Out Like A Flame // Open

[JAMAL ANISH RAO]

"Sitting on the side waiting for a sign,
hoping that my luck will change."

"Come on kid!" Jamal shouted hurriedly as he scooped up the four year old boy in his arms and fled for the doorway.

A group of outsiders had been squatting in the shell of an old school building. Jamal and his mate Kevin had been trying to get them out for the past while, praying to get everyone to safety before the inferno would spread. God knows where the fire had come from, but a great chunk of a London distract was ablaze, like something had poured from above and turned it into one giant inferno. As far as Kevin and Jamal were concerned, the school building didn't host that many survivors. Jamal prayed that the four year old boy, who was surprisingly quiet given the situation, was the last victim to be evacuated.

The young man dashed along the hallway, plaster and ash dotting his dark hair, the heat of the blaze burning at his chestnut skin, clutching onto the child to get him to safety. Thankfully the fire was not serious - yet - and Jamal could still trace his footing back to the emergency exit where two other survivors and Kevin was waiting. However on the way Jamal swore he thought he heard a woman screaming. It could have been a figment of his imagination, or worse, a zombie. Though he concentrated on getting the kid out first.

The four year old boy was returned to his mother (or at least Jamal though she was his mother) and the young man considered in returning to the building to fetch the other survivor. The other survivors had not heard of another. She could have easily been squatting in the building without the others knowing.

Should he? Shouldn't he?

Make a choice quick.

Upon re-entering the building, he dashed to where he had heard the noise, just missing a chunk of the ceiling falling down and almost hitting him. When he reached that same hallway, he could not see anymore. The smoke had formed a thick curtain across the hallway, bellowing from the thrashing flames from the doors lining the walls. The screaming had dimmed a little, the sound of burning drowning out the initial cries for help. Jamal was still convinced she was still alive, either moving around or she was starting to give into the inferno. "Where are you? Stay still!" He managed to blurt out, before shielding his mouth with the back of his hand. Jamal bent low, his back arched and his footing wobbly as he approached the human noise. The woman still sounded as distant as ever. She must have still been moving between rooms...further away. "Where are you?!" he managed to scream out again, but his voice struggled through his own coughing.

It got too much for him. Jamal's coughing became more hoarse and frequent. He longed for one breath, one breath of clean air but all he was inhaling was thick smoke. Although he was a chain smoker, this was something he was not used to. He bumped against the wall of the hallway, slipping down and coughing even louder. His lungs were packed with smoke and he was almost rendered unconscious. His breathing had slowed, and everything went black as he passed out.

Words: 542| Tag: Open!
Notes:

[ALEXIS JASMINE FLETCHER]

For the third night in a row, Lexi had found herself having trouble sleeping. After spending what felt like an eternity tossing and turning she sighed and threw back the covers, sitting up and stuffing her feet into her military style boots. She figured that if she couldn’t sleep, maybe a walk would help. She could head to the barrier and see if there was anything she could do to help out. She tugged a navy cardigan over her pyjamas and stepped out into the cool night air. A slight shiver escaped her and she wrapped the cardigan tighter around her body, folding her arms around her middle to hold it in place. Lost in thought, she shuffled around, heading toward the barrier. Something wasn’t right. She stopped abruptly in the middle of the street, a frown settling on delicate features as she tried to pinpoint exactly what it was that made her feel a little on edge.

The air felt heavy as she moved forward across the deserted street. Hushed voices in the distance caught her attention, panicked and growing steadily louder and more desperate as she changed course. The air seemed to grow heavier with every step that she took and with each breath, her chest grew tight. It was then that she noticed the smoke and the flickering orange glow on the building directly opposite her. That was definitely not good. The panicked voices were full blown shouts by the time Lexi rounded the corner to find the school engulfed in a raging fire that showed no signs of slowing. With every minute that passed, the flames climbed higher, licking the window frames and doorways while the blistering inferno gutted the inside of the building. The twenty year old had seen fires before, but nothing anywhere near as intense as this.

She looked up at the crumbling brickwork above the main entrance and her eyes widened as she sprang forward. ”Look out! she yelled as small clumps of brick tumbled to the ground. Luckily, no one got hurt as she rushed over to see if she could help. She crouched beside a woman whose fearful stare was fixated on the building, her hand pressed to her mouth as she murmured over and over, ”My boy… My little boy… Dear Lord please…” Lexi placed a gentle hand on the woman’s arm. ”Where?” She asked. The woman pointed and Lexi cringed inwardly. She’d guessed as much. She stood, assuring the woman that everything would be okay as she glanced around for someone to help her. Had she known that there was already someone inside looking for the child, it was highly likely that she wouldn’t have ventured into the blaze, but she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing knowing that there was anyone still inside.

