I heaved the both of us through the window, toward the least fiery corner of the opening. The fresh air was a moment of relief for my lungs, just as I came to the realization that I hadn't looked out the area I had just stepped from.
Cool air rushed past my face as we fell downward, coming in contact with the roof a few feet below. I ignored the fresh pain in my back and dug my heels into the roofing. We were still sliding; how far did the roof go out before we fell tumbling from the second story? Then, I felt my feet drop from under me, the rest of my body following.
It was only a moment, but the fear and anger I felt coupled with the adrenaline shooting through my veins made it feel like a forever downward spiral into nothingness. I hit the ground first, Paul's body coming in direct contact with mine an instant later. I felt my breath instantly knocked from me, along with the unprecedented cracking noise in my side and an explosive pain that threatened to deter me from my mission.
“We got to go,” I managed to say with heaving gasps that sent more pain throughout my body, “Paul, if you can hear me, please roll.”
Amazingly, the weight was taken from me in an instant. Paul had reacted; he was now lying beside me upon the cold dirt-caked ground. Ignoring every protesting muscle within my body, I sat up. I clutched at my side as a searing ache almost caused me to scream and give away our position. I sat there for a few moments, my breath slowly returning to me in waves. I placed my free hand beneath me and pushed myself to my knees, a slight dizziness filling my head. I attempted to shake away the unwelcome feeling, turning my attention to the man now lying beside me.
“Almost there,” I said to him while grabbing a hold of his arms again, “Grab onto me, Paul.”
This side of the building was mercifully unlit. I took a quick look of my surroundings while forcing Paul's body against me. It appeared to be the side of the house; the adjacent home a mere few feet across the way from where we were. I heaved Paul up, my legs shaking a bit from exertion and pain suppression as I lurched forward, toward the front of the building. I paused at the end of the wall, my breath slowing as I peered around the corner. Two men stood before the house, their backs illuminated by the glowing orange of fire that now consumed a large portion of the structure. They were hunched over, appearing to be doing something with the ground in the front yard.
I slowly maneuvered my free hand to my holster. White-hot rage filled me, threatening to give away my position with shaking fingers. I took a moment to calm myself, my eyelids sliding over smoke-burned and stinging eyes. I freed my pistol from it's hold, drawing back the hammer with slow, deliberate movements. My body edged outward, my arm extending forward with the gun pointing at the nearest one. I took aim; my side throbbed with pain, my muscles screaming from exhaustion and exertion of carrying a man twice my size.
The first shot caught the back square in the back of his head. He settled forward, likely dead before the rest of him settled into the ground. The other instantly reacted, but he was already too late. The second shot went a bit wide, catching him on the right collarbone. His scream fell upon two sets of uncaring, unconscious, rage-filled ears.
I fired twice more, striking him somewhere in the middle. His body was failing him. He stumbled and fell, his chest heaving in the glowing firelight. I stumbled over to him, Paul in tow.
“I was just doing my job!” I heard him scream as I approached, “Please don't-”
I let the barrel of the gun fall to his forehead and pulled the trigger. I continued walking onward, toward the black vehicle we had originally come from. It seemed akin to hours ago at this point.
“Paul, your keys,” I said to him, shaking my own body a bit to rouse him.
I looked to see his fingers gesture to an area on his right side. I reached down, finding a pocket. My fingers brushed against slightly warmed metal. I tore the object from his coat, jammed it into the car's lock, and turned. My side screamed for attention as I repositioned Paul in my arms to open the door, then laid him in the seat. I made my way toward the other side of the vehicle, taking a moment to look back at the house. The unmistakable shapes of people were beginning to flood the front yard, one running from a newly opened door from the neighboring house. It wouldn't be long before they took notice of my presence.
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