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“Let the kids go, and I won’t blow both of your brains out.”
“Frank, there’s a pocket-knife in my pocket. Cut me free so I can get Charlotte out of here.”
Frank walked around the men slowly. He cut one of my wrists free while aiming the gun at John the entire time.
I cut my other hand free, followed by my ankles. I ran over to Charlotte and cut her loose, too.
“You won’t shoot us,” John dared. “You don’t have it in you.”
I scooped Charlotte up and carried her toward the door.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Tommy snarled behind me.
“Tanner, watch out!” Frank shouted.
Pain sliced through my back and I dropped to my knees, still cradling Charlotte in my arms.
Charlotte
I woke up, coughing uncontrollably. My eyes burned as I looked around the smoke-filled room. Tommy was lying on the floor several feet away from me. My heart sank when I spotted Tanner lying dangerously close to the fire. A small pool of blood formed beside his body, and I felt sick. Oh, God. No!
“Not so tough without your gun, are you, Frank?”
Frank? His name ripped through my body. On the other side of the flames, I saw my father. He was on his back on the ground while John stood over him with a gun pointed at his head. My gun.
I wanted to curl in a ball and cry for help. The fire was so hot, it felt like my skin was melting. I could barely see, barely breathe. Tanner was knocked out, possibly dead, and my father was about to be shot right before my eyes. I said I would be prepared if they ever found me. I said I’d be ready for them. But I wasn’t.
That’s when I remembered: I am not a victim. I’m a survivor. This was not the end of my story. This was my chance. I needed to do something. Anything.
I got up and ran toward John as fast as I could.
I twisted his arm the way TJ had taught me. The gun dropped from his hand and my father kicked it across the room. I kicked John’s knee, but he recovered quickly and took hold of my throat. I gasped for air. His grip around my neck was so tight, I could feel my eyeballs bulging out of my head.
Dad stood and attempted to break John’s hold around my neck, but John simply shoved him to the ground. Dad hit his head on the counter on his way down. I felt light-headed from the lack of oxygen. I wasn’t going to be able to hold on for much longer.
Don’t give up. You are not weak.
I lifted my arms and jabbed my thumbs into John’s eyes with whatever strength I had left.
“Ow! You bitch!” John’s hold on me loosened, so I squeezed his neck, digging my fingers into his flesh as if I was going to rip out his jugular. He finally released me, and I fell to the ground gasping for air. John bent over and clutched his throat.
Get up! You don’t have time to waste!
I kicked John in his kneecap again, and he collapsed in front of me. I took one of the chairs Tanner and I had been tied to and swung it at John’s head with all my might. Blood splattered from his mouth and he hit the floor, completely knocked out.
I ran over to my father, taking his wrists in my hands, and pulled. Choking on the thick black smoke that filled the room, I ignored the tightening in my lungs. Just keep going. I dragged my father to the door, and didn’t stop until we were in the parking lot. The frigid air felt good against my sweaty body. I coughed, gasping for the fresh air. I could hear the sound of sirens in the distance. I hoped they were coming here.
I tied my jacket to cover my nose and mouth and ran back inside to get Tanner. Just as I’d done with Dad, I took hold of Tanner’s arms and pulled. He was much heavier than my father, and it was a struggle to drag him to the exit. Blood smeared in a trail on the tile floor behind us. I couldn’t help but cry at the sight of it. I’m going to get you out of here, baby. Please be okay!
When I emerged with Tanner, I dug his phone out of his pocket and called 911. The wailing sirens sounded closer, but I couldn’t be sure they were coming for us. I rattled off the address and dropped the phone onto the pavement. I looked back at the kitchen door, smoke billowing out of it. I have to go back in.
My lungs were burning, but I knew I had to do this. It was the right thing to do. I couldn’t have their deaths on my hands. I couldn’t live with the guilt like I had for the past year.
John was lying on the floor closest to the door. I grabbed him first, dragging him out as I had done twice already. Every muscle in my body was fatigued, but I couldn’t stop.
Outside, several firetrucks were pulling into the parking lot. Two firefighters ran over to me when they saw me dragging John.
“Miss, is there anyone else inside?”