”Hey you!” the brunette called to a guy who stood off to the side watching the whole ordeal. ”You hurt? She asked him. He looked okay.
The man looked around, shifting uncomfortably when he realised that she was addressing him. He shook his head.
”Good. Come with me.” The guy, tall with mousy brown hair, followed her reluctantly into the school. The smoke immediately stung her eyes and she had to squint to see through the black and orange haze. She moved quickly for the wall, placing a hand carefully against it and using it as a guide so she didn’t get turned around. ”Stay close okay!” she called over her shoulder, her voice quiet again the roaring and cracking of the flames, ”Keep your eyes open. We’re looking for a little boy,” she told him, shuffling along quickly but with caution. Within minutes, her skin and clothes were black with soot and perspiration matted her dark locks to her face, her pyjamas clung to her skin. She called out and encouraged the guy to do the same as they searched from room to room. Between coughs, she yelled as loud as she could, hoping every second that there would be a response.

Entering the next room she searched the benches. The door had swung shut behind her but the guy was on the other side, keeping watch for anyone that might pass by.
”Hello?” She called for the millionth time. ”Anyone in here?” Her voice was drowned out by an almighty crash as one of the beams fell outside the classroom. She sprinted to the door to make sure Lurch was okay and watched through the small strip window as he started to retreat. She tried the door but it wouldn’t budge no matter how hard she tugged. She hit the door, one sharp THUMP!
”Hey! Where are you going?” she called through the door. ”Help me!”
He kept backing away, shaking his head.
”I’m sorry…”
Lexi couldn’t believe it. She hit the door again, harder. ”You can’t just leave me here! Please!”

[/i]
”I’m sorry….” he repeated before finally disappearing from sight.

She continued to bang frantically on the door after him, desperate for him to come back. ”No! Don’t- Come back! Please!” She coughed several times, her throat drier than she ever thought possible. She doubled over to catch her breath. A few more feeble attempts at breaking through the door with her fists. ”Don’t leave me here!”
Her desperation was soon replaced with anger and a new found energy and she attacked the door from every angle, shouting after the guy that had as good as left her for dead.
”You son of a-…When I get out of here!” she screamed, another wave of coughs following shortly after. She stumbled away from the door, searching for a way out. She forced herself to focus. All she could think about was that little boy stuck somewhere in the building. She had to get out of this room!

She kept telling herself to think, groping around the room, bumping various body parts on bench corners. Be logical about this… Where are you? What can you use? She grabbed blindly until her hand brushed something. What the…. Lab coats! Tugging as many as she could from the hooks, she hurried to the main sink and stuffed them all in, turning on the taps. While the lab coats were soaking, she worked on the door again tugging on it with all her might until eventually it came free. A triumphant hiss of ‘yes’ escaped her, though she knew she wasn’t out of the woods just yet. She pulled two of the coats out of the sink and used them to protect her hands and she attacked the smouldering wood that stood in her way. The fire had weakened the wood to a point where it didn’t take long to break through it, though she yelped as several embers drifted up and landed on her bare leg. No time to waste though. She grabbed the rest of the lab coats, pulling one of them over her cardigan. The cool of the water felt great against her and she was grateful for the discovery as she ran back out into the thick of it.

She could hear someone calling and froze. ”Hello? Came her called response. ”Hello? Can you hear me?” She moved in the direction of the voice, hurrying through the hallway until suddenly, there were no more calls. She sped up. ”Hey are you okay? where are you?” she yelled. Nothing but the crackling of blistered paint and the popping of burning wood. ”Dammit!” She cried, almost running now, she was desperate for an answer. Then she spotted the silhouette on the ground. A person. She rushed forward and dropped to her knees, grazing them as she skidded a little through the debris. ”Hey! Hey wake up!” She shook the guy gently. ”Can you hear me? Come one! Please be alive!” She covered his body with one of the sodden coats in an attempt to cool. ”Come on buddy wake up. I can’t carry you out!” She patted his cheek repeatedly with her hand, trying to wake him up.
[/center]

[JAMAL ANISH RAO]

"Sitting on the side waiting for a sign,
hoping that my luck will change.""

Trust Jamal to turn all noble and try to save others. Yet it just got him into heaps of more trouble. He had endangered himself. It was either completely heroic and courageous, or completely dumb and idiotic. God knows what was going through his head. Though upon hearing the slightest cry of help he was in there, trying to fix the mess. He was a good guy, with his heart in the right place, but he sometimes had the wrong approach to things. It was his own route in earning respect since being a kid. With a bad report card and a lack of faith from teachers, Jamal had grown up to act selflessly for others. It was his own way of earning admiration, especially from his parents, and that was a hard one to earn from them.

Though thanks to his almost idiotic determination, he had fallen victim to the smoke, and had momentarily passed out, toppling over like the wounded in a battlefield in the corridor. Jamal was out like a light. His body was limp, one arm across his chest and the other stretched out across the hot corridor floor. His legs were twisted slightly, one propped up. It was like an odd sleeping position. Who knows what made him pass out. The smoke, the shock of the situation or the intense heat. Heat was a pest, especially heat this intense. It could have been a combination of it all. Thankfully, he was not in dire straits just yet. However if he were left any longer, the inferno would get him. Jamal would be no more.

