*Shelby*
My eyes flew open as I jolted awake, my heart racing. An acrid smoke had filled the room with an oppressive heaviness, but there was something more. I heard muffled cracking and popping coming from behind the door. With dread pooling in my stomach, I slowly turned my head toward the doorway and saw thick plumes of smoke billowing in.
Something was on fire. I quickly covered my mouth and nose with the sheet from the bed and alarm bells went off in my head. My babies were in danger.
"THOMAS!!!! AMELIA!!!!" I screamed as loud as I could muster, my voice scratchy from sleep and smoke inhalation.
I gasped and hot air hit my lungs. I tried to breathe deeply but choked on the meager air left in the room. There were popping sounds that filled the air, and it sounded as though something was going to splinter at any moment.
