Final Breath

Leila raced towards her burning house, with Hayley running behind her. The fire was increasing as the minutes passed by.

"Leila, please be careful." Hayley called out behind her.

Leila stopped in front of her burning house. Just as she was about to walk into the burning fire, she heard Hayley's scream.

Turning back, she saw a masked figure dragging Hayley, and trying to cover her nose with a sedated Handkerchief.

Where are all their neighbors? Why wasn't anyone helping? Leila wondered. The sky was dark.

She remembered her Grandma telling her to come back before nightfall.

She glanced at her burning house and at Hayley who was actively struggling with the person who was dragging her.

"Help!" Leila screamed, her cries echoing in the night as she watched helplessly, torn between her desire to save her grandmother and her concern for her friend.

She decided to help Hayley first, who was now trying to pull herself out of the Unknown's dead grip. Just as she took a step forward, she felt a