FIRE

“What are you doing?” Kate asked Leanne. “Nothin’; just mucking around.” Kate sighed. “You can’t ‘just muck around’ with matches. Seriously, what are you doing?” Leanne sighed. “Stuff, alright? It’s none of your business.” Frowning, Kate glanced up at the librarian, who was sorting through books at her desk. “Look, it may not be any of my business, but I don’t want to see you get in any more trouble; especially with her.” Here Kate motioned towards the librarian, Mrs. Keene.
Mrs. Keene was a tall, thin, intimidating woman who had a short temper. She always wore bright blue, and her eyebrows were arched high towards her forehead, making it look as if she was always angry. She was in her forties, but dressed as if she was only 18, low cut tops, short skirts, and an overload of makeup. Her lips looked like two short, fat, wrinkly sausages lying on top of each other, her eyes small and beady.
“Whatever.” Leanne replied. “I’ll go outside.” Kate reached for her arm as she got up from the floor. “Don’t, Lee. Please.” Leanne glared at her. “I will do whatever I like thankyou very much Mrs. Goody-two-shoes, and I will not take orders from you.” She got up and stormed away from Kate. “Wait!” Kate yelled down the hallway, “Lee, wait!” Getting to her feet, Kate looked up. Towering above her was Mrs. Keene. “Young lady I have had enough of your noise in here. The library is a sacred place for learning and relaxation, not your social gatherings. Be gone, I don’t expect to see you back in the library for three weeks.” “But-” Kate began. “None of your nonsense now.” Mrs. Keene interrupted, waving her bony hand in Kate’s hand. “Shoo. Be gone.”
Kate crossed her arms and stomped away, mimicking Mrs. Keene. She walked into the bathroom, and stood in front of the mirror. Cracks ran from one side to another, and graffiti covered most of it. It seemed as if everyone who had ever attended the school had written their name on the ceiling-high mirror. It was the only one in the school. She sighed, unhappy with her appearance.
Kate was short, with blond streaks through her straight, light-brown hair. She was not skinny, but not fat either. Everyday, Kate wore jeans and a red top, sometimes alternating between black and pink shoes. She had glasses and braces, and was often teased because of it. As she stood, staring at her reflection, a tear rolled down her cheek. She sat down on the bathroom floor, put her head in her hands and cried.
Soon, a piercing, wailing noise filled the air. Startled and scared, Kate looked up. The red light of the fire alarm was spinning around and around, throwing red light around the room. She could hear the shrieks of fright and excitement coming from outside. Running to the door, she pulled on the handle, but it wouldn’t open. Her blood turned to ice as she remembered that the teachers locked the doors between classes. She had hidden in the bathroom at the end of lunch, and as she looked at her watch she realised that it was now last period.
“Help! Help! Somebody, anybody! Please help me!” Kate started to sob uncontrollably. “Help!” She screamed between sobs and hiccups, “Help!” She could hear the crackle of the flames, and smell smoke; her heart began to beat faster. “Help! It’s getting hotter! Help!” When nobody came, she tried to get out by herself. Hoisting herself up to the window leading into the courtyard, she screamed in terror. Flames licked at her feet as she dangled over the edge. She dropped back into the bathroom and ran to the corner. Smoke began to creep in around the edges of the door, ad flames crawled through the window. Screaming in terror, Kate stood in the furthest corner of the bathroom and cried for help. Smoke filled the room, and Kate coughed as she struggled for breath; she began to feel dizzy, as if the room was spinning around her. Smoke clouded her vision, and she collapsed on the floor.