Can you smell smoke?

Sniff.

‘Can you smell that?’

‘What?’ 

‘Smoke.’  Sniff.

‘Probably next door burning rubbish again.’

‘Oh, god!  I’ve got washing out.’  She dashes from the room.  ‘Pete!’

‘What?’

‘Pete!  The kids!’

He bolts for the door, black smoke twisting along the ceiling.

Flames are dancing in the kitchen, stretching out into the hall and up the stairs.

He hurtles past her, disappearing into the charcoal fog.

‘Pete!  Sarah!  Liam!’

The banister catches fire.

‘Mummy!’

‘Liam!’

Pete re-emerges, coughing, carrying a small boy.  ‘Get out!’

He turns back to the stairs. 

‘Daddy!’

He takes a deep breath, then dashes into the flames.



A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.