Reborn from the Ashes
Chapter 1
I found out I was pregnant.
That’s when Chad’s little psycho ex, Brittany,
decided to play with matches, trying to roast
me alive.
Instead of screaming my head off, I hauled
Chad’s mom, bless her heart, out of the
smoke.
Last time around, I was a screaming banshee
in the flames, and Chad, being the hero,
rushed in to grab Mom and me.
Brittany, in a fit of “anything you can do, I can
do better” stupidity, charged back in, ending
up with burns covering her entire body.
After she kicked the bucket, Chad said she
deserved it for starting the fire and doted on
me like I was made of glass.
Then, the baby came, and Chad used
Brittany’s freakin‘ memorial plaque to smash
our kid’s head in.
“It’s all your fault, you and your daughter!
You’re paying for taking my love away!” he
screamed.
I went out in a blaze of glory with him.
Then, bam, I was back in the fire.
“Honey, hold on! Mommy’s gonna get you
outta here!”
<
That voice shook me.
My eyes popped open just as the front door,
half–charred, slammed down right by my
nose.
Freaked out, I dragged Chad’s mom back into
the bedroom.
“Mom, don’t open a window! It’ll just make it
worse!”
I ripped apart the pillowcases, soaked them in
bottled water, and handed one to her,
showing her to cover her face.
Sirens wailed downstairs, and Mom’s face lit
- up.
“Don’t worry, Chad’s here to save us!”
く
I just looked down, not saying a word.
How do you tell an old lady her son is going
to off her grandkid for some blonde bimbo?
The room was getting hotter, the tiles burning
under my feet.
I barely got Mom to a safer spot when Chad’s
voice boomed outside.
“Brittany! Brittany, you in there?”
“Don’t worry, I’m coming to get you!”
The door splintered inward.
I couldn’t see anything through the flames,
but I heard Brittany wailing, “Chad, I’m on the
balconyl Help me! I’m so scored.
وو
<
“Everybody, move! No time to search!
Balcony, let’s go!”
Mom clutched her chest, gasping.
“That little weasel,” she wheezed. “Chad,
what’s he…”
She didn’t finish, just fainted, her eyes rolling
back in her head.
Through the flames, I saw Chad scooping
Brittany into his arms and carrying her out.
The heat was intense, turning my tears to
steam the second they hit my face.
I bit my tongue, fighting the urge to scream
for help.
<
Chad, I don’t owe you anything this time.
With Chad and his girl gone, I covered my
mouth and nose.
Then, I somehow managed to get Chad’s
mom on my back.
All that moving made my stomach cramp, but
I stood up straight.
I was carrying Chad’s baby, and his mom on
my back.
Standing in the fire, I could hear their voices
fading.
“Brittany, is anyone else in the house?”
“No, Chad. That witch said she was too
delicate to do any housework while pregnant,
and I got in a fight with her. So she locked
me inside and ran off.”
“That freakin‘ bitch! When I get my hands on
her, she’s going to pay!”
I almost went down.
Then, another voice: “Chad, I heard someone
in the bedroom! I think his wife is still inside”
“Brittany said it was your wife who hurt her.
Why would she wait around to die?”
“Let’s go, guys. Brittany is weak and needs.
to go to the hospital.”
