PSLE: Fire

The moon was casting its silvery glow on the pavement below.  There was a strange smell. At first, there was only a sniff of smoke.  The sky then turned red and the air smoky.  Something was amiss.  Somewhere was on fire!  Alex quickened his steps as he continued to make his way home.  Somehow, there was an ominous feeling that lingered inside him and refused to leave.  The boy brushed it off and continued walking.  

 

In a distance was the dark silhouette of his home.  A reddish glow was surrounding it.  Thick, black columns of smoke were billowing out of the shattered windows.  Oh no!  His house was on fire!  Ashes were scattering like confetti from the dark smoke.  His mouth was agape in horror.  His legs were rooted to the ground, feeling like a pile of lead.  For a moment, his mind went blank.

 

Suddenly, a roar of fire shook him out of his trance.  His face turned ghastly sallow and he whipped out his mobile phone to call the fire brigade.  By this time, a lot of passers-by had gathered near his home.  Out of the blue, he heard a ear-busting scream.  It was his younger sister, Yingwen!  She was shrieking like a banshee, trembling like a leaf.  Unchecked tears were streaming down her porcelain-smooth face. 

 

The sight of his sister in trouble sent shivers down his spine.  Alex's heart was racing against his ribs.  He had to save his sister! Throwing all caution to the wind, he zoomed like a bullet into his house.  He darted up the staircase and realised that the blazing hot golden flames had engulfed almost everything in its path.  Alex held his breath and dodged the flames skilfully like an agile monkey.  Beads of perspiration were dotting his forehead. 

He hollered at the top of his voice, "Yingwen, Yingwen!  Where are you?"  His voice ricocheted in the roar of the burning inferno. 

Yingwen yelled, "I'm here! Save me!"   

He found his sister in the nick of time at a corner of her bedroom and held out his outstretched hand to grab her slender hand tightly.  "Let's go!" he yelled.

 

The wind was against them and howled loudly, making the fire bigger than ever.  Waves of dizziness swamped them and they were choking in the greyish smoke.  The flames were blocking their path and soon, both of them collapsed surrounded by the flames - unconscious.   Would the poor kids perish in the fire?

Fortunately, the heroes arrived.   Two firemen in fire-protective gears rushed in to save the children.  With muscular arms, they lifted up the kids and brought them out from the fiery flames.  They laid the soot-covered kids on the ambulance stretchers.  Lady Luck was on their side; the children soon regained their consciousness. 

Just then, their parents arrived at the scene.  Hot tears streamed down their cheeks and together with their children, they embraced in tight bear hugs.  Meanwhile, the other fire fighters managed to extinguish the fire.  Although the house was burnt to ashes, the parents were immensely relieved to have their kids back - alive.