Damnation's Door

My sudden motion caused Warrick to stir. He was coming out of sleep, moving faster as he realized something was very wrong. I wasn’t waiting for him. I was yanking on my clothes, boots, and grabbing a backpack to throw over my shoulder.

It was reflex, but one I hadn’t needed to exercise in months. Dro’s nightmares had stopped a little while back. She’d had control.

I was stupid to think that luck would last.

I could hear more shouts, and Warrick was trying to tell me something. He was trying to keep up, but I wasn’t listening. The moment I had everything I could carry, I darted for the door. I stopped and looked over my shoulder. Warrick was behind me, looking confused yet ready for anything.

“Find Max and Sephiel. Make sure they get out.”

His lack of understanding was clear. “What about you and Dro?”

I held his eyes. “Dro’s the one causing this.”

Before he could reply, before I could even attempt to read his expression, I turned and yanked open the door.

A smothering wave of heat and light crashed into me. Dry smoke curled off the walls and ceiling, dancing away from the red and orange flames shivering on every surface. The fire was unforgiving, dredging sweat out of my pores and making my eyes water. I turned out of the room, coughing and choking as I tried to remember where the stairs were.

Over the crackling roar of angry flames and creaking wood, I caught the sound of screams.

Dro’s was only one of them.