The Girl Who Stole From Fire

As a monstruous fire ravages their third floor apartment, a young girl finds the courage to maintain hope without her mother.

 

 

Chilly, stale air reeked of urine and musk as walls marked with various obscenities led a path of bugs and blood up to their third floor, studio apartment.  The coughing crack feign lying like a shriveled corpse across the hall blocking the third floor elevator shot a stare of desperation as he watched them entering their new home.  They could hear the slight pitter patter of roaches scattering as the hallway light entered the dark drab apartment.  There were only the two of them, the four year old girl and her mother.  They were embarking on a life of independence and struggle unsure of where it would lead them, but at the least they had one another.

            As the door shut behind them, there was no light in between those four walls.  There was no heat to combat the cold winter winds seeping through bullet holes in the window frame.  A slow constant torturous drip of leaking water through busted pipes was the least of their worries as the sound of police sirens and loud, profane arguments served as the soundtrack to their new gloomy scene.  She could both hear and see her mother’s breath as she released a sigh of relief into the freezing air.  They sat together locked in a tight embrace against ragged, rotten floor boards.

            The warmth of her mother’s embrace provided a calming sensation to the child.  For a brief moment within her mother’s arms, she was not aware of the winter chill that broke into their domain.  The dark shadows dancing across the four walls of their home attracted so little of her attention.  The many rats, spiders and roaches seemed to be invisible as she became lost in the nurturing rhythm of her mother’s heart.  Not even the loud complaints rumbling from within her starving stomach could distract her from the pleasure of her mother’s voice.

                        Thump. Thump. Her mother’s heart beat so soothingly.  It created the familiar melody of her favorite song.  No fears, don’t cry. Her mother’s voice softly ran across a solemn note. Just feel my love. My one sweet child, my heavenly dove.  She closed her eyes and envisioned herself and her mother alone in a beautiful garden surrounded by singing doves.

            Here in my arms is where you will be.  The evils of this world, you will never see.  The heavenly vision unfolding within her mind became that night’s dream as her mother continued with the chorus.  Hooold on! Staaay calm! You are safe within my arms! You are safe within my arms!  The girl had easily fallen asleep.  She was safe within her dreams, completely free of any fears.  She felt nothing but the hope of her mother’s arms. You are safe within my arms!

            It seemed like barely a moment had passed before the raging flames disrupted the girl’s slumber.  She leapt forward from the creaky floor boards at the sight of her mother standing, screaming before the doorway of fire.  Waves of red, yellow, and blue flames raged forward against her mother’s attempts.  Thick smoke accompanied the stench of dry burning wood.  Her mother frantically waved a blanket battling against the invading smoke and fire as it slowly consumed their small apartment.

            “Maaaamaaa!!!” the child screamed.

            After having finally realized that fighting the hell flames was an inevitable loss, the mother rushed to her child. “It’s okay baby. We’re going to get out of here.” She spoke as calmly as the situation would allow her. “We’re going to have to go down the fire escape.”

            “Mommy, I’m scared.” The little girl cried.

            “Everything’s okay, baby.  We will always have each other.” She looked into her daughter’s quivering eyes and forced a smile.

            Flying embers danced through the air landing across the mother’s back.  She wanted to scream at the pain of her singed skin, but she had to remain strong for her daughter.  Quickly she wrapped her arms around the child, using her body as a shield from the approaching flames, and dashed towards the window.  The flames continued to mount at a ferocious pace as the mother struggled pulling against the window.  She pulled as hard as she could but it would not open.

 Through the window, she could see that down below a crowd of spectators had formed.  She slammed her fist against the glass screaming for their help, but all they could do was watch in anticipation.  No one dared to enter the building as it was now the hell fire’s domain.  The flames raged over the building creating the image of a maniacal smile.  Its fires, like arms, wrapped around the sides; making it clear that the building was in its possession.  Media helicopters circled the building broadcasting the story of the building on fire.  Police and firefighters stood before the crowd below attempting to plot a plan of entry as the flames lashed against their hoses.  It fed on the water. It was unlike anything they had ever seen before.  The fire would not relent and by the looks on their faces, the mother knew that she and her child would not be rescued.

As clouds of smoke left no fresh air to consume, the mother’s lungs burned intensely and the sound of her cough grew more fatal by the second.  She continued to shield her child, but there was nowhere to hide.  The girl’s skin grew pale as she struggled to inhale.  The child’s tiny body would not be able to battle the oxygen-less air for much longer.  The mother grabbed the blanket and wrapped it tightly across her arm.  She then took one last look at the mounting flames before sending her blanket wrapped arm through the glass window.  The glass shattered unleashing slightly more oxygen into the room, but the oxygen also fed the flames. 

The fire raged forward now with even more determination.  The mother lifted her daughter and pushed her through the hole in the window.  “No mommy! I won’t leave you.” The girl cried.

“Baby, please, just climb through the window. I’m coming behind you. Remember, we’ll always be together.” The mother urged her daughter.

The girl quickly jumped through the hole and out onto the fire escape as news helicopter focused on her soot and char blackened face.  They immediately broadcast her fear filled eyes as she watched her mother reach through the small hole of broken glass.  The mother winced with pain as the shards of glass pierced her body, but she continued to struggle forward.

“Maaaaa!!!!” the girl screamed as the flames launched forward engulfing her mother with a tirade of smoke and fire.  The child was blown backwards against the railing of the fire escape as the blast completely consumed her mother.

