I really, really, really hope this works. The "Paste Document" thing on my user on FanFiction is still being weird, so I'm trying "Upload Document", which I've never done before…

I do not own Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys.

Searing pain washed over her, and the next second she crashed to the ground on the other side of the trench.

Coughing violently, Nancy yanked her legs out of the fire's reach. The flames had scorched her, some still clinging to her clothes, and she rolled in the blackened grass, hissing in pain between coughs.

Dragging in another ragged breath, the redhead tried to rise, but fell once more. Glancing back at the wall of fire she'd just crossed, her eyes widened. It had grown bigger, the oxygen in the wind from the helicopters' propellers feeding it, and it crept towards her against the wind. Smoke washed over her again.

I've got to get out of here! Nancy screamed to herself, unable to do anything but cough, shielding her face with one burned arm from the heat. Agonizingly, she pulled herself forwards over the rough ground on her tender palms.

Come on, Drew. You can make it. You CAN'T give up now!

"Frank. Wake up."

Groaning, Frank slit his eyes open. George leaned over him, her dark hair pulled into a messy low ponytail, wearing gym shorts and a white t-shirt that was too big for her. Frank was still wearing the blue scrubs he'd begged up. All four of them were starting to look grungy. Bess and George had refused to leave the hospital for even a minute, and the brothers found their concern touching.

Frank sighed and ran his fingers through his messy, chocolate hair. "Yeah?" he croaked hoarsely.

Shaking the sleep from his head, he cleared his throat. "Yes?" Frank said, more clearly now.

"Doctor Matthews just talked to me, since you were asleep. It's about Joe."

Joe? Was something wrong?

His heart clenching in fear, Frank sat up. "What did he say?"

If something bad was going to happen – or had happened – now, when Nancy was still missing and after all that had occurred, Frank didn't think he would be able to handle it.

George swallowed hard, crystal tears welling up in her eyes. She seemed to be trying to find the right words to say.

Frank's heart pounded rapidly. Something was very wrong. "George."

Nancy's friend sighed shakily and sat down on the bed. "Frank… Joe's leg is worse than any of us thought. It's been damaged so badly that – that…"

He grabbed both of George's hands, staring at her. He couldn't breathe. Her gaze slid away from his.

"Frank, they want to amputate it."

Hands down, tense up, drag. Hands down… pain… tense, drag…

Gritting her teeth, Nancy repeated the process over and over, moving inch by inch through the dense smoke. She couldn't see a thing. Tears flowed down her cheeks from the irritation in her eyes. Was that the roar of the fire? Or the helicopters? Or her head?

"Help!" Nancy yelled, but it came out as more of a strangled croak from her abused, parched throat.

No one could hear her.

I'm so close…

But was she? Maybe the smoke went on forever. Burning embers glowed and fell all around her. Orange and red light that was unbelievably bright flickered through the density behind Nancy, letting her know which direction not to go. That and the melting heat.

It was getting more and more difficult to breathe.

Breathe in, Nancy… Okay, scratch that. Wheeze in.

Her mouth twisted in annoyance, she suddenly felt a pebble rip into a burn on her forearm.

"Aah!" The cry burst from Nancy's ash-covered lips.

Trembling arms. Painful hands. Watering, tortured eyes. Burns screaming for attention. Sweat running down her body. More smoke. More fire.

More hopelessness.

There was only one more thing left to do. Her legs and feet hurt terribly, and she felt no more energy, but she had to try. Now Nancy couldn't even tell the difference between the black clouds of smoke, and the black clouds taking away her eyesight and threatening to swallow her whole.

Gathering every last bit of strength she possessed, Nancy stood, trying to ignore the pain. One step. Two. Three.

My legs won't go anymore.

Giving a push, Nancy thrust herself forwards, falling toward the ground as the dark clouds, the ones in her mind, finally took her.

Mwahahaha!