Beyond the Flame

burned my

living thing, p

y, racking soun

doorway of my room

useless, just

aly

a cold ston

call button, a

ans

rieked, a maddeni

ir. I had t

over arm, the floor

down from the

my voice cracking.

the bedside table,

in shooting thro

with the screen, smok

had to c

on duty. He' d be

ne con

ark, tha

rained. "Sarah? What is it? There'

t! The rehab wing, it' s

in the background of

. I' m on scene.

it was like a g

it' s spreading fast. I

igh-pitched, theatrical. "Oh, Captain Olsen,

lo

ical th

she doing

der. "Chloe says you were just fine a little while

ue! I' m paralyzed, you know th

, harder this t

r the electrical panel that sparked. She' s worri

lying, Mark! She' s lying

to safety first, Sa

Please! I'

he fire grew

s voice flat. "You were a SWAT captain.

a soft, cloying sound. "M

" he said, his voice

, "Get yourself out

ne wen

u

lef

hose

at the door now,

own my face, mix

ad pulled him from a hail of bu

d the cool metal

la

iling

washed over m

was

wasn't of hero

s voice. "St