, and made a run for it.

Through the smoke, he saw that the little guy, or girl, already had a few small blisters on the cheeks. He could do nothing but hope he'd made it in time. All thought of Siari, the murdering little bitch, had been completely driven from his mind, and all there was now was the need to save this little bundle of life in his hands.

The corridor was a sea of flame, and there was no way he was getting through. A beam crashed down in front of him, burning as it went, smashing a hole in the smouldering floor. Flames immediately whooshed up from the opening. Shit, the entire lower floor was ablaze.

"You ready, little guy?" Keljarn coughed and hacked, turning on his heels, holding his breath and running back inside the baby's room, charging straight at the window.

It was as if the flames tried to reach for him and pull him back inside as he went through the glass, the baby cradled in his arms, then he was clear of the fire, flying through the air, weightless, thinking of nothing else than keeping the little thing safe.

No matter what happened to him, all that mattered was the life in his arms. Whether Siari escaped or not, whether he lived or died, none of it was worth a damn.

He went flying head over heels, and the last thing he felt was his teeth clacking together as his body struck the ground.