Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. Apologies for the haitus!
"Hey!" Arthur shouted, his voice echoing down the corridor. He stopped, and tried to breathe. The smoke, he realised, was accompanied by an acrid stench.
Burning.
Swallowing, he took a few steps, hoping that he could continue further. The smoke was beginning to thicken, and as he walked past a couple of classrooms, he could feel the heat starting to catch his throat.
He stopped, and coughed. As he did so, he noticed a sudden movement. A figure, partially obscured. Trying to keep himself calm, he steadied his breathing, and continued.
Eames choked, swallowed, and tried to stay calm. "Arthur," he muttered. "Where have you gone?"
Turning his head, he noticed that the smoke was increasing in volume. Feeling stifled, he began to hurry after him. "Arthur!"
He pushed open the swing doors, realising that the corridor was not lighted. Frustrated, he began to move along the wall, searching for the light switch. As he moved, the smoke started to roll down the smooth, painted hall to greet him. He stopped, his eyes beginning to water.
"Arthur-"
He coughed again. Smoke was moving more quickly, and thickly, along. Trying to ignore it, he headed after Arthur. "Where are you," he grumbled. Aware that both had limited time, and resources.
Ariadne sighed as she made herself a cup of herbal tea. Heated the water, dropped in a bag, waited. Removed the cup, and the bag. Carefully, balancing the cup on a saucer, she began to move to the lounge.
The shrill piercing ring of the phone startled her, nearly dropping the cup. She carefully balanced it on a table, and reached for the receiver. "Hello?"
"Ariadne? Its Dom Cobb."
"Oh," she said, trying to conceal her disappointment. She realised, with a wry smile, that she'd been hoping Arthur would contact her, or maybe even show up, unexpectedly. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I realise this may seem an odd question, but have you seen Arthur this evening?"
Ariadne swallowed, and shifted the receiver to her ear. "I...no."
"Well, that's odd." Cobb swallowed, and she could tell he was uneasy about this conversation. "I called his apartment, as there are things that need to be discussed about the hearing, but no reply."
She bit her lip. "I- have you called the school?"
"The school?" Cobb sounded puzzled. "Ariadne, its nearly 10 pm."
"Well, its just a thought."
"I see. Thank you. Goodnight."
As the receiver went dead, she replaced it into the cradle, her mind starting to whirl.
Arthur hurried down the corridor, his eyes and throat starting to sting. He stopped and choked. "Hey!" he shouted, his voice cracking with the sour atmosphere. He stopped, and listened.
No reply.
Arthur took a deep breath, immediately gagging on the smoke. Get out, his mind chanted. Turning, he began to hurry back, painfully aware that he had limited time.
"Hello?"
"Robert?"
"Yes?"
"Dominic."
"Yes?"
Cobb gritted his teeth in frustration. Robert's opaqueness was infuriating, and he reminded himself, part of the reason for the mess that had snowballed into an avalanche. He tried to speak again, politely.
"Have you seen Arthur?"
"Why would I?" Robert's voice was vague, and disinterested. "Please excuse me, I need to go to bed. Good night."
The buzzing of the disconnection reverberated through Cobb's head. He slammed the receiver back in its cradle, and stood up. Mal, leafing through a file, looked up from the couch, a frown forming on her face.
"What is it?"
"No Arthur. And, no Eames." Cobb rubbed his forehead. "I'm going to the school."
Robert gently replaced the receiver, shrugging, and pulled his BlackBerry into his hand.
Frowning at the lack of messages, he proceeded to head to his apartment's bedroom.
"Arthur-" Eames coughed again. Suddenly, he felt the taste of smoke filling his throat completely. "Arthur-"
"Eames?"
The older man blinked, trying to wash smoke out of his eyes. "Arthur, are you-"
"Yes!" the younger man shouted, hoarsely. "Come on!" He coughed. "The school - its on fire!"
Eames stopped. The heat was beginning to intensify. "Arthur, I-"
"Come on!" he felt a hand grab at his sleeve. "We need to get out!"
Grabbing at Arthur's forearm, the two men began to stumble out. "We need to-" Eames choked, feeling himself becoming overpowered.
"Keep going!" Arthur shouted. "Keep going!"
After an eternity, they reached the double doors leading back into the main foyer. With a shove, they staggered back into the opening area.
"To the doors," Arthur muttered.
Suddenly, they heard a loud, crackling sound.
Cobb pulled up sharply, and practically wrenched the door open. As he scrambled out of the car, his heart began to rise up his throat.
Part of the school building was visibly on fire. With a jolt, he realised that it was the area where the lans were concentrated - the chemistry block.
Trying to stay calm, he began to run to the entrance. As he approached, he saw the main school door began to shift open, as two figures started to stagger out, onto the steps.
"Arthur!" Cobb shouted.
Suddenly, the chemistry labs exploded. As the two men started to walk down the steps, the force of the explosion sent the three of them flying forwards. As they tried to calm themselves, Cobb and Arthur turned, and watched in horror at the burning wreckage of their school.
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