Talons Red as Embers, Paws Black as Soot

The sound of firetrucks woke Darren.  He sat up and began coughing; smoke already filled the top half of the room.

“Stay low!” Darren called to Alberta.  Together they crept out the front door to the hallway.  The other apartments already hung open.  Darren started toward the window, but Alberta yanked him back.

“Are you crazy?” she hissed as water began to splash against the roof.

With a  roar and a crackle, the fire fled snarling past them and leapt through the window, leaving scorch marks around the edges.

Darren gasped in confusion.  Alberta pointed to the sign: “Fire Escape.”