The Alarm

The loud beeping that comes from the pager causes him to lurch from the recliner that was comforting him after the last call. The dispatcher sounds unusually excited this time. "Attention Station One, you have a house fire with a small child trapped." As he jumps into his bunkers and slings on hi coat he says a silent prayer to himself, "Please lord, let me have some time to rescue this child before you call him up." With his heart racing he jumps onto the engine and takes his place behind the driver. The engine seems to crawl out of the station. The red lights illuminate the houses as the sirens cut a path down the street. Off in the distance the glow of orange breaks the darkness of the night sky and with the feeling of his heart ready to burst out of his chest he prepares for the assault on the dragon that holds this child hostage.

As the engine comes to a stop, he checks his air pack for the third time knowing that this fight could be his last. The rush of air reaches his mask just as he reaches the door and is met by soot stained, frantic parents screaming that their baby is still inside. Armed with only an axe he makes the assault on the dragon with hopes that the child has been spared. He enters the front door only to be forced down to his belly by the heat and flames. As he looks up the stairs he can see that the fire breathing dragon is filling the house full of smoke. With the smoke seeping lower to the floor and knowing that there is not much time to waste he presses forward up the stairs using the fire as his light to guide him. The heat is getting unbearable but he continues to climb with the determination that the dragon will not kill again. As he reaches the landing and makes the turn toward the hallway he comes face to face with the dragon. The dragon is mad as hell, with the look of vengeance in his eye and spitting shades of red and orange overhead.

Somehow he manages to stay just out of reach of the flickering forked tongue. The smoke is getting thicker and darker as he searches from room to room now using the wall as his only guide to get through the smoke. Finally, he finds himself at the baby's bedroom. He can just barely make out the crib. As he goes to stand up, the heat is so intense it pushes him back to the floor. The baby is lying silent under the blankets where his hands and feet are uncovered revealing his five tiny fingers and toes. With the heat starting to take hold on the room and his body wrenching with agony, he quickly lifts the baby over the railing of the crib and makes his way to the window. He can't quite make out their faces, but he quickly recognizes the silhouettes of his fellow firefighters. He hands the limp body to the hands held out towards him and the baby quickly disappears down the ladder.

Racing towards the group of firefighters he sees the lifeless body laying on the ground covered with a sheet of death. Collapsing to his knees beside the body, he notices a bright beam of light coming down from the night sky. Two angels appear and lay their hand onto the firefighter. Without saying a word and tears from his eyes, he lifts the baby and quietly places it in the arms of the waiting angels and watches as the angels take the baby to the heavens above. He stands and looks at the night sky and says "Farewell my little friend, until I see you again."