Thankfully he had not lapsed into a coma. It was a fainting spell triggered by inhaling the smoke. It took him a short while for him to even show remote signs of life. He was unresponsive at first to the woman who had come to his rescue. The shaking of his body was unfelt, and her voice was unheard. Though the soaking cloth upon his body was felt. It cooled him instantly, and brought him round a bit. Jamal did not even open his eyes, though his eyelids flickered in a stir. He could then feel the taps on his cheek. Being so disorientated, he thought it was his mother, trying to wake him up for school, like she used to do when he was still a kid. It was a bizarre dreamlike state he was in. Though it was far from pleasant. His skin, although it had been cooled, was still warm, and he was feeling a hot burning sensation in his eyes and at the back of his throat. He finally emitted a low noise, stirring, and opened his eyes. It was just dark all around him because of the smoke, with hot orange flashes from the flames nearby. A feminine silhouette was overshadowing him. He didn't guess who it was. Probably someone he didn't know. Someone like himself that was trying to save others in this catastrophe.

Now he had come round. He acknowledged the woman, but only in eye contact and no words. It really did take a natural disaster to stop Jamal being the chatterbox he usually was. He felt something catch the back of his throat and started to cough violently, propping himself up slightly then turning himself onto all-fours, as if ready to crawl out of there. He was not sure if he could stand yet. Jamal was too weak to get up and run. It wasn't every day he blacked out. Even just fainting, never mind the fire, was a new experience for him.

Words: 601| Tag: Alexis
Notes: sorry wasn't able to match the word count lol

[ALEXIS JASMINE FLETCHER]

The filthy brunette continued to shake the body, willing him to wake up with vey ounce of her being.
"Come on...." She continued, over and over. "Please wake up! Please!"
The moment she noticed him stirring, the shaking became more frantic, followed by the taps against the side of his face. Stirring was a good sign, she just needed him to open his eyes. She watched his face, waiting for his eyes to spring open, but nothing. The stir had been breif and his eyes remained as closed as ever.
"No no no!" She shouted over the roar of the fire. "Open your eyes!"
Her voice grew more desperate as she noticed his eyelids twitch again.
"That's it! Open your eyes! Can you open your eyes for me? Come on! Your almost there! Just... Open y-"
A tickled caught in her throat and she stopped tapping, turning her face away as she lapsed into a fit of coughing. Her lungs ached, her head hurt and she was vaguely aware of a stinging sensation in her knees as the room swam around her. She closed her eyes struggling to catch her breath in the smoke, forcing herself to concentrate and not pass out. If she went too, they'd both be doomed. When the coughing subsided, she waited just a few seconds, inhaling slowly so as not to set herself of on another coughing fit.

His groan reached her eyes and her attention flew back to him, lurching forward quickly to look at his face. She leaned over him and gave his face another couple of taps.
"That's it! Nearly there! You can do it!"
Finally, he opened his eyes. Relief washed over her and despite the raging inferno that surrounded them, she found that she was smiling. She leaned away from him, sitting back on her feet and resting her hands on her soot covered thighs to give him some space to come around. She opened her mouth to speak, but before the words could escape her lips, he was on all fours and coughing up a storm. She rubbed his back firmly, an attempt to help get it all out and partly in an attempt at comfort. She needed him to know that he could trust her and that she wasn't just a zombie trying to maul him. A way to show that she meant him no harm.

She glanced at their surroundings, listening to the creaks and groans. The place was coming down around them and they needed to move. She still hadn't found the little boy, but she couldn't just leave this guy here either. She had to get him out and fast. She turned her stare back to him.
"Hey... Hey can you look at me?" she asked. She needed to make sure he was coherant. "I know your hurt and a little dazed, but I need to know that you understand me!" She waited for his attention before continuing. "Can you stand?" She asked. There was no way she would be able to drag him out on her own. Not all the way to the street. If he could stand, she could at least support him and they'd move a lot faster working together. "This whole place is about to come down on our heads. We need to move. Now!" She got to her feet and extended her hand to him as small chunks fell from above them.

[JAMAL ANISH RAO]

"Sitting on the side waiting for a sign,
hoping that my luck will change.""

The coughing attack subdued a little. It was probably the patting on his back that made his breathing smoother and slowed the coughing. Her voice was bringing him round. It was shifting from a muffle to a more distinct sound. Not only that, the vision of the female was becoming clearer by the second. His focus was off at first, though her appearance became more prominent as he looked at her. He was definitely coming round. His head nodded when she asked if he could look at her, and did, finally making more solid eye contact. The main challenge was, could he stand? "Y-yes..." he responded a little faintly, but loud enough for her to hear him. Jamal spotted her hand as it extended out to him, and he latched onto it with his own, using her as a guide to help him to his feet.

