Caitlin stared, horrified at seeing the orange flames dancing wickedly throughout the house, breaking windows and burning holes in the roof. How is this happening? Granddaddy, do something. "Oh no. Emmaline's trunk." Caitlin bolted from the car and sprinted to the house. Thick smoke engulfed her, but she pushed through the burning sensation and the queasiness in her stomach. "No one will take away what I have left of my grandparents. No one."
As the heat closed around her, Caitlin pushed herself up the stairs having to feel the way. Being burned did not frighten her. All she wanted was to save the trunk.
She pushed open the bedroom door and saw flames making their way around the room. Caitlin reached for the trunk and tried to lift it, but found it too heavy. "Drag it; let it bounce down the stairs if you have to. Granddaddy, protect me long enough to save the trunk. Nothing else matters. Please help me."
With all her strength, Caitlin pushed the trunk to the top of the stairs. She knew her time was limited, but she needed a break before dragging the trunk downstairs.
Garrett appeared through the smoke. "Caitlin?" he tried to say, but choked on the smoke.
"Help me," she yelled. The two struggled but got the trunk down the stairs while flames crept up the walls devouring everything they touched.
They reached the front door just as the stairs crumbled under the heat of the flames. They dragged the trunk outside, moving away from the house. Caitlin sank to the ground and leaned against the trunk for physical and emotional support, while she watched her childhood home burn to the ground. Jen sat beside her, holding her hand and saying, "Oh my god. Oh my god."
The rapidness and intensity of the fire astounded her. When the sirens wailed and the fire engine blared down the drive, she laughed at the absurdity of the situation. They could not stop her dreams from going up in smoke. Why were they even here?
As the firefighters watered the surroundings and contained the fire, the fire chief approached Caitlin. Garrett moved right in.
"Any idea what caused this?" the fire chief asked.
She shook her head, still entranced by the wicked flames. Nothing mattered anymore. Not the fact that some psycho harassed her over the phone. She did not even care that Scott knew who had called but would not give her the name. Right now, the only thing she wanted was for the nightmare to end.
"All was fine with the home inspection I did six months ago," Fire Chief Doyle said. "Miss Chadwick, are you sure you don't know what happened? Did you leave a candle burning? Did you leave the stove on?"