Prologue
Hiding behind the couch, her heart was racing as the counting had finished. Where was he? She listened hard but could hear nothing but silence.
She crawled on the carpet and cautiously peeped to locate him and prepare herself to run. She was puzzled when his tall figure was nowhere to be seen.
As she turned around to crawl back to her original safe spot, she was caught in his strong arms and he raised her with a hearty laugh, “Got you!”
She exclaimed, “No! Daddy monster! Don’t eat me!” Her father swirled her around and she joyfully burst into a laugh. When she had calmed down after their hide-and-seek session, he stroked her messy hair and said, “Time to get you ready, pretty girl. We’re having a guest today.”
She tugged at his shirt in protest, wanting to play more when she began to sniff. She ran her tongue over her bottom lips, already knowing what that delicious smell was all about.
She whispered in her father’s ear. Slyly they approached the kitchen and their eyes lingered on the cinnamon rolls that had just been taken from the oven! Carrying her, he gingerly approached the tray filled with the tempting pastries.
She giggled as her mother did not notice them. She leaned over and as she was about to take one, already putting a triumphant smile on her face, her mother turned with an amused look, “Wash your hands first, darling.”
She pouted, annoyed that she was caught in the act...but then she agitated in her father’s arms and he put her down, “Fine mommy!” She ran off.
“Aw, isn’t she cute, honey?” He approached her and breathed in her hair as he encircled his arms around her waist. She leaned back against him, “What are you teaching her, Eric? Stealing behind my back?”
“Oh no, it was Operation Save-the-Cakes.”
“Why don’t you carry out Operation Clean-the-House instead?” He grinned as he swirled her around and caressed her face, “I would prefer Operation Alone-with-You!” He was about to kiss her when the doorbell rang.
Joy gleamed on her face, “He’s here! Go and open!”
He grumbled, “Isn’t he too early? It’s not yet noon!”
She furrowed her brows, annoyed, “Eric.”
He gave her a quick peck on the lips, “I was joking. I’ll be back.”
Now what has she been doing? Yes. She was preparing the sauce for the spaghetti. She knew the friend she had invited love them so much. She was slicing the tomatoes, already smiling when she heard her husband opening the door, exchanging greetings followed by a loud bang.
It resonated throughout the small kitchen, throughout her. Her heart beats accelerated all of a sudden. Her hands trembled. She instantly let go of everything and ran out of the kitchen. She abruptly stopped, tears already forming in her eyes as she saw Eric kneeling on the floor, his hands pressed against his chest as her guest for today’s lunch stood at the door, holding a gun.
She threw herself at his side and held his face between her hands and said, “No…no! Keep still! I’m calling an ambulance!” Her words were masked when two deafening noises exploded. Fire started.
Eric breathed heavily as he held on her shoulders with his bloodied hands for support and stood, ready to fight, “Take Kaitlyn and leave, Janice! Now!”
He shoved his wife away and faced the man who just threw two mini fire grenades in the living room. He creased his fists. The pain in his chest was intense but not as much as the anger he was feeling right now.
She would not abandon him. She shouted at the top of her lungs in panic, “Kaitlyn! Where are you?!” The fire was spreading quickly. She called out for her. More scared than ever, she ran towards the bathroom and found her daughter wiping her small hands in a towel.
The latter smiled as she wheeled on herself and saw her, “Mommy!” She stretched her arms and Janice quickly held her. She heard several gunshots but she ignored them as tears fell from her eyes, praying that he was alright. She was running.
Kaitlyn asked with surprised as she pressed her hand on her mother’s face, “Mommy you crying?” “Oh Kaitlyn...” She stared in horror as she saw encroaching flames everywhere in the living room. This was a nightmare.
She pressed Kaitlyn’s head against her shoulder, made her wear her hood and held her protectively close. She shouted for Eric. The room was nearly engulfed in fire, the tongues of flames were incinerating the curtains and the furniture and were reaching the ceiling. “Eric, for God’s sake! Where are you?”
A shelf collapsed under its own weight as the fire chewed away its supports. Her eyes were watering and her lungs and her throat were burning due to the smoke. She had to get her daughter out of this inferno.
The thick smoke was making her unable to see anything in front of her face. The fire particles burnt her as she tried to find a way. She heard Kaitlyn coughing and sobbing against her shoulder…and she no more knew where to go. There were flames and thick obnoxious smoke everywhere. She blindly wandered through the suffocating dark clouds, the fire lapping at her legs when she felt a hand against her shoulder. She exclaimed, “Eric!” He was bleeding from gun wounds. He breathed heavily, smoke almost suffocating him. “Follow me.”
Her head began to throb and grow woozy but she forced herself to reach for him and steady herself as he guided her through the flames, both of them shielding their daughter. Through the fire, another form appeared and laughed, “You betrayed me, Janice… you broke my trust! Now die with your family!”
Another gunshot was heard and this one ripped through her. The man ran through the flames, completely unaffected, towards the back of the house. Screeching sirens were heard but he knew it was too late. Eric reached for her, held her against him and walked towards the door to find it blocked. He shoved himself against it and banged it hard with his shoulder. Twice. Thrice. And when it burst open, he found firemen standing before him, shouting orders.
He quickly took Kaitlyn from his wife, frightened to find her unconscious and handed her to the firemen. The cops rushed to them. He saw them carrying his wife towards an ambulance as they guided him, standing at his side, shoving a respiratory mask around his head to make him breathe oxygen but he knew it was too late now. He couldn't anymore. He followed, observing the panicked attitudes of everyone around him. He walked one step, two steps…and then collapsed when the pain reached its pinnacle.
