Numbness had evaded her body. She couldn’t feel anything on her right side and that scared her. Evan-Marie cried out in anger and in fear that no one had come for her. ‘What if nobody ever comes?,’ she thought.

“Please God,” she began to pray, “don’t let me die here. I don’t want to die here.”


Evan-Marie gasped when she felt the tears run down her cheeks. Not all of her was numb.

*****


“You betta let me through,” Kit informed the male officer who stood blocking her.
“Ma’am, I cannot and will not let you pass. I’m sorry but those are the orders of my boss.”
“***** your boss’ orders. Do you know who I am!?”
“Hey,Kit… what’s going on?” Alice Piesewzki asked.

Kit glanced behind her to see all of her sister’s friends arriving.

“This ***** won’t let me in. Can you believe that?”
“Kit,” Shane McCutcheon chastised, “sorry for my friend’s behavior,” turning to the officer, “She is just upset just like the rest of us are. Is there anyway you can let us in? It’s really important.”
“Just like I told your friend before and I’m telling you now…I cannot and will not let anyone through.”
“My niece is in there!” Kit screamed.
“Scream in my ear one more time and I’m going have to handcuff you.”
“For what!?” Kit questioned with a head snap.
“Just cause I can,” the officer smirked.

He looked at all four ladies and waited for another outburst. Nothing. Then he walked away.


“You’re right Kit, he is an *****,” Shane agreed.

*****


Hour four had crept upon the still standing rescue crew wondering when and if they would be allowed to go in and search for the injured survivors. The afternoon sun was slowly beginning to set and a warm wind had began to blow cooling off an already pumped Miguel Vasquez. He was a volunteer firefighter, waiting among the other hundred men, who wanted to get in ‘there’ and see some action. Maybe that thought and feeling alone was selfish of him, to wish that someone was in need, but at this point, Miguel didn’t think about it. He didn’t allow himself to.

“Vasquez, Weiner,” the Lieutenant of the 36th engine company called out.
“Yes, sir,” the pair answered in unison.
“I need you two to team up with Kensington and Pinckney to do a perimeter search of the… the southern wing.”
“No problem, sir,” Miguel replied.
“No wait… search the northern wing,” the lieu said changing his mind.

The men checked each other’s gear.

“Go,go,go,” Lieutenant Simon shouted.

And the men were off, running toward the building.

*****