Elsa Lorrens arrived at the medical center and jumped out of her jeep before realizing she hadn’t turned off the engine. She spun around and leapt over the door to de-crank the engine, then rocketed for the doors before she realized she’d left the keys in the ignition. She elected to not turn a second time.
She ran for the doors, only for the two Army officers to step forward. Both armed, the nearer of the two said, “I’m sorry, you can’t go in.”
Colonel Garrett arrived and, taking one look down the dark hallway, spotted Leva immediately. He exhaled as he removed his hat. “Good evening, folks. How are you doing?”
“What happened?” asked Jordan as Anna continued to breathe in the oxygen as Dr Oya held the mask to her face.
Dr Oya put the transparent, plastic mask over Anna’s nose and mouth. The little girl’s huge, watery eyes stared at the woman. The doctor smiled kindly and nodded, emulating taking a deep breath. Anna did, then coughed abruptly.
“There we go,” Dr Oya said, rubbing Anna’s back as she let the girl lean forward as she hacked up a lung. “That’s smoke inhalation,” she told the little girl. “That’s more dangerous than the fire.”
The door of the duplex opened and Simon Reyes entered. He found Lieutenant Ashemore sitting on the floor, his right hand on his knee. The Navy SEAL looked at the youngest member of his team and asked, “Report.”
“Emergency services are responding, sir,” said Simon. “There’s a fire truck.” He shrugged. “Not much else to say.”
Ashemore asked, “Did we get her?”
Leva dropped inside the house as flames began to billow out of the walls. The hallway was full of smoke, the air thick and gray. In the corner of the destroyed kitchen, Anna was crying, curled into a fetal ball. Jordan fell onto his back in the middle of the kitchen, blood spilling out over and draining through the bullet holes in the splintered wooden floor.
Carol entered and, seeing the extent of Jordan’s injuries, screamed. A horrible, ghastly sound, she howled in utter panic. She lunged at her husband, hysterical and knocked Leva aside as she clutched to him. She screamed his name and tried to pull him close.
Teach The Sky 