Charred

"Imani!!" Lucas called out as he rushed forward.

'Oh dear God! What did she do? Is she alright? ...Is she alive?' That last thought brought him to an immediate halt as his mind churned in fear while it got harder for him to breathe. He descended into a coughing fit and his eyes watered as the flames got dangerously close to where he was.

He rushed forward again but stopped when he saw that there was a wall of fire ahead, blocking the way to the living room. He used his hand to cover his nose, planning to go through the flames because going outside and around the house will take time and Imani could die by then... if she wasn't dead yet. Imani suddenly appeared on the other side of the fire, making him stop what he had been about to do.

"Imani! Jesus, where's Lola?!" She didn't reply and just kept staring at him like she didn't understand what he just said or what was going on.