“You can’t.” Tears ran down her cheeks in angry rivulets as she rushed to block him.1
“Get out of my way.”2
“No.”3
His eyes narrowed. Pushing her aside, he stepped out onto the dirt street below.4
“She’s a tramp, Karel!” She was screaming now, pleading with him to see reason and turn back home. 5
He whirled around and grabbed her, dragging her into the house amidst her sobs. “Don’t ever –” he threw her onto a chair “– insult her again.” 6
“But I saw her!”7
He froze. 8
“You’ll destroy our reputation if you marry her.”9
“Our reputation’s already ruined. What difference does it make?” he asked in a strained voice.10
“But why? Why push it?”11
He did not answer as he turned and walked outside, slamming the door behind him. Dim streetlights illuminated the houses on either side of him. He broke into a jog. Sammy loves me. She’d never turn from me…Never.12
Darkness engulfed the street where she lived. Heavy shades were drawn across all the windows of her house, obscuring everything within its walls. He hurried up the porch steps and knocked.13
No one answered. 14
He tried the knob. Unlocked. Cautiously, he entered and crept down the hallway. A faint glow came from below the living room door. He approached it, and reached out to push it open. 15
“…he doesn’t know…”16
He stopped. Another voice – low and soft – replied. The other giggled. 'Sam? It can’t be…' But it was her voice. 17
Hesitantly, he cracked the door open and peered inside, afraid of what he might see. Candles were arranged romantically around the room, their flames casting an eerie glow off the crimson drapes. In their middle was the loveseat that he and Sam had so often shared. Except…18
“Sam!” His voice was a mixture of horror and shock.19
The other man rolled off her as she frantically grabbed for her clothes, knocking over a table full of lit candles. 20
“I…I’m not…” she stammered.21
“But I thought…” He trailed off. So his sister had been right after all. Sam hadn’t truly loved him. 22
“Back off!” The other man shoved him into a wall. Karel shoved him back.23
“Who’re you?”24
“Her – ” the man jerked a finger at Sam “ – boyfriend.”25
Fire began to spread across the wooden floor, licking the legs of chairs and tables. None noticed. 26
“But I’m –” Karel protested.27
“Not anymore.” He gave him a cruel smile. “Now leave.”28
“Sam!” he called, hoping that she would do something – anything – that would prove she still loved him.29
Instead, she looked away. “I…I’m sorry, Karel.”30
“You want me to force you to leave?”31
Karel met his gaze, then dropped it. Sam had chosen this man. And there wasn’t anything he could do to him in front of her. He shot one last look at her before allowing himself to be led out of the house. 32
A figure ran toward him; he recognized his sister.33
“You followed me.”34
She nodded, her wide, innocent eyes boring into his. 35
He started to reply, but was cut off by a sudden shriek. The house was burning.36
“Sam,” he muttered, his gaze shifting to the house.37
She was trapped in there – dying, perhaps. He dashed to the door. Locked. Stepping back, he rushed at it again, forcing it open. 38
“Karel, come back! Don’t leave me!” His sister had caught up to him.39
He ignored her and entered. 40
“Sam!”41
No reply. He forged onwards even as smoke blinded him and filled his lungs. Dizziness began to set in. The living room door had burned down, and a wall of fire blocked his path. Steeling himself, he burst through it. 42
“Sam?”43
He coughed and stumbled forward. She lay on her side, next to her boyfriend. Unconscious. He sank to his knees beside her and shook her, praying she was alive. He shouted her name again, his voice ragged and hoarse. 44
He couldn’t breathe…felt himself weakening…45
At least we’ll die together… 46
_____47
Gentle hands lowered him to the ground. Someone crouched next to his motionless body. He forced an eye open. 48
Sam lay a few feet to his left, her once-perfect face now charred and disfigured. A doctor hovered over her, shaking his head as he drew white linen sheets over her body. 49
He looked away, unable to bear the sight. 50
“Why’d you go in?” his sister asked.51
He glanced at her. “I had to. Sam was in there.”52
“But you could’ve died.”53
“I loved her.” His gaze traveled down, resting on her bandaged hands. He bolted up in surprise. “You’re burned.”54
She looked down at her fingers in silence.55
“How…?” And then he understood. “You came after me.”56
She nodded.57
“Even after…?”58
“You’re the only one I have left.”59
He stared at her. Then, slowly, he reached out and drew her into his arms. 60
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. Down the alley and across the Common. Four houses to the right. Her face surfaced in his mind: an image of perfection. His pulse quickened as desire overcame him. He needed to see her.
A contest entry
- Send Me Your Short Shorts! by whichcraft.
145 points, ended December 3, 2007, 32 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
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