Francis

Okay, now is not the time to panic.

What do I always say when the crap hits the fan?

Make a list of what is going on and possible end scenarios. Okay, let’s do that.
1. The Museum is most definitely on fire.
2. The ceiling is falling apart
3. Smoke is quickly filling the air

BOOM!

 Oh, and something behind me just exploded.

 Fantastic.

 Well, time for the possible end scenarios:
Run.
 Panic.
Not wanting to sound like a hypocrite, sprinting towards the part of the building that is least likely to crush and/or kill me seems like the best bet. Luckily, that part of the museum is the fire escape with my name written all over it. Just have to get out of here and I'm golden.

“Someone! Please!”, crap, hand on the door and someone just had to go and add more plot to this story. Running back to where the voice came from, two figures come into view behind the smoke. “Please help!” a male voice called to me, “It’s my little sister, she's trapped behind this stupid exhibit” looking up, I see one of those mock space satellites that used to hang in the ceiling, but is now partially collapsed and blocking the hallway.

Looking at the hunk of metal, I usher for the brother to follow my lead “I think we can lift this panel upHEY KID!” I call out to the sister “me and big bro here are gonna get you out! I need you to dash outta there once you have enough room!”.

Not waiting for a response, I turn to the brother, “okay, on go, we pull up on this panel ready? Go! Kid, c’mon!” God, this thing is heavy, but a dash and a roll later and brother and sister were reunited. It'd be a happy moment, if it weren't for the fact that this whole place was coming down in a burning hellfire. “Hate to break it to you two, but I really think we should get out of here.” BOOM “Like, now”. “He's right, let's go, Sophie” grabbing his sister’s hand, we make a mad dash for the exit. I really think this whole thing will go over smoothly.
CRASH
 “ GAAAHHhh!” …

Me and my big mouth. Turning around I see a part of the ceiling fell and brother’s leg has been pinned under a beam. Adding insult to injury or… further injury to an already existing injury, he’s also unconcious. Pushing the beam aside, I hoist him on my back and usher Sophie to the fire escape. Hopefully there I can find some fireman or paramedic for this guy.

 “Help! Someone! I’ve got a little girl and an injured ma” the words die in my mouth as i look around me at what was happening. Blood running cold, not at the chaos going around me but at the complete and utter lack of things happening. No one, and I mean no one, was around the entire block was abandoned and, other than the burning building, nothing else was going on. Where is everyone? I wonder to myself walking down the street, an injured man on my back and his little sister trailing behind.
“Um….” a small voice behind me meekly states. “He’s bleeding”. Looking down at his leg, a piece of wood pokes through his pant leg.

 “Oh fu” glancing at Sophie “ture problems of mine, we need to get him patched up now, c’mon Sophie, I think there’s a pharmacy up ahead, we can patch your brother up there”. Picking up the pace, we enter the pharmacy. “Hello~!” calling out to the pharmacy “I have an injured man here!

Please! We need help!” after a moment of no response, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands. “Sophie, I need you to find me some bandages, can you do that for me? I’m going to help your brother” setting him down and walking to the back room, I manage to find a bottle of penicillin and hydrogen peroxide. Seeing as I don’t trust myself with the names of any of the other bottles on the shelf, this would have to do. Making my way back to where Sophie was sitting next to her brother. Facing Sophie, “Alright Soph, I’m just going to clean your brother’s wound with peroxide, crush up some penicillin and sprinkle it onto his wound, wrap it up in this bandage and he should be fine” turning back around, I feel a small pair of arms wrap around my waist.

“Thank you, so much” a muffled voice speaks into my back. Despite the situation we’re in, I can’t help but smile “No problem, kid”

~~~~~~

A few hours later, both Sophie and her brother were fast asleep, I decide to check out the street outside. Walking down the street a few feet, a chill goes up my spine. You know that feeling, the feeling where you really shouldn’t look around? That’s me right at this moment. “Good job with the medicine, by the way” a voice speaks behind me. I can’t move. “Too bad it will be all for naught” the voice continues. I can’t speak.

“I’m sorry to say, but the story ends here” fighting harder, I manage to break through the odd trance I was in. Behind me was a man, a man that made me quake to the very core. Choking out “What is going on?” took all of my willpower. “Who are you?” “Who am I is of no importance, but what is important is that this will all be over soon” the man rumbles out. “ I believe it was T.S Eliot who said “This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but a whimper” because that is how this world will end, quietly” Seeing the fear in my eyes, the man chuckles “None of this is real! You are fictional! The story ends!” seeing my disbelief, he asks: “Don’t believe me? Tell me, what is your name?”