FFF – Sometimes

Sometime in the night the alarm rang.  The hammer clanging and banging against its metal housing, waking the hostel’s inhabitants.  Teens ran, twenties jogged. The thirties walked and the seasoned meandered. No one seemed worried.

Worried.

The manager directed, “This way please, single file, no need to be worried.”

Worried.

Smoke filled the hallway, flames biting at ankles and slithering along skin.  The floor sagged, fire eating at the supporting beams from below.  A veritable smorgasbord for the heat.

Screams filled the hallways, shuffling feet shuffled just that bit faster, jumping and scurrying this way and that into the cool night air.

Sometime in the night the alarm rang.