From her vantage behind the curtain, a stunned Tess watched paralyzed as Darla’s feet went from kicking the air to barely twitching. A blood-curdling scream filled the air. Tess looked up to see the last horrified sound come from Darla’s mouth.
Instead, Tess’s attention went to Lucille hitting the floor and screaming, her silky nightgown in flames, candles fallen over from the dresser as it was kicked by a struggling now lifeless Darla swinging from the rafter. Lucille screamed and struggled to put out the flames now creeping up from the hem to her stomach.
Tess instinctually yanked the draperies in front of her down. It took two powerful pulls, but the long hiding adrenaline in her kicked in and she heard the rod holding them snap. Tess jumped past the swaying body and pounced on the burning Lucille.
It seemed like it took forever, but it only took a moment. Lucille lay gasping for air, face twisted in pain. Her eyes focused on the panting young woman, lying on top of her. “Baby, it’s you.” Lucille half smiled.
Tess looked up, finally seeing the full face of Darla Hutton. It was frozen in shock, and at the same time, as the body twisted lightly back and forth, seemed to have this wry knowing smile. She cocked her head staring in the open, bulging eyes, the smell of burned satin and burned flesh filling the air.
Suddenly there was a whoosh as fire danced up the walls and across the mussed bedspread.
“Come one, Lucille, we’ve got to get out of here.” Tess yanked the charred drapes off Lucille and grabbed at her.
Lucille grasped Tess’s arm and held it still. “Oh Baby. You’ve burned yourself.”
As she half stood, for the first time, Tess got a look at the lower half of Lucille’s body. “You, too.” She took a deep breath and forced herself not to stare or vomit. “We’ve got to get out of here, Lucille. The room is on fire.”
The woman nodded and tried to get up. “Help me.” She gasped as she tried.
As the walls began to crack like the campfires Tess remembered from Girl Scouts not that long ago, she stopped trying to help Lucille up, grabbing her by the shoulders and began to just drag her from the room. She could hear Lucille moan in pain, but she had no choice if she wanted to save her life, if that were even possible.
She made it to the top of the stairs. A sturdy poof made Tess look back at the room she’d just dragged Lucille from. It was now the pit from Hell, and it was still racing toward them.
“Mizz Sinclair?” A voice came at her from the staircase.
“Jasper!” Tess had avoided having contact with any of the staff before, negroes scared her, but she was never so glad to see anyone in her life. “Help me! Lucille is hurt.”
“The house is on fire!” Jasper looked over her shoulder and cried out.
“I know.” Tess grabbed his arm to grab back his attention. “A lit candle fell over and caught Lucille’s dress on fire. I grabbed the drapes to put it out, but I don’t know…we have to get out of here. Help me. I think she’s passed out.”
“Lawdy.” Jasper uttered the one word of fear and then picked up Lucille like she was the morning paper and raced down the staircase with her. Tess followed behind them until they were out the door, the burning wing behind them.
“Is there anyone else inside?” Tess thought to ask.
“No, Miss Lucille sent everyone home.” Jasper cradled Lucille like a sleeping child, gently swaying her and looking at her sleeping face with love. “I always stay behind for Miss Lucille and Miss Darla.”
“We need to call someone…the fire company…the hospital…” Tess turned around and ducked at a loud pop from behind the door. “It’s burning so quickly.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Tess stepped off the stoop with him, willing to follow him to the nearest phone.
“No.” Lucile’s eyes were closed but her voice was strong and full of calm focus. “This is what we’re going to do…”
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