The Boudicca Parchments

Chapter 10

Through the haze of his semi-conscious state, Daniel could hear his mobile phone ringing. It was in his pocket. If he could only get it out, he could ask whoever was calling him to get help. But strength eluded him.

No! he thought. Now is not the time to give up! You have responsibilities! You have people who love you!

He rolled over onto his back, so that reaching into his pocket would be easier, and forced himself to reach into his pocket and take out the phone. But as he did so, he heard a series of loud, staccato cracking sounds and saw movement above him. In that instant, he knew that the remnant of the ceiling was about to collapse.

No! his mind screamed.

In that moment, he rallied his resources, rolled round, leapt to his feet and made a dive for the door, dropping his phone in the process. The door opened inward, and when he pulled it at first, he knocked it with his foot, almost closing it again. But he managed to open it the second time and staggered out, just as the ceiling beam collapsed on where he had once been.

He was out in the open, but he could see very little. The path by the house was shaded, making the ambient light dim, and his eyes were watering from the smoke. In the distance he heard sirens in several different tones. Police? Fire Brigade? Probably both.

But as they drew closer, he found that he could no longer hold out in the fight for consciousness.