Cutler 04 - Midnight Whispers

quickly.
    "I haven't time to talk to you, miss. Now you had better take your little brother and get back. Those walls look like they could fall any moment and they could fall in this direction. Go on," he ordered. "Billy, get them out of here," he repeated and the young fireman took my elbow to turn me away.
    "But . . . my mother . . ."
    "You better listen to the chief. He doesn't have time to waste," the young fireman said.
    Jefferson started to cry harder and louder, burying his face in my shoulder.
    "This can't be happening," I said. "It can't." I let him lead us to the ropes. I spotted Aunt Bet, Richard and Melanie off to the right and hurried to their side.
    "Oh Christie, honey," Aunt Bet said, holding her arms out. "And Jefferson. It's so horrible, so horrible."
    "Where's my mother, Aunt Bet? And where's Daddy? Uncle Philip doesn't make any sense when I asked him."
    She shook her head.
    "They're still inside, dear," she said. "They never came out. We've all been standing here, waiting and hoping."
    "Never came out?"
    I turned and looked at the hotel. Flames were shooting out of the front entrance. There was smoke flowing out of almost every window.
    "Maybe they got out the back," I said. "Or maybe they're safe in the basement, waiting until the firemen, reach them. Yes, that's it," I said nodding.
    "Oh Christie, poor Christie," Aunt Bet muttered.
    "They're okay, Aunt Bet." I smiled through my tears and tightened my grip on Jefferson. "Sure. They're fine. You'll see. They're probably standing somewhere in the rear of the hotel," I added and started away.
    "Christie!" Aunt Bet cried.
    "I've got to go to them. They're probably worrying about Jefferson and me," I said and hurried around the ropes and the firemen and all the people until we were able to go behind the hotel. Even though Jefferson was quite heavy, I didn't realize I had been carrying him until we were at the rear of the hotel.
    There were firemen around there, too, spraying this part of the roof and the walls with water they were drawing from the pool. I searched frantically for signs of Mommy and Daddy, but all I saw were some staff members and firemen.
    "Where's Mommy and Daddy?" Jefferson asked, his eyes wide and hopeful. "I want Mommy."
    "I'm looking for them, Jefferson." I put him down, took his hand and approached the closest fireman.
    "Hey," he said when he saw us, "you children better get back."
    "We're looking for my parents," I said. "Did they come out back here?"
    "No one's come out back here. Now take that little boy and get back," he ordered firmly.
    With my heart pounding, I retreated with Jefferson slowly. We went to the gazebo and sat on the steps, watching the firemen work. Jefferson's eyes swelled from crying, as did mine. Finally, we both sat silently, dry-eyed, simply staring ahead, waiting. Jefferson laid his head against my shoulder and I held him tightly. The flames began to grow smaller, even though the smoke grew darker and thicker. It drifted off in a sooty cloud and the ocean breezes carried it into the distance. I don't know how long we were sitting there, stunned and afraid, but finally I heard Richard scream, "THERE THEY ARE!"
    With relief bursting through me I turned in his direction. I saw Richard, Melanie, Mrs. Boston, Julius and Aunt Bet. They hurried in our direction. Jefferson sat up, his eyes widening, the sight of Mrs. Boston bringing him the most comfort.
    "Where's Mommy?" he demanded.
    "Oh honey child, oh baby," Mrs. Boston said.
    "My mother?" I asked her. "Daddy?"
    She shook her head.
    Jefferson started to wail again, loudly this time, and his cry, shrill and sharp, got caught up in the same breeze that carried the ugly smoke away. Mrs. Boston scooped him into her arms and rained kisses of comfort over his face.
    I stood up, my legs feeling like rubber, but my head so light I thought it was like a balloon and might snap off and be carried away with the smoke and Jefferson's screams.
    "Christie," Aunt Bet said.
    "Where are they?" I asked and held my breath. "Didn't they come out?"
    She shook her head.
    "WHERE ARE THEY!" I demanded.
    "They found them together . . . in the basement," Aunt Bet said and bit down on her lower lip. Her eyes were red and swollen with tears. "Oh, Christie," she added and began to sob.
    Then, my feet turned into air and so did my legs and my stomach and my chest and my neck until my head had nothing to hold it up.
    I folded and fell softly, just like the balloons on my birthday, floating