Chapter 39
The lighter slipped out of Tatiana's hand as it hit the wooden floor. Ashley gasped as she jumped backward staring at the fire in pure horror while Tatiana laughed, “You crazy, bitch, what have you done!” Ashley yelled but Tatiana continued to laugh, “Ashley!” She heard Jake yelling her name from outside as she turned around coughing, “Jake, help me!” She yelled as Jake began to panic, “Can you get out?” He asked as Ashley shook her head with tears rolling down her cheek, “No, the fire is spreading too quickly,” she said as Jake cursed out loud.
“Jake, call for help!” She asked as Jake stared at her with tears in his eyes, “I’ll be fine, just go and hurry,” she said as Jake nodded, “I love you!” He yelled as she smiled, “I love you too, now hurry,” she said as Jake rushed off to the nearest house as their phones were destroyed.
As Jake was rushing to the neighbor’s house limping, he suddenly felt a nasty lash across his back that sent him crashing to the floor while screaming in pain. Jake tried to caress the spot where he was hit but stopped as he heard familiar laughter, "Where do you think you're going, buddy?" Jay asked, dropping the pipe on the floor before grabbing Jake's ankle.
"You know Jake, you're really stupid to be in this situation when you're not fully recovered from your accident," he said twisting Jake's leg as Jake screamed while pounding his fist against the floor.
The neighbor next door heard the commotion as he looked out the window. Jake seemed to notice the neighbor as he began to yell, "Help! Someone help!" Jay laughed as he began to drag Jake towards the burning house, "Come on, buddy, I'd like for you burn in hell alongside those two bitches," he said as Jake continued to scream for help.
The next-door neighbor immediately rushed to go call for help while other people in the neighborhood began to become aware of the situation, "Look, Jakey, we have an audience now, scream louder," he commanded while harming Jake's injured limbs causing Jake to scream out louder in pain, "Good job, Jake, you're doing great," Jay said with a smirk on his face until it quickly faded when the sound of police sirens was heard.
Jay cursed under her breath as police cars began to surround the house as they exited their cars with their guns ready to fire, "Step away from the man and put your hands behind your head!" One of the police officers demanded as Jay smirked, "Or what!" Jay asked, "Or we will open fire!" The Officer said before Ashley's screams caught their attention, "No, please, get her out of there," Jake pleaded before making eye contact with Officer Willow.
"Shut up, ass-wipe, Ashley's having some bonding time with Tati, leave them be," Jay said making Jake's blood boil. Jake swiftly turned his body around catching Jay off guard as Jake stomped his injured foot against Jay’s stomach sending him stumbling backward the same time the police opened fire.
Jake gasped as he watched Jay get shot several times before falling to the ground. The officers rushed towards Jake, who quickly shoved them away, “No, wait, I have to save her,” he said trying to shove the officers’ hands off him. Tears flooded his eyes as he watched the fire devour the house.
“ASHLEY!” Jake screamed as tears after tears rolled down his bruised cheek. A car quickly pulled up in front of the house as Anna and Tucker jumped out, “Jake!” Anna shouted as police officers held both Tucker and her back. Jake was too broke to pay any attention to Anna as she continued to scream and cry, “Where is she, Jake, where’s my best friend?!”
_ _ _ _ _ _
The fire began to spread quickly as Ashley began to panic. She shoved Tatiana out of the way as she ran towards the front door but couldn't escape as the fire stopped her from doing so. The sounds of police sirens were heard as Ashley began to scream at the top of her lungs, “SOMEONE HELP ME!” She yelled but it seemed like no one couldn’t hear her.
She began to tear up as she looked around, but the fire was the only thing her sight could see. “Relax, Ash, you just have to find a place to escape,” she mumbled as she looked around again before seeing the entrance of the staircase on fire but not as much as the rest of the house.
She sprinted quickly towards the stairs before a handheld onto her ankle. She snapped her head towards the thing that held onto her ankle and saw Tatiana with tears streaming down her face, “Please, help me, Ashley, I don’t want to die,” she said as Ashley sighed before helping her up, “I’ll help you because I’m not like you, come on,” Ashley said turning her attention to the staircase missing the smirk that plastered on Tatiana.
“Oh, Ashley, you’re a lifesaver but it’s too bad that you wouldn’t be able to save yours,” she said as Ashley furrowed, “What are you—"
Before Ashley could complete her sentence, she felt a tight grip on the back of her head before she was thrown backward hitting her head on the floor with a great force that caused her sight to blur out and her ears began to ring.
An explosion occurred as Ashley shields her eyes. The smoke in the house began to get thicker and thicker, decreasing Ashley’s chance of breathing as she continued to gasp and cough.
Her head began to get lighter and lighter as she exhaled causing her hand to clench onto her chest as tears poured from her burning eyes.
The faint sound of sirens caused a small smile to form on her chapped lips as she remembered telling Jake to go call for help
A bright light formed behind Ashley’s head before she finally closed her eyes, and everything went dark.