"Valerie!" Emmett gasped, dropping to his knees beside her. She was huddled behind the couch, her knees drawn up to her chest, her head buried in her arms, shaking violently. The sight of her, so small and vulnerable, made Emmett's throat tighten with fear. He couldn't lose her—not like this.
"Val, it's me! It's Emmett!" He reached out, gently touching her shoulder. "We need to get out of here!"
For a moment, Valerie didn't move. Her body was frozen, trembling uncontrollably, her eyes wide and vacant as though she were trapped in some terrible memory. The flames drew closer, casting a fiery glow over her tear-streaked face, but still, she didn't respond.
"Val!" Emmett shouted again, his voice raw with desperation. "Come on, I need you to move!"
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, Valerie lifted her head. Her wide, terrified eyes locked onto Emmett's, and for a split second, it was as though she didn't recognize him. Then, something shifted—something clicked—and she blinked, her breath catching in her throat.
"E-Emmett?" she whispered, her voice shaky and weak.
"Yeah, it's me," he said, his tone urgent but soft. "We've got to go. The fire's spreading too fast."
Valerie hesitated, her body still trembling with fear, but she nodded weakly, wiping the tears and soot from her face with the back of her hand. Emmett reached out, helping her to her feet, but as soon as she stood, her legs gave way beneath her. She stumbled, her knees buckling, and Emmett had to catch her before she collapsed completely.
"I—I can't," she whispered, her voice choked with tears. "I can't do it, Em."
"You can," Emmett insisted, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. "I've got you, Val. You're not doing this alone."
The heat was unbearable now, the flames licking at the walls, the ceiling groaning as the structure began to weaken. Every breath felt like swallowing fire, the smoke thickening with every second that passed. Emmett kept his body low, half-carrying, half-dragging Valerie toward the back exit, where he knew there had to be a way out. Sweat poured down his face, stinging his eyes, but he pushed forward, determined not to let the flames consume them.
As they stumbled down the narrow hallway, a loud crash echoed from behind them. Emmett glanced over his shoulder just in time to see part of the ceiling collapse in a shower of sparks and flaming debris. The flames surged, racing along the walls and cutting off their only path back.
"Shit," Emmett muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on Valerie. They had no choice now. The back exit was their only shot.
The heat intensified as they moved, making every step feel like they were walking through an oven. Emmett's lungs screamed for air, his chest tightening with each shallow breath he took. His muscles ached from the strain of carrying Valerie, but he kept going, forcing himself to push past the pain.
"Just... a little... further..." he grunted, sweat pouring down his face.
Suddenly, another beam crashed down in front of them, blocking their path. Flames leaped up, licking the edges of the wooden beam and sending a fresh wave of heat that nearly knocked Emmett off his feet.
"We're trapped," Valerie whispered, her voice filled with panic. "Emmett, we're trapped!"
"No, we're not," Emmett said firmly, though his heart was racing with fear. He scanned the room, his mind racing for a way out. Then, through the haze of smoke, he spotted it—a small window near the ceiling, just large enough for them to squeeze through.
"Okay, Val," he said, turning to her. "There's a window up there. I'm going to lift you up, and you're going to climb through, alright?"
Valerie looked up at the window, her face pale with fear. "I can't... I can't do it, Em."
"You can," he insisted, his voice firm but gentle. "You don't have a choice, Val. It's the only way."
Tears streamed down Valerie's face as she nodded. Emmett hoisted her up with trembling arms, grunting as he strained to lift her toward the window. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored the pain, focusing only on getting her to safety.
With a final push, Valerie managed to grab the edge of the window, her fingers slipping slightly on the soot-covered frame. She pulled herself up, her body shaking with the effort, and with one last heave, she tumbled through the window and onto the ground outside.
Emmett let out a sigh of relief, but he wasn't out yet. The flames were closing in, their heat scorching his skin as he grabbed the edge of the window and pulled himself up. His arms felt like lead, his lungs burning with every breath he took, but he forced himself to keep going.
Just as he managed to get halfway through the window, the frame cracked, a piece of burning debris falling dangerously close to his legs. The blast of heat was unbearable, but Emmett gritted his teeth, pulling himself the rest of the way through and tumbling onto the ground outside.
Gasping for air, he rolled onto his back, the cool night air hitting his face like a slap. His entire body ached, his lungs burned, and his head throbbed from the smoke, but they were alive. Valerie was safe.
For a moment, he just lay there, his chest heaving as he stared up at the starry sky.
"We... made it," Valerie whispered beside him, her voice shaky but filled with relief.
Emmett turned his head to look at her, managing a weak smile. "Yeah... we did."
They stayed like that for a few minutes, both of them too exhausted to move. Valerie was curled up on the grass, her body still trembling from the shock of it all. Emmett could see the fear in her eyes, the way she clung to him like a lifeline. She had been so close to giving up, but they had made it.
After what felt like hours, the rest of their friends rushed toward them. Larissa was the first to reach Emmett, throwing herself onto him with a sob of relief. "Emmett! Oh my God, I thought—" she choked out, her tears soaking into his shirt as she clung to him.
"I'm okay," he said, his voice hoarse. "We're both okay."
As the group gathered around, someone spoke up. "I saw something weird," said a guy from another group who had also escaped the fire. "I swear, right after we all got out, I saw Perry and his buddies running away."
Emmett's head snapped up at the mention of Perry. "What?"
"Yeah," the guy continued. "Most people were standing around, staring at the fire, but Perry and his friends? They bolted as soon as they got out. Looked kinda suspicious, don't you think?"
Emmett's heart began to race again, but this time with anger. Perry. That slimy bastard had set this fire—he had to have. Why else would he run? He probably thought this would be some sick revenge for what happened earlier.
Emmett's jaw clenched as the realization sank in. Perry had almost killed them—almost killed Valerie.
If Emmett found out Perry was behind this, he swore he'd make him pay.