The rise to his feet turned into a hurried scramble as he heard something crash right behind him. Momentarily he let go of her hand. The harsh reality of the situation hit him and he found a sudden adrenaline rush. It was like his instinct was tapping into the 'fight' or 'flight' mode. Though his legs felt weak. They were heavy and found it difficult to move them. It was like they were numb from a bad case of 'pins and needles'. He swayed on his feet and bumped into the wall with his shoulder, but didn't fall. Hand concealed his mouth, trying his best not to take too many breaths of clouded, polluted air. Jamal struggled to see. The smoke was more intense and formed a thick stormy cover across the corridor. He knew there was a door down that way; that was the way he had come in. "There's a door that way!" He managed to blurt out. God, even speaking was painful for him. His throat was hot and dry from smoke inhalation. He was gasping for clean air otherwise he might undergo a fainting spell again.

Eyes closed over but he managed to force them open again. Don't faint, Jamal. Not again. He was such a weakling at times, not surprising giving his thin stature. He then put his arm around the woman's shoulders for support. He had to. Not unless he wanted to be floored again. He felt like such a liability, but he was desperate. Another crash sounded as more fragments of the building collapsed right behind them. The young man flinched again. Damn, it really was caving in. "Let's go!" He managed to shout out. It was just getting to that door. That door which appeared to be miles away, and almost non existent like some mirage in the desert. If they made it there they were out. Here was hoping the building wouldn't crumble on top of them before then. And to think, there could be zombies in the building. They had to pray they didn't encounter one of those.

Words: 494 | Tag: Lexi (Mea)
Notes: she's such a wee hero

[ALEXIS JASMINE FLETCHER]

As he took hold of her outstretched hand, her fingers closed around his and she grasped his arm firmly with her other hand too, helping to pull him to his feet. Feeling his sudden lurch, she too jumped backwards, away from the direction of the sudden noise. Her eyes darting to the spot over his shoulder trying to see what it was that had come crashing down this time. She spotted the outline of a crumpled desk that must have fallen through from one of the classrooms above their heads. She sighed, causing a tickle form in her throat, though she managed to refrain from coughing too much, ”That was too close,” she said, eyes turning back to Jamal. She held her arms out again slightly so she could grab him if he started to fall. She watched him cautiously. So far, despite looking a little wobbly, he appeared to be okay. Well… As okay as anyone can be trapped in a burning building.

She gave a brisk nod, her arm snaking around his middle for extra support before hurrying forward through the smoke with Jamal at her side. Their situation was getting worse and worse as the seconds ticked by, making a minute feel like an eternity. The whole building was coming down around them and here they were, stuck in the middle of it all with an idea of what direction the door was in, but no idea how far away it was. Lexi led Jamal blindly through the thick blanket of smoke, her steps slow and careful. Her free arm was stretched out in front of them, groping at the air to ensure that there was nothing blocking their path. She stumbled a few times on the debris beneath their feet but managed to steady herself before falling completely. An almighty crash in front of them stopped her in her tracks. Reflexes kicking in immediately, she threw her arm up in front of her face and leaned back, shielding her eyes from the sudden light source that burst from the section of ceiling that had fallen down. Five more steps forward and they would have been pancakes for sure.

The newly fallen section of the school shifted some of the debris, sending ash soaring into the air which was already lacking enough oxygen. A horrible wheezing sound escaped her throat and she retched, doubling over as a new wave of coughing ensued. The cooling sensation of the lab coats was now gone and she longed for something cool. A glass of water. A swimming pool. Rain. Anything that wasn’t heat! She straightened as much as she could, though she remained slightly hunched as she tried to press forward through the coughing. She still couldn’t see the door and if anything else fell down in front of them they may have found themselves trapped and for someone who always paid attention to the smallest of details, she found her memory was getting a little hazy. Between coughs, she managed to say, ”Come on, we ha- have to k- k-heep going…” Something sharp struck the side of her face and the cut stung as sweat trickled into it. She did her beset to ignore the pain as she hurried Jamal along the corridor, more and more of the building came down, attacking the pair from every angle imaginable.

[JAMAL ANISH RAO]

"Sitting on the side waiting for a sign,
hoping that my luck will change."

Jamal was so disorientated that he was almost fully relying on Alexis for support and guidance through the smoke. Though the falling of debris brought him around to reality as each crash sounded. It seemed to be getting worse as they hobbled down the corridor. Everything was closing in all around them, like the building was trying to flip itself upside down or inside out. Holding onto the dark haired woman, Jamal took hasty but weak steps, stumbling when she stumbled and flinching whenever she had flinched. It was like they were one person.

