I woke to a comfortable warmth, and took a breath. I rolled over, pulling the blanket up over my head. It was too bright. I didn't wanna wake up yet. I was having such a nice dream. Something about Jenny and coke and her ass.

The warmth grew. Fuckin' sun, ruinin' my high. Just let me lay here and be. I drew in a deep breath and coughed. What? What's going on? Why's it so damn warm? A shrill sound pierced my mind. I slapped my hands over my ears and watched as the sheets melted. Fuck, I'm still trippin'. It's ok, it's just the drugs. I forced myself to breathe, only to cough again. It was so dark; I couldn't see anything. I blinked, trying to focus on something real. Orange flickered under the door, drawing my attention. It waved, fingers curling in a warm greeting, and I waved back. Hi, friend. I'm going back to sleep.

I lay back on the mattress. closing my eyes. My head felt big and full and I wanted to slip back into unconsciousness, but something nagged at me. Another shrill cry sent me staggering to my feet. Something's wrong. I coughed again, my nose finally turning back on. The smell of smoke sent me reeling, and I crashed into the bed, falling back onto it. I flailed, arms and legs going everywhichway and getting tangled in the ratty blanket. There was a tearing sound and I freed myself from it, stumbling to my feet. I tried to breathe, but the smoke filled my lungs and I coughed harder. I blinked, head spinning, and stumbled towards the door. I collapsed against the doorframe, barely getting a hand on the doorknob. I couldn't stop coughing and struggled to get the door open, but open it I did.

The heat instantly got worse, blasting me in the face and I stumbled back, throwing my hands up in defense. Orange flames licked at the doorframe, eager to get at the unburned wood of the room. A surge of adrenaline tried to force me to awareness, fighting through the drug-filled, oxygen deprived haze. I growled and charged through the open door, turning right and bursting through the door at the end of the hall.

"Paulie!" I screamed. Well, I tried to. The smoke in my throat and the fact I hadn't drunk anything in over twenty-four hours meant I wasn't in the best condition to be shouting. "Lisa!" I ran to the bed, shaking Paulie's shoulder as hard as I could. The man flopped bonelessly, completely unconscious. Or dead, considering the needle in his arm. "Fuck!"

I jumped onto the bed, shaking Lisa just as hard. She blinked, slowly coming back to unreality. A drugged up smile crossed her lips and her eyes rolled back into her head as she went limp again. "Fuck!!" I glanced over my shoulder. The fire was about halfway down the hall, and the walls started to warp and bleed orange blood. "Goddammit!"

Stolen novel; please report.

I shook them both again, but got nothing. My head snapped to the right as the piercing cry sounded again. "Adriana." I breathed, abandoning the unresponsive parents. I stumbled over to the crib, gathering the small child in my arms. She coughed and cried, but my hearing wasn't really working. Her mouth was moving, but only got the occasional wail. I clutched her to my chest, protecting her tiny head. Should I look for a towel? Cover her mouth with something? The warmth started up again and I smiled, a comfort in this trying time.

Then it got too hot. I turned and screamed. A demon rose up, smokey arms rising above its head. It disappeared into nothingness and I coughed again, doing my best not to hurt the baby in my arms.

"I'm sorry." I said to my friends. "I'll protect her."

I ran through the door, fighting the urge to cough. The smoke blocked some of my vision and I crouched, trying to keep Adriana's head out of the smoke. Mine didn't make it.

I moved as quickly as I could through the fire until I came to the stairs, the heat getting worse the closer I got. They were in pretty good condition, all things considered. I crept down them, stepping as lightly as I could, and thankfully made it to the bottom safely. I took a deep, steadying breath and blinked hard. Everything was red, even my skin. Adriana's skin started to turn red and I swore, rushing for the front door. I rammed it with my shoulder, protecting the child's body with my own. The door held and I stumbled back. I stopped and took a breath, forcing myself to calm down. Acting deliberately and ignoring the growing pain in my everything, I unlocked the front door and opened it, stepping out into the cold night air. My sight was assaulted by red white and blue, and I held a hand up to block the flashing lights. A yellow tube man came up and took Adriana from me, rushing her to the woo-woo wagon. I turned back to the house but Tube Man tried to stop me, but I pushed past him.

"They're still in there!" I ran back into the house, gritting my teeth against the heat. I ran up the stairs, the only thought in my mind needing to help my friends.

My foot went through a step, the wood getting caught on my leg. I swore and knelt, struggling to free myself, but the wood bit deeper, stabbing into me. My hands went through the wooden stairs and blood poured from my arms. I blinked, my head swimming. The stairs melted, swirling with oranges and reds. It was so warm and all I wanted to do was lay down. I took a breath and the walls melted further, swirling into galaxies of fire. I smiled and rested against the stairs, closing my eyes. My head was full and heavy and light and I just wanted it all to stop. Enough.

I took a breath and the galaxies collided into two, spinning slowly. They drew me in, beckoned me, and I obliged. I let go, falling into them.