Claim (Fury Brothers #5)

24. Bell

24

BELL

I woke up and rolled over, my single bed creaking. I instantly knew I was in my room at the boarding house.

I coughed.

Was that smoke?

My eyes widened, sleep dropping away. I reached over and flicked the lamp on, and it filled the room with weak light. But it was enough to illuminate the smoke creeping into the room like an evil spirit.

Oh, God . I leaped up. That’s when I heard screams and running footsteps outside my door.

“Fire!” someone yelled.

My heart kicked into gear. Why weren’t the smoke detectors blaring? I found my shoes and shoved my feet in, then yanked a hoodie over my pajamas. I had to get out.

I raced to the door and undid the fancy, new lock. Then I yanked.

The door didn’t move.

What the hell? I yanked several more times, the doorknob rattling. I gritted my teeth and put all my strength into it. I yanked and yanked, but the door still wouldn’t open.

“ Shit .” Panting, I stepped back. Panic swelled in my chest and I swallowed. Stay calm, Bell.

I raced to the window. I gripped it and tugged.

It didn’t open.

No . Despair licked at me. I glanced through the glass and saw flames engulfing the side of the wooden house.

Shit . Fear hit me like a fist.

I whirled. I had to find a way out.

I hammered on my door. “Help! I’m trapped, and my door is stuck. Please help.”

There was no response. I heard people running and crying out. No one could hear me.

The smoke was getting worse, and I coughed some more. I crouched down where the air was clearer, and pressed the alarm button on my wrist. Then I fumbled for my cellphone.

Beau answered instantly.

“Bell?” Urgency underscored his voice. “Your alarm just went off. What’s wrong?”

“ Beau . God, Beau.” I swallowed, then coughed. “Fire. There’s a fire.”

“What? Fuck .” I heard him moving around. “Get outside, but stay with the crowd. Carr could be using this to lure you out.”

“Beau, I can’t open my door. It’s stuck.”

He cursed. “The window?”

“It won’t open, either.”

“I’m coming, Bell.”

“He did this.” My hand clenched on the phone. “Carr is behind this. There are innocent people here and he set the house on fire. Others could still be trapped in here as well.”

“I’m coming,” Beau said. “Stay low. Put a wet towel over your head.”

A sob escaped me.

“Bell?”

“I heard you.” I lifted my chin. “I’m a survivor, Beau. I’ll be here, waiting.”

“Good girl.”

The call ended, and I had to fight the crushing sense of aloneness.

Towel. I needed to wet a towel . I raced to my tiny bathroom, grabbed a towel off the rack, and put it under the faucet. Once it was wet, I wrung it out and wrapped it over my head. Then I found the corner of the room with the least amount of smoke, and sat down, pressing my knees to my chest.

Beau was coming. I just had to hold on.