The debris was making the area worse. Jamal could not only smell smoke when inhaling the filthy air, but of brick dust and clouds of powdered cement. Jamal could hear the woman wheeze, and he threw his arm to barricade his mouth. "Just...hold on!" His attempt at encouragement barked out in a muffle behind his arm. The man himself also pined for something cool against the back of his throat. Something simple, something everyone took for granted. Even just inhaling clean air would bring a sense of heavenly relief. He was now also holding onto Alexis to support her as well as himself. He knew the door was not a far reach from where they were, though every inch felt like a mile under their hobbling feet. "We should almost...be there!" Jamal once again blurted out a response prior to having another small coughing fit. The door was in his head, a gateway to the luminous, clean world outside. Alright it was ridden with zombies, but Jamal would give anything just to step outside this God forsaken building.

They must have hiked another few meters until more debris from above came tumbling down. The loud thunderous crash made Jamal stumble, almost sending him into all fours as his hands touched the hot, filthy ground. "Shit!" He screamed as a natural reaction. For a split second, Jamal thought he was going to die. He thought that was it. His fate was to be trapped in this burning building and diminish to ash under the inferno. Though he felt one last kick and push for surivival. He was not giving up. Furthermore, he was not giving up when he had company. The instinct to make a more hasty getaway kicked in, and he pulled at the woman's arm to continue their flee forward. "Come on it can't be far!" His voice was almost as loud and thunderous as the debris raining upon them.

Body bumped against the wall of the corridor, and he snaked along it unsteadily, now having a firm grip on the woman's hand so he didn't lose her. Other hand was clasped over his mouth, as if refusing to breath at all, but when he did, he took small, sharp intakes of breath for the air was putrid and toxic. At last, through the thick smoke, he spotted a silvery light, breaking through a pile of rubble. The door. "The door!" Jamal shouted. Though there was one problem. It was blocked with long boughs of wood from the flooring above where the ceiling had caved in. "Damn it's blocked!" he yelled as they approached it. He thought of possible solutions. They had to clear it.

Words: 540 | Tag: Alexis
Notes: ohhhh! xD

[ALEXIS JASMINE FLETCHER]

There were several instances where the rubble was so loose beneath her feet that she fell down on her hands and knees, releasing Jamal each time so she didn't pull him down with her. She wiped the trickle of blood from her head with the back of her hand, a wave of nausea hitting her. She stopped moving forwards and swayed dangerously, her vision blurring. She screwed her eyes up, blinking several times, trying to clear her head. Jamal's muffled comment just about registered but the only response she coulf manage was a single nod. She looped her arm around him again as they continued to move. She just wanted out of this school and she would take the Hoard over asphyxiation every time.

As Jamal stumbled, she followed suit, a hiss of pain escaping her as both her knees were skinned raw. If they ever managed to get out of this god forsaken place, she'd be lucky not to get an infection. She felt a tug on her arm and was pulled hastily to her feet once more. She turned her head away as a nother bout of coughing started, but she continued to move through it. She hoped he was right. If the door was much further away, she was certain she wouldn't make it. She already felt sluggish and light headed. It was a wonder how she hadn't yet passed out. Perhaps it was a combination of adrenaline, concern and a determination to survive.

She and Jamal seemed to have swapped roles, her energy was wearing thin and she fell back, letting Jamal take the lead, clawing her way along behind him. She held on to his hand tightly, greatful that he hadn't just left her behind like that other guy had. His sudden shout startled her and it took a few moments for her to realise that the door was finally in reach! With a sudden burst of energy, she sprinted forward with him, then stopped dead. Their relief was short lived when the blockages came into view.
"No, no, NO!" she yelled, kicking at the beams in frustration. "Not again!" This was the second time she has found herself trapped, only this time the wood was thicker and blocked a lot more. How the hell were they going to clear this?

She tilted her head back to look at what was left of the ceiling as it creaked and groaned, straining under the weight of whatever it supported. An awful splitting sound, followed by an almight CRACK rang out above them and her eyes widened in horror as it gave way completely. She dove towards Jamal, tackling him through the nearest side dorr as clouds of dust, smoke, ash and debris was thrown up into the air. She lay, sprawled on her front with her arms covering her head protectively thinking This is it, we're goners. After a few dazed moments, she rolled on to her back and sat up slowly. Looking through the doorway, she groaned. The main entrance was now completely unusable. Their easiest escape route was now destroyed. Did they even have a plan B? She glanced at Jamal apologetically. "Are you okay? she asked. She had just pushed shoved him, without warning, through a door and just hoped that he wasn't hurt.

[JAMAL ANISH RAO]

The grip of his hand on hers was tight and firm, ensuring that they would not be apart. He felt heavy relief upon seeing the escape route, but completely disheartened when they discovered it was blocked. Jamal eventually let go of her hand as they reached the door, and hastily scouted around it, making a quick examination to see if any of it can be moved. The debris was too heavy to shift. Jamal himself let out a cry of despair when he learned this, his own instincts kicking into desperation to survive. "Shit shit SHIT!" He bellowed. "We need to find another way, come on!" He grabbed her hand once more, however he stalled in his tracks.

