Nick clawed at the bricks inside the chimney. Air no longer fit in his lungs. It had looked big enough from above, but now he was stuck.
Soot clogged his nostrils.
Emma would be furious. She had begged him to come down the chimney for years.
“Emma!” Desperation made his voice crack. It wouldn’t be the surprise she’d wanted, but it would be a surprise all the same when she found him.
The sound of the choke opening rose from beneath. “Emma?”
First came a trickle of smoke, then heat licked at his feet.
“No, Emma! Emma, please!”
Soot clogged his nostrils.
Emma would be furious. She had begged him to come down the chimney for years.
“Emma!” Desperation made his voice crack. It wouldn’t be the surprise she’d wanted, but it would be a surprise all the same when she found him.
The sound of the choke opening rose from beneath. “Emma?”
First came a trickle of smoke, then heat licked at his feet.
“No, Emma! Emma, please!”
