The Fire by Bethan Rees (mobi ebook reader .txt) 📕

RIIING!
'Okay, class is over!' Mr Johnson, my maths teacher said.
Our class flooded out of the classroom. It was a lovely day and we were all getting ready for Jenny's birthday party the next day. In the corridor, people were chattering about what they were doing when they got home.
'What are you doing, Izzy?' My best friend Sally asked.
'I'm having an ice cream and going in my swimming pool!' I replied.
Pulling my bag out of my locker, I saw a poster on the notice board.

STAY SAFE FROM FIRES!
FOREST FIRES CAN STRIKE AT ANY TIME.
PLEASE STAY SAFE.

I tutted and sighed. As if that was going to happen! I said bye to my friends and walked to the gates.

Walking home, it started getting REALLY hot. All I wanted was a Coke at that time, with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. I turned into the forest, the way I usually go home.

A while later, a rabbit pounded out of its hole. Deer ran out of the forest, along with a lot of other kinds of wildlife. This was suspicious. Then, I smelt a scent of burning wood. Smoke was coming from the center of the forest.

Then, I saw it. The fire. By the time I was looking at it, the fire had already started burning around my path. I gasped and ran. The ground behind me was starting to go alight. I couldn't stop now. I ran and ran, trying to get out. To my shock, a burning tree had fallen, blocking my exit. A tear fell from my eye. I couldn't stop. I went down another path, yearning to get out of the forest. Every exit was being blocked by fallen, burning trees and alight bushes. The path eventually led me to a dead end.
The fire had spread to where I was. I couldn't go any further. The flame flickered in my eyes as they felt heavy. My body felt limp. With my last strength, I decided to do something useful.
'HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!

' I screamed. The noise echoed through the forest. I tried again and again with the last of my strength.
Once my strength faded, I closed my weary eyes.

'Isabelle?' My mum asked.
I woke up in hospital.
'Oh, thank God you're okay!' My mum cried and hugged me.
I did it.
I had survived the scariest moment of my life.

Publication Date: 11-19-2012

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