The groaning of the structure above them captured his attention, and he instantly looked up. "Ohhhh shit," he drew out, swearing once more. If that gave him, they were six feet under. The massive cracking sound made him flinch, and he felt something crash into him, firing his body through the door out of the way. As Jamal was so skinny - built like a twig one might say - there was not much to cushion him as he took a tumble as Alexis tackled him. Hence he felt a shot of pain surge across his shoulder blades the moment he hit the floor. Instinctively he rolled onto his side, intentionally mirroring Alexis' own actions by guarding his head with his arms. He could feel pain all over his body, though his mind was elsewhere - just merely surviving was all on his head right now. Jamal didn't care if he had to get his leg amputated at the end of all of this - he just wanted to be alive at the end of it all. Hands slowly moved from his head, and he shot a look behind him. Their escape route was a goner, completely. His breathing was still shallow, coming out in short bursts.

The brunette that had tackled him spoke and he tried to make her out through the billows of smoke. "I'm fine," he said to his saviour. It took a few moments to register that she had in fact saved his life, many times. Jamal had actually lost count on how many times she had safeguarded him from death. "Thanks for that," he rushed out hurriedly. Jamal would sure give her proper gratitude later, when the time was right. Now was not the time. "You alright?" He asked in return, clambering on up to his feet and approaching the girl and swooping down to help Alexis up as quick as he could.

He could feel another coughing fit catching the back of his throat. With the back of his hand shielding his mouth, Jamal tried to stifle it as much as he could as he scanned the new area they were in. It was smaller and more enclosed, a more dangerous room for them to be in. "Damn this room is smaller! Less ventilation," he warned Alexis. Though at that precise moment, an idea struck him.

Ventilation?

The skinny man dashed toward the opposite end of the room, feet almost catching the furniture and tripping him over as he did so. There was a window, not too large and not too small either. They could break it and escape. It was rather small, but thankfully large enough to squeeze both of their bodies through. At least Jamal had nothing on him, for he was practically just skin and bone. "A window! We can break it and escape," he proposed to the girl, hastily searching for a decent enough object to break it with.

Words: 607 | Tag: Alexis
Notes: apologies if this is crappy

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[esca]

"Ellie!" Phineas mumbled as sleep began a glacial departure. "I need more wine to take my sleeping medication."

Damn it's hot tonight! Phin thought to himself, and kicked his blanket off.

Sweat beaded on his forehead and ran down to sting his eyes. That was the last straw, he couldn't sleep any longer! He sat up in his small self made cot, mousey hair wild in loose curls and waves. All he needed was a lab coat to complete the mad scientist look.

He ran his hands over his shirt and jacket, then his trousers, as if this would push the bed crinkles out. It did little to smooth his ensemble out, but with a satisfied grunt he got up and shifted over to the doorway to check on Ellie.

The youngster was no where to be found in the adjacent room. The blankets were tossed and her gear was gone.

"Ah Shit!" In a moment of silliness he checked under the bed, and quietly backed away as if he had been caught in the act of madness.

"Well good riddance," He spat. "Annoying brat finally got the hint." He paced the room, crest fallen and more than a little hurt (not that he would ever admit it).

There was a irritating - but familiar - catch in his chest, his lungs felt restricted and he reached for his inhaler. Taking too long puffs, as usual, he felt his chest loosen. The all telling signs of the beginning of an asthma attack, quickly averted. Phin blew his nose loudly into a tissue and tossed it aside, then he could smell it. Smoke!

He grabbed at the door handle and was greeted with a searing agony through his palm and up his arm, the handle was burning hot. He cried out in surprise and pain and clutched his blistering hand to his chest in a defensive reflex. A string of colourful curse words flowed freely from his lips.

Swearing loudly and profusely he found another door that wasnt hot and kicked the door open to reveal a scene from Dante's inferno.

[ALEXIS JASMINE FLETCHER]

She was relieved to hear that he was okay and for the first time that night, she found herself smiling slightly. ”Don’t mention it,” she said. He didn’t need to thank her. She was just glad to hear that she hadn’t injured him further or worse, caused his death. She nodded gently, though a frown settled. ”Uh.. I think so,” she replied, though she swayed a little once on her feet again, stretching her arms out to keep from falling down again. ”Woah…” she blinked several times as a second wave a nausea hit her. She heard Jamal speaking, but was a little distracting by the sharp pain that she suddenly felt in her arm. Oh that’s not good… she thought as she caught sight of the slat of splintered wood that jutted out of her arm. She felt her face drain of colour, though it wasn’t visible under her blackened skin. How could she have missed that? It had skewered under a few layers of skin, and was stuck in so cleanly, that it hadn’t even yet started to bleed. She swallowed hard of the sicky feeling she was getting. Which was strange considering she had never been a particularly squeamish person.

