Page 91 of From the Ashes

“That’s where I am right now. I can have Tony get you a hotel or something.”

“Don’t worry about that,” she replied, still frantic. “I’m worried about Charlie.”

“What’s wrong? Is he okay?”

“I don’t know. Ted and I went to his house when we evacuated. I know he’s not fond of cars, but we couldn’t leave him behind. But when we got there… everything was locked up and there was no spare key anywhere. It was dark inside and it didn’t look like anyone was home. We figured he left with his friend Patrick or something. I know he’s there quite often, and I saw his truck driving down our street during the evacuation.” She stopped, taking a breath at last. “But the more I think about it, the more I have this nagging feeling in my stomach that he’s still there… in that house.”

All the blood in my veins turned ice cold in an instant.

“The wildfires have come close before,” I said, my voice shaky as I desperately tried to find a way to make this whole situation less horrifying. “Sometimes right to the edge of town. It did that when I was a kid. Maybe it’ll do it again.”

“No,” she replied. “Creekside is going to burn. It’s too hot and too windy. Even as we left, we could see some houses at the top of the mountain starting to catch.” She paused, clearly terrified and saddened by what she was about to say. “Come morning, Creekside will be gone.”

I could hardly breathe.

“Let me call you back.”

Before she could reply, I hung up the call. With shaking fingers, I flipped open my contacts list and scrolled down to Charlie. When we’d exchanged information a few months ago, we’d used a built-in app that came with phone tracking. All of my friends had it in college. That way we could make sure each other made it home safe from the bars or dates or nights out on the town. And as long as Charlie had his phone on, I could pinpoint where he was. As I clicked the track button, I prayed the location was anywhere but Creekside.

But it wasn’t. The little red pointer on the map zoomed in on Creekside, pinging right on top of his house.

Charlie was still at home.

“Maybe he left his phone at home by accident,” Tony said, looking over my shoulder. “With an evacuation like that things get forgotten.”

“I can’t take that chance,” I replied. All at once the shakiness left my body and was replaced by stout resolution. “I’m going to go get him.”

“Creekside is far away,” Tony balked. “And there’s fire everywhere! I would be better for you to just call in a rescue team!”

“Youcall them,” I replied, pushing myself up from the table. “And call my mom back. Tell her I’ll get Charlie and get him out of there. I’ve got bluetooth in my helmet, so call me and keep me updated on the fire.”

I was already heading for the door as Tony jogged to catch up behind me. “You can’t be serious! You’re going to drive straight into a wildfire?”

“I’ve done it before,” I said, recalling the day Charlie and I had ridden our bikes right up to the edge of that raging inferno. “It doesn’t scare me.”

“Phie, please! Don’t do–”

I rounded on him, grabbing him by the collar. “This is Charlie we’re talking about!” I cried. “The man I love more than anything else in the world! If he dies… I’ll never forgive myself! Now do what I ask! Please!”

Tony extricated himself from my grasp. To my surprise, he didn’t look upset at my outburst. In fact, he seemed more understanding than ever.

“Go,” he said, giving me a push. “I can’t talk you out of it anyway. I’ll cover for you. And I’ll call you as soon as I can with fire updates.”

“Thank you Tony–”

“Go!”

I didn’t need to be told twice. Running through the building, I grabbed my helmet from the coat check without explanation and sprinted out the door. In a flash I was on my bike and tearing through Eugene at speeds that would frighten a racecar driver. But I had to get to Creekside.

I had to save Charlie.

“The fire has spread into town according to the helicopters patrolling the area,” Tony said through the speaker in my ear thirty minutes later as I headed up the last mountain before Creekside would come into view. “A rescue team is on the way heading for the south end of town. If it’s safe to go in, they will. But it’s not looking good.”

“I’m almost there,” I said, practically shouting over the screaming of the engine beneath me. “I can see the smoke.”

“The entire area is decimated north of town. You’ll probably lose cell service as you get close. All the local towers are getting scorched.”

“Then I’ll call you back when I’m out,” I said. “I promise.”