Chapter Two

Rachel dashed through the corridor, coughing and spluttering, searching for a way out. There had to be one somewhere.

She stopped, having felt something trickle down her leg and onto the floor. She looked down to see a puddle of liquid at her feet. Her eyes widened in fear, her hand instantly flying to her stomach. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be in labour now.

Before she could even think rationally, a pain came, starting in her lower back and reaching around to her abdomen. She groaned, leaning against the wall as she tried to breathe calmly. It was impossible with the smoke lingering around her, the flames growing larger, making her cough. She was frightened. How was she going to get out?

She had to move, she knew that much. The flames were edging nearer and nearer to her the longer she stood there.

The pain finally melted away, allowing her to move along the corridor.

Suddenly, she was knocked to the floor by something heavy falling from above her. It landed on her left ankle. She screamed as she felt the bone snap, pain shooting up her leg. It was impossible to move, the ceiling panel had her leg pinned to the floor, trapping her there.

She looked around, searching for something, anything within her reach that she could use to get the heavy ceiling panel off her ankle and leg. But there was nothing. Just flames, smoke and bits of debris. She groaned, coughing as more smoke floated into her lungs. Her hand rested on her stomach as she felt another contraction building. She cried out as it became more intense, coughing and fighting for breath.

When the pain had disappeared again, she called out for help, shouting as loud as she could, hoping Eddie was still in the building and would hear her. She knew he would be, he wouldn't leave her, just like she wouldn't leave him. When he got to the centre of the school and realised she wasn't there to meet him, like they'd agreed, he'd know something was wrong and would come looking. She didn't know how long that would be though.

She placed a hand on her stomach, feeling her little girl's foot kick at her hand.

"Just hang in there, darling, alright? We'll be out of here soon" she promised between coughs

The pain came again. Rachel cringed, desperately trying to stop herself from panicking. She knew it would only make her breathing more shallow and wheezy. She tried again to move the ceiling panel off her leg, but it was no use. It was too heavy for her to lift.

There was another deafening BANG! Before Rachel knew what was happening, another part of the ceiling came crashing down next to her, missing her by just a few centimetres. Debris came flying out of the ceiling, bits hitting Rachel. She lowered herself to the ground, shielding her stomach as best she could. Something heavy fell onto her head. Before she could even cry out in pain, the world went black...