Evacuation

The smoke laid like a thick curtain on the outside of the windows, only illuminated by the orange glow in the distance. A siren rang out on the street.

            "Honey come on we have to evacuate" Mina said.

            "No, Mina, I can't leave everything! We have too many pets,"

            "A piano is not a pet  Mike,"

            "Can we fit it in the car?"

            Mina shook her head

            "No? Then I'm not leaving!"

            "You are acting like a child Mike," She said tapping her foot.

            "We can't just leave. We worked so hard on this house, for us," Mike said as he came over and put his hand to Mina's belly. "For her,"

            "It's just stuff Mike, replaceable stuff," Mina said as she slid her hand on top of his. "We can get it all again,"

            An explosion rang out in the distance causing them both to jump.

            "Please Mike I can't stay here, I will never get to sleep,"

            "Let me grab something," Mike said as he rushed up the stairs he had been meaning to repair.

            "Hurry up Mike the fire is on it's way here," Mina shouted as she grabbed her bag from the downstairs bedroom.

            "Go on and get in the car I will be there in a minute," Mike responded as he rummaged through the nursery drawers, searching for the ring box.

            Mina walked out into the smog, covering her mouth with her arm, coughing all the way. She set the bag down and checked her pockets.

            "Damn," Mina walked back into the house and around the stairs to the kitchen.

            Mike grabbed the engagement ring box, checking for the ring that sat coddled in the pillow inside. He ran down the stairs and out the door as the wind swept up from behind him.

            Mina felt the heat escalate as she looked out the back window, her hands still on the keys, she could see the fire crawling over the back fence. She ran up the stairs, tripping on a loose board, causing the whole stairway to collapse under her weight as she fell. She screamed out.

            Mike heard the scream as he neared the car, seeing the luggage on the asphalt near the tire he ran back inside. The fire was starting in on the back wall of the house as he jumped down to pull her up.

            "No Mike just go!" Mina screamed, pushing against him.

            "I won't leave you."

            "Just like the piano?"

            "Screw the fucking piano" He said as he pushed her out of the stairway before crawling out after her. "Now come on"

            She limped against him as the fire burned the rug they stood on.

            They got out the door and to the lawn, safe.

             Then, Mike saw the blood.