Hope
She stands in silhouette against the flames, her red hair whipping about her face, blackened by the soot. The tracks of her tears shining in the half-light, she looks back to me and smiles, the crazy grin again. I smile back, sharing the moment. The heat is overwhelming, but she just stands there, sweat dripping down her, her skin beautiful. He checks her gun again, the force of habit, we both know it's loaded and ready. Like her. Like me.
And then the screams start, the men run out of the building, their clothes burning. I breathe in the acrid smoke, letting the toxins light another fire in my throat. I grin. She winks one last time and whispers in my ear. Then it's time. No more words, not til it's done. We start to run down the hill, bullets hitting their targets, the screams being cut short, the quiet whup-whup of the guns barely audible over the roar of the fire.
Then I'm at the door, my shoulder slamming into it. It doesnt budge an inch. I look back, she is on her knees, shock plastered across her face, the red stain spreading across her top, the wound on her arm bleeding. I yell her name, she looks up. Hope is there in her eyes for a moment, before another shot from the tower rips through her thigh, the golden skin broken.
And then the screams start, the men run out of the building, their clothes burning. I breathe in the acrid smoke, letting the toxins light another fire in my throat. I grin. She winks one last time and whispers in my ear. Then it's time. No more words, not til it's done. We start to run down the hill, bullets hitting their targets, the screams being cut short, the quiet whup-whup of the guns barely audible over the roar of the fire.
Then I'm at the door, my shoulder slamming into it. It doesnt budge an inch. I look back, she is on her knees, shock plastered across her face, the red stain spreading across her top, the wound on her arm bleeding. I yell her name, she looks up. Hope is there in her eyes for a moment, before another shot from the tower rips through her thigh, the golden skin broken.