Snippet #1314741

Vincent didn't have time for this. As the tiger pounced, he forced himself to move. His grip on the doorway shook as he spun on the floor, using his foot to throw the open door shut. A satisfying thud and snarl told him the beast had slammed against the door.but the thin wood wouldn't hold either of them for very long. This idiot with the switchblade had sentenced himself to death, apparently - Vincent's house was falling to the flames. His throat convulsed and he choked, retching, but he pushed himself a little farther. The door (which he'd locked) made a terrible sound as it was ripped from it's hinges. The tiger and boy walked out, fury in their eyes. They were going to kill him.
But Mr. West was all too prepared. He pushed his shaking hand into his pocket, opening up a flap of cloth, and clutched in his hand was a bright white pill. Before anything could blink, it was in his mouth. It was over in ten seconds.
And then, in the hallway of his own manor, Vincent West died.


Jamie literally dragged Melonie away from the fire, to a nearby window. No one had been here. This was probably at the wrong side of the house.. so much for sticking together. "Come on, Melonie, wake up.. you're so.." Jamie muttered the last part as she leaned the girl against the windowsill. But she was stirring. She'd be fine. Jamie was light and 'delicate', so she easily made the jump to the tree branch. Using the momentum from the leap, she swung on top of the branch, which swayed dangerously. She felt like some sort of circus trapeze artist. Ugh.
Feeling weightless, she slid down the trunk of the tree, occasionally stopping to rest on a thicker branch. Her hands felt bruised, sore, and torn afterwards, but she was safe. She held her hands to the rain. It felt a little better. She seemed to be the first one down.
Lowering her eyes, she screamed. There was a window. The basement's window only an inch above the ground. Terrified, white eyes looked at Jamie. The owner of those eyes revealed her mouth, open in a soundless scream.
"Mom.." Jamie's voice was tense and scared. Her father.. that bastard.. But she couldn't go back inside the house. Not even for her mother. So she took off.. one foot after the other.. as her mother watched. The hope fell in her heart as she withdrew back to the basement. The smoke would kill her in a matter of minutes.
Looking back upwards, shielding her eyes, Jamie saw Melonie beginning to climb down. Good.

Jamie walked somewhat disoriented back through the gates, a dazed look in her eyes. She stumbled every now and then. Avalon went up to her, joyfully but silently. They walked together. The students must be ahead. She held up her hand to the rain and wished the cold water washed all the things from before away. And this was how she mourned everything from her past.