What was Jamal saying? Something about ventilation. She finally looked up at him, venturing further into the room and away from the flames that were licking the door frame hungrily. Windows! Of course! Why hadn’t they thought of that sooner. She did her best to ignore her most recent injury. She’d worry about it when they were free from this blistering heat. ”Yes!” she exclaimed, hurrying after him to help find something suitable for window smashing. She stumbled across a stool with metal legs in the corner and hoisted it up with her good arm. ”I have a stool with metal legs…?” she offered. ”You got anyth-“ She stopped and looked towards the door they’d tumbled through. She could’ve sworn she’d heard someone cry out. Maybe the smoke was turning her brain to mush. Shaking her head, she opened her mouth to speak again but was interrupted by a string of shouted profanities. She was going insane. She was sure of it. ”Hey do you hear that?” she asked, her chocolate stare unmoving from the doorway.

[JAMAL ANISH RAO]

Jamal had not noticed the girl's injury. Instead he just assumed her sickly spell was just a consequence of smoke inhalation. His own vision and awareness was clouded and hazy, and it was doubtful he would notice anyway. Jamal just wanted out. "Don't pass out on me now!" Jamal warned, apprehensive that she was going to end up a bundle on the floor. That would just hinder their escape, or it could be fatal to them. He prayed that Alexis stayed strong so they could get out.

Good job the idea of breaking through the window had come to him. The male was on a frantic search for a durable object to blow through the window. Nothing was here, apart from large splinters of wood, hardly big enough to even scratch the glass surface. "I can't find anything. Great we'll use this!" He shouted, seeing the stool. Thankfully Alexis was quick to grab just the perfect weapon to use. Without questioning or warning he took it off of her with initiative to break through. The legs were warm but not too hot to touch, and he grabbed it in a practical enough way to give the glass a good blow. Whilst the woman had stopped to listen to a sound nearby, Jamal threw the stool through the window a couple of times, until it completely shattered. He could feel the hot air and billows of smoke being sucked out. At least, even if it were a small amount, some of the air was clearing. He had been ignorant of Alexis for the time being, until she grabbed his attention with a startling question.

"What?" Jamal asked, hand against his mouth and nose again to prevent himself from taking deep breaths. He was pausing to listen out for the sound she had picked up. It was then he heard it. A male voice, shouting and cursing. Jamal's usual first instinct was to run and help, and he never deviated from that impulse. "Someone is still in here!" He shouted. Could he hold on for much longer until he passed out again? He prayed that he could. He was not going to have someone's death on his conscience. Going after that voice would either be the most courageous, or the most stupidest move Jamal could make. Furthermore, he didn't expect the woman to follow. The window was clear, and she could easily make a clean cut escape.

A timid look was in his eyes. "I'm going in. You can come if you want," he said hurriedly. Jamal gave her the option. Alexis had managed to save his life before, and it was probably best if they went together, for they could pull one another out of peril. Stumbling forward, he reached the doorway they had crash landed through. The corridor outside was completely unrecognisable now, trashed with debris from above. "Hello?" Jamal shouted as loudly as he could. His voice came out hoarse, and the smoke caught the back of his throat once again. He couldn't shout again, not just now.

Words: 509 | Tag: Alexis and Phineas
Notes: apologies if this is crappy

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[ALEXIS JASMINE FLETCHER]

The brunette contemplated pulling the wood out but thought better of it. While it was wedged in her arm, it was stemming any blood flow that might otherwise have escaped and that would only cause more hassle and possibly further damage. It would just have to wait until they were out of the danger zone. At least she hoped it could. At his warning on passing out she gave him the thumbs up, an indication that she was fine and had no intention of going anywhere just yet. They'd made it this far and were almost out. Surely she could hold on a little longer.

She flinched at the sound of the breaking glass but was overwhelmed with gratitude and the sudden burst of cool air that came rushing through, drawing out the heat and smoke from the room. Oxygen! Sweet, sweet oxygen! She found herself thinking. She had never thought that something as simple as air would make her feel such an astonishing amount of joy. That joy was short lived though, as Jamal confirmed she was not just hearing things. There really was someone else still in here. But why had it taken him so long to call out? The building had been blazing for quite some time now and with ceilings coming down left, right and centre, she was shocked that the owner of the voice hadn’t been flattened.

Freedom and fresh air was right there, just on the other side of the window and so close she could almost taste it. All she had to do was scramble through that empty square to safety. She felt herself being weighed down with dread. She couldn’t let him go back in there alone. Two pairs of hands and two sets of eyes were far better than one and the quicker they found the culprit of all the shouted profanities, the sooner they could make their escape. She just hoped that they wouldn’t have to venture too far from the window and that they would still be able to make it back without any more obstacles. If they lost this escape route too, they were as good as screwed.

