I went over to the rusted taps by the basins, but they were hardened with misuse over time.

“Shut up, I can’t think!” I snapped, still trying to open the taps, but they only creaked slightly. “I need something to use.”

I looked at Grace, my sweater hung limply around her neck. I quickly took it to try and open the taps. I used all my might, spitting on the taps to ease them a bit, but I was running out of spit. The taps started to turn, and they opened. Water gushed out of the old rattling pipes into the basin.

The gushing water came out as a temporary relief. I quickly drank, splashed my face, and quickly tore the sweater and wet both pieces. I gave one to Grace as I helped her to drink from it and wipe the perspiration and the dirt off her face. Then I put it around her nose and mouth to keep the smoke off — at least some of it.

“How are we going to get out of here?” I asked after a while.

She was probably in too much pain to talk and I was staring at nothing, feeling a little helpless. I knew close to nothing about health stuff. We both loved the arts, acting and books. We paid no attention to science or medical stuff, unless they were talking about the reproductive organs and sex.

“There must be something,” she said hoarsely.

I looked at her and there were boxes that we could use for her leg, but they were probably ashes by now. I went at the toilets and looked through every stall to see if I could climb over, and maybe escape through the windows. But the windows were small and I wasn’t built like a toothpick unfortunately; which was something I never really cared about — until now. And Grace had broken her leg and wouldn’t be able to climb. The situation was becoming hopeless with every ticking second.

“I’m going back out there,” I said decisively. “I need to see how far the fire is and if there is any way we can escape.”

“Please don’t leave, I don’t want to die out here alone,” Grace begged, tears running down her face, her mascara blotching her beautiful, vivacious face.

I leaned down on her to give her a hug. “I will come back.”

She clung to me and I clung to her, crying too. We both started to choke without the cloth to our noses and lips, so I went back to rinse them in water. The water was now running down the basin as I left it trickling.

“I will keep the water running so it will cool the room at least.”

Instinct took over and I opened the door, tying my sweater over my mouth and nose. “I will be back in a few minutes.”

I left the door ajar to be able to see as I made my way out back to the machinery part of the building. The walls were already falling and the fire was everywhere. I stood motionless, as the thought of escape looked near impossible. Who would have thought empty rooms could burn so fast?

There was a smell of petrol mixed with the oil from the old machinery. Who would have thought that a prank could turn so deadly! I made my way to the bathroom, dejected.

“I’m afraid there is no way out of here. The whole building is on fire, or at least the other part of it is,” I said closing the door.

***

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