There was not one dry eye in the nation as the media immediately broadcast images of the girl’s teary eyes across the airwaves.  She lied paralyzed by shock with her back against the railing facing the growing monster flames.  The shadow image of her mother falling into its grip reflected throughout the surface of the hell fire.  Together mother and daughter had known struggles that most would never believe, but they were always together.  As she watched the flames reach across the window sill, the girl was forced to face a future without her mother.  She was forced to struggle alone.

No fears, don’t cry. Just feel my love.  My one sweet child, my heavenly dove. The girl stood to her feet and to the surprise of the world, she sung.  Her sweet, beautiful vocals were broadcast across every television set in America.  Here in my arms is where you will be. The evils of this world, you will never see.  The fire lashed out against her but she stood tall without even slightly budging.  She continued to sing, not to the fire or to the world that watched; but to her mother.  She sung, Hooold on! Staaay calm! You are safe within my arms!

The flames roared loudly filling the air with a giant dark cloud of menacing smoke.  The scene was the physical incarnation of a nation’s nightmares, but the child was not afraid.  She closed her eyes and once again, felt the warmth of her mother’s embrace.  You are safe within my arms!  The lyrics resounded within the minds of the spectators.  They charged against the barricades as officers warned them to stay back.  The fire continued to grow and unleash ominous amounts of smoke into the air.  The black smoke filled the air as a warning to the people.  It was a warning of the fire’s power.  It was a declaration that they could never save the child, that she was inevitably his.

As frightening and ominous as the dark clouds were; the beauty of the girl’s voice as she continued to sing over its loud blasts, motivated the people. You are safe within my arms!  They pushed past the officers and firemen, rushing into the building.  The flames enraged, but they leapt through following the sound of the child’s voice.  You are safe within my arms!  Floor boards gave way as many of them fell to their deaths into pools of hot fire.  Thick smoke filled many of their lungs causing them to lose consciousness and bow down to their demise, but a few of them continued to push through.  They used police shields to rush through the flames, while others stayed low and sprayed hoses up the stairwell.  The fires continued to rage in the presence of the water, but all it took was a second of relief for the spectators to continue rushing through.

  It wasn’t long before one man made his way up to the third floor.  He held his breath and charged through the apartment.  He ran through flames feeling nothing but the beauty of the song, You are safe within my arms!  With nearly fatal burns, he pulled against the jammed window and forced it open.  The flames relented as he continued to charge against their burn.  They whimpered before the man’s unyielding courage.  He jumped through the window and locked eyes with the girl as she continued to sing.  He felt power standing before her.  She was no longer just a child.  She was not merely someone’s daughter.  She was something larger.  To an entire nation, she was what her mother had always been to her.  She was a symbol of hope.  She was the girl who stole a nation’s fear from fire.

You are safe within my arms!

Author's Note

Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading.

Reviews

[Victorious]

Dear James Tyler,

Warning: this might be long

In the first paragraph, I didn't really understand the subject. Like who was "he" and who were "they." For example, this line, "The coughing crack feign lying like a shriveled corpse across the hall blocking the third floor elevator shot a stare of desperation as he watched them entering their new home." It appears long and could be revised. I didn't understand who "he" was? Was it the coughing crack? Wait now that I read it, it becomes clearer. However, there are like two words ending with the word "ing" I believe referred to as gerund sentences, I forget, but this could be revised.

In this sentence, "They could hear the slight pitter patter of roaches scattering as the hallway light entered the dark drab apartment. There were only the two of them, the four year old girl and her mother. They were embarking on a life of independence and struggle unsure of where it would lead them, but at the least they had one another." I believe this could be shortened and still say the same thing. You could say something like "the four year old girl and her mother heard the slight pitter patter of roaches scattering as the hallway light entered the dark drab apartment. They were embarking on a lonely struggle unsure of where it would lead them, but at least they had one another." Something like that, but that's just my opinion. I thought the detail was great in that first paragraph. The night was "chilly" and "stale" and the apartment didn't appear stable. You painted a nice picture there, a setting I could visualize. The diction is splendid. I liked how you described the sounds.

In the second paragraph, the word "torturous" seemed unnecessary, but I'm not sure. The word "She" should be replaced with "the girl." I mean, the reader can infer that it's the child of course, but helps the flow.

Rearrange this "herself and her mother" to "her mother and herself" it's just a grammar rule.

In paragraph 19, change "sung" to "sang"

Other than that, I thought this was touching and truly inspiring. I especially loved how you described the building and fire, the warmth of the mother, and honestly, I think more of my heavenly Father when I'm reading this than anything. How I am safe in the Master's arms. I enjoyed every bit of it. Beautiful write.

Sincerely Victorious

God bless you!

[James Tyler]

Thank you for the review, Victorious! I really appreciate it. You have a great editing eye.

[.]

She leapt forward should be she leaped forward.
Except for that the story was great.

[James Tyler]

Thank you for your review Katerina! I really appreciate it. I'll look into your suggestion. Again, thanks and I'm glad you enjoyed the story!

[.]

you're welcome

[Samuel Dickens]

Tense, gripping, powerful. Unwavering courage, faith and love on full display. A fine piece of work, James.

[James Tyler]

Thank you sooo much for the review, Sam!

[Samuel Dickens]

You are very welcome.