With one last longing look at the window she turned and hurried after Jamal. Once by his side she gave him a swift nod that was accompanied by a grim smile. ”Let’s go,” she rasped, waiting for him to exit. Here we go again! she thought as she followed his lead, heading through the doorway and out into the obliterated corridor. As she climbed over the loose debris she stumbled forwards, hands landing lightly on Jamal’s back. ”Sorry!” she called, watching her step a little more carefully as she continued to hurry, calling for the voice but never getting a response. Her eyes strained against the thickening black cloud of smoke. ”Damn it! I can hardly see a thing!” she yelled in frustration.

As they continued to roam the halls, Lexi doubled over to allow another wave of coughing to pass, losing sight of Jamal as she did so. She felt dizzy and like she needed to throw up. She needed to stop. ”I can’t… I need to stop… I need to sit…” she called out to him, groping through the darkness in front of her until her hand connected with his. Or at least she had assumed it was his hand, though she didn’t understand straight away why it didn’t feel slick with sweat like she had expected, but wet and slightly sticky instead.

[esca]

Phineas blinked as the smoke caused his eyes to sting and staggered back from the roaring heat. He hand throbbed, the pain was intense and made him want to hurl. How did I sleep through this! He asked himself.

His chested remained tight feeling, despite the inhaler his breathing felt restricted. But he thought he could make out two shapes moving through the smoke. He blinked repeatedly, tears streaked his face as he attempted to make out the shapes through the all consuming smoke.

Then something grabbed his hand. His burnt and ruined palm erupted with a fresh wave of agony and he buckled forward and finally did vomit. He dropped to his knees, his hand still in a the vice of another.

"For the love a'God let go!" He whimpered.

From this postion and looking up he could finally make out the offender. She was a young woman, maybe about his own age. She looked as soot smeared as he probably did, her eyes were also awash with suffering. Then he noticed the splinter. The sight of it made him cringe, but she had been right not to pull it out as it was most likely all that was stemming the bleeding.

Over her shoulder he could make out another human shape amidst the chaos, a man this time.

Phineas had no love for his fellow human, however right now these two may aswell have been archangels decending from the sky to his aid. With help and working together he figured he might just make it out alive. It was a comforting thought as a large portion of the ceiling caved in.

[JAMAL ANISH RAO]

It strangely disappointed Jamal when the woman complied to go with him. She could have easily taken the chance and saved her own skin, and at least one of them would have survived that way. Though at the same time he felt himself admiring her own courage to tag along. Perhaps she was just like Jamal himself, afraid to chicken out and always do the right thing, even if they were on the tipping point of death.

Now out in the corridor, he could sense the inferno was much stronger. It was terrifying how fast the fire had spread. More debris was blocking their paths, the smoke much thicker and dense, and the heat almost singeing the tiniest hairs on their skin. He was trying to be careful with his footing, though hasty as well, causing him to make careless steps instead. Along the corridor his ankle had given way, and he stumbled, body jerking forward though thankfully not hitting the floor. Jamal was desperate to curse, though he couldn't let the words out. He was afraid to open his mouth. Though something collided into him, hitting him on his back. The young man emitted a hard sounding 'oof' as he stumbled forward once more. "You're fine!" Jamal finally shouted. He was astounded at himself for even making the effort to forgive the girl through words.

Again Jamal's hand reached out behind him, pawing around to grasp the woman's hand once more, just for both of their securities. He found it, though only for a brief moment until she slipped free again. He had quickened his pace, and accidently left the girl behind. "Where are you?" He blurted out. He was frightened that he had lost her, though he could hear a soft murmur of a female voice through the crackle of flames and the crumbling structure around them. He could not hear her words clearly enough, though he sensed something was wrong. "Hey!" He barked out. He did not know the girl's name, though shouting 'Hey' would suffice for now. Arm across his mouth to stifle another coughing fit he backtracked his steps. Jamal caught his foot a couple of times on pieces of debris, but again, he did not fall over. He did have the daunting feeling that he would lose all sense of orientation and balance soon, for his legs were beginning to feel heavy, his chest weighty and painful from breathing in thick filthy air for too long. "Where are you?" He repeated again. That call was out to anyone. Not just the girl, but for the other stranger trapped in the building.

Finally he had found the girl again, making out her dark shape through the billow of smoke. She was not alone. It was another male, latching onto the young woman's hand. Jamal had no idea if that was who the voice the belonged to. In a careless scurry he approached them, glancing down at the man. Jamal used a lot of his strength to shout to him. "Hey, can you move?" He shouted out in a hurry.

The could hear the ceiling creak above them, groaning as if ready to cave in. He dashed for the new stranger, tugging at his shoulders to try and force him to move. "Let's go!" Jamal pressed, his voice hoarse. Part of the ceiling gave way, the larger pieces of debris just missing them. Jamal threw his hands up to protect his head, feeling smaller pieces hit off his knuckles and arms, plaster coating his dark skin. "Come on!" He shouted, ready to take off on his feet. He prayed he had enough energy for one last sprint to safety.

Words: 613 | Tag: Alexis and Phineas
Notes: might be a rubbish post right here..lol

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