Vanilla Beaned Read Online Free PDF Page B

storefronts away when Scott dropped his cigarette. He pulled the door to the shop open and was about to step on the cigarette at the same time, but there was a loud
whoosh
as flames shot up from the ground, covering Scott who screamed. Stuart dropped his phone and ran toward him, yanking off his jacket at the same time, and he began beating the flames off Scott, who had fallen to the ground.
    The roar of an explosion sounded and the boards that had covered the windows blew out. Holly shrieked and Mel grabbed her and ducked down to the ground. Covering her head with her arm, Mel couldn’t move while bits of board rained down over their heads and clouds of dust and smoke filled the air, making her eyes tear and her lungs burn.
    When it stopped, she glanced up to see Stuart on the ground with the front door on top of him. She couldn’t see Scott. Smoke and flames shot out of the opening where the boarded windows had been.
    Mel waited until there was no more flying debris then she ran toward the storefront, shouting at Holly, “Call 911!”
    The other pedestrians in the area had scattered with screams and shouts. Several were on their phones calling in the explosion while others were filming it and taking pictures.
    Mel shoved the heavy wooden door off Stuart. He was unconscious with a gash on his forehead. But she didn’t see any other signs of injury. She quickly undid his tie and used it to bandage the wound on his forehead.
    Holly came running up to her. “The ambulance is on its way. Is he all right?”
    Mel checked Stuart’s pulse. “I think so, but I don’t want to move him in case of an unseen injury.”
    Holly nodded. “Where’s Scott?”
    They both glanced back at the doorway. There was a pile of rubble on the ground and a man’s hand was just visible.
    â€œThere!” Mel cried. Holly ran to Scott while Mel grabbed a woman standing nearby, pulling her down beside her. “I need you to stay with him.”
    The woman crouched beside Mel, looking scared. “I don’t know how . . . what do I do?”
    â€œJust stay with him,” she said. “Talk to him. If he wakes up, call me.”
    Mel hurried to help Holly. They began pulling the debris off Scott and Mel was relieved when more people stepped up to help. The sight that met their eyes beneath the boards and bricks was fit only for a horror film.
    Scott was severely burned. The left side of his face was a boiled scarlet red along with his arm and his chest. He was moaning even though his eyes were shut and he seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness.
    Holly knelt down beside him. “It’s okay, Scott, we’re here and we’re going to get you to the hospital.”
    Scott moved his lips as if to speak but nothing came out except more moaning.
    â€œShh,” Holly crooned. “It’s going to be all right.”
    She glanced up at a man standing beside her. He waswearing baggy jeans, a sideways baseball cap, and was covered in tattoos and piercings.
    â€œI need you to run to the ice cream shop and get cool,
not
cold, clean towels to put on his burns. Hurry!”
    The man nodded and ran. Holly looked at Mel and said, “We have to get his jewelry off. These burns are going to start swelling.”
    Mel nodded. She reached around his neck and unhooked the thick gold chain while Holly removed his ring from the pinky on his left hand. Mel glanced at his body and felt her gag reflex kick in as the smell of charred skin and hair infiltrated her nose.
    â€œWhat about his belt?” she asked Holly.
    Holly was swallowing convulsively and Mel knew the smell was getting to her, too. She wiped her nose on her arm and nodded. Together they carefully unhooked his belt buckle. Holly lifted his hips, while Mel pulled the belt free.
    Scott moaned and the women froze, fearing that they’d hurt him. Then he licked his blistered lips and croaked, “If you