Precious In His Sight

The parents of the handicapped boy feel their way along the borders of the house, bathing it with quarts of fuel.

"I don't like this," Willis groans.

"I don't, either."

Attempting many times to throw a lit match down, shielding it carefully, they finally succeed, and run off as the flame takes life.

"That's it!" Skip cries out.

Willis’ car door is stuck and can’t open at first, but after several attempts, he kicks it open. They’re hit by the relentless wind as they scramble to get through the snow. Scarcely able to see in front of them, they trudge on, slipping as they attempt to walk. The wind bellows as it gusts over sixty miles an hour, and the strength of it rushes at them.

Willis is unable to hold his bearing and is knocked down.

Skip is slammed against the car much like a wrestler effortlessly throws down his opponent. He grabs onto the handle of the car door and holds on as tight as he can. He struggles to get up, staying close to the car.

The snow reaches up their pants, and in not time freezes their legs. They're quickly covered with new snow, along with the ice and snow the wind picks up from the ground.

The icy north wind lashes across their faces. Skip blinks excessively as the wind blows ice crystals into his face. He closes his eyes and covers his face, letting out a yell no one can hear. Willis is nearly suffocated in the gale-force wind as he shields his mouth, gasping for air.

Skip searches for the house which is barely visible. The wind and snow violently swirl about him. He turns around again and again, losing sight of the house, even though he's just a few yards away from it. He stands still for a moment, unable to identify where anything is, and quickly becomes disoriented.

The old tree is trying to hold up under the weight of the snow and fierce wind, but it’s more than it can bear. It sways and bends down, and finally gives way, snapping in two, and falls on top of Willis, pinning him down across his legs.

Willis cries out as the tree crushes him. Skip turns, and walks toward the direction of Willis' scream. He struggles to see through the blinding storm.

"Willis!" Skip screams out, but his voice sounds faint. He moves against the wind toward Willis. The house behind him, with a sudden burst, belches out a blaze, knocking him down. He's caught between two dire urgencies. He looks at Willis, then back to the house where the boy is, wanting to save both, but can only rescue one, and knowing what he must do.

"Go!" Willis says with little strength, waving his hand. “Get the boy!”

Skip drops to his knees and feels his legs begin to go numb. He crawls toward the burning house. The wind makes the fire crazy, puffing and stretching out, flying everywhere as he approaches. He’s determined at all risks to go into the burning house and get the boy. The flames will be like a torch, guiding him. He rises to his feet, trudging on, slipping at times, praying he finds the front door.

Willis keeps his eyes on Skip, struggling to see, as he lies trapped on the gelid ground. He watches until Skip's form disappears into the flames. Snow covers him quickly. His bone juts out of his lower left leg, coloring the snow beneath him. He unleashes a howl of anguish. If he doesn't receive help soon, it will only be a matter of time he will slip into hypothermia. He tries to keep his eyes vigilant as he waits for Skip's return, and prays.

Skip feels his way around the house. After frantically searching, he finds the front door. He reaches for the doorknob. It’s too hot, and he withdraws his hand. He kicks the door open, and the flames surge forward, knocking him back. He covers his mouth and nose as he goes in.

Willis rests his head in the snow, and tries singing a song out loud to stay awake. He slowly mutters out the words. Looking up, he sees a live electrical wire dangling from a pole, swaying above him, giving off sparks. Unable to move, he watches the wire, and prays it doesn't land on him. He musters the strength to raise his head to look for Skip, then drops his head back down in exhaustion. His body temperature is plummeting. His face turns pale. His breathing slows. His heart rate falls. He shivers uncontrollably, slurring out unintelligible words. His ears and lips begin to turn blue. The rest of his body goes numb, turning into a block of ice.

Through the wild snowfall and blaze, mixed with sparks from the fire flying everywhere, and after what seems hours, Willis wearily opens his eyes. Skip's form appears through a muzzy image, carrying the boy safely in his arms. He gently lays the unconscious boy down, wrapped in blankets from his bed as the house is now engulfed in flames. Willis closes his eyes, and succumbs to unconsciousness.