Chapter 17

Chloe

The heat from the encroaching flames was horrific, I couldn't breathe and my eyes watered as smoke stung my eyes. My mind raced with thoughts as I looked around, looking for a way out. The other lady—Nina, was crouched behind the desk, her face was slick with sweat.

“What do we do?” she asked, coughing violently, she covered her nose with the other end of the shawl I'd brought.

“I…” My eyes watered as my eyes were stinging from the fumes. I'd been looking around for my cell phone, the fumes obscured my vision. “Look around if you can find my cell phone,” I glanced at Nina as I wheezed, she nodded to show understanding.

We split up, with Nina checking one side while I checked the other, the fumes were suffocating. To my relief, the fire didn't seem to be advancing further, if given enough time, it would die out without enough oxygen and flammable things to burn on. We didn't have the luxury of time, my vision blurred for a split second and I staggered almost falling to the flo