Unforgettable Read Online Free
began to push through the dancers. Other people seemed to be coughing too, Gracie realized, and her eyes started to water. It shouldnât be like this on the Grand Opening â¦
Even as the uneasy thought swirled into her mind, people began shouting. Excitement at the occasion turned to mild alarm and then panic. The shouts became screams, and nearing the door, Gracie swivelled around to see flickers of fire appear as if from nowhere.
âRun, Gracie,â she heard Billy shout, pushing her so hard she almost fell.
âGet out while you can, ducks, before youâre fried to a crisp,â someone yelled in her ear.
All the doors were suddenly opened, and Gracie was nearly flattened as the mass ofpeople fought to get out of the hall through what seemed now to be minuscule openings. A huge roar sounded behind her, as a sheet of flame was ignited by the rush of air from outside.
Without warning, the beautiful, slowly circulating ball of lights in the centre of the hall came crashing down on the people right beneath it. Shards of glass flew everywhere, and the dancersâ finery was quickly sprayed with blood, and worse.
âGawd Almighty, whatâs happening?â
Dollyâs scratchy voice came to Gracie through the chaos, and she grabbed hold of her friendâs hand and almost hurled her through the open door to the welcome air outside. They fell to the ground, in real danger of being trampled by the others following, and the next minute they were hauled to their feet and pulled sideways into a nearby alley. It happened so fast that what had been such a splendid occasion, was now a heaving mass of bodies all trying to escape from the pall of black smoke and flames coming from the building.
Gracie and Dolly were still catching their breath when the sound of fire engines streaking through the night added to the unreality, and they clung to one another in sheer relief that they were alive, even thoughit became clear that many were not going to be so lucky.
âBloody good thing we were near the entrance,â Jim said hoarsely, flexing his knuckles in his familiar way, as if to fight the whole damn world if he could.
âThe poor buggers who were nearest the band didnât stand a chance,â Dolly sobbed, her face streaked and ugly with tears, her lipstick smeared across her cheeks like a garish clownâs face.
Gracie felt her heart stop. Nobody knew what had started the fire, but the Palais had been built on the site of an old warehouse.
Like the phoenix rising from the ashes
, one of their lodgers had said, which seemed like a horrible omen now. But Gracie was remembering that the band had been playing at the far end of the hall, well away from the entrance doors. Charlie Morrison had been playing his saxophone, and it was a sure bet now that he was one of those who had been burnt to a crisp ⦠that handsome young man, whom she had foolishly dreamed was going to be her knight in shining armour â¦
âGawd Almighty, whatâs got into her now?â Jim asked irritably, as Gracie started keening uncontrollably.
âItâs shock,â Dolly said, startled by thisuncharacteristic wailing.
âThereâs only one way to deal with that,â Jim told her, and Gracie felt a stinging slap across the side of her face.
âWhat are you doing?â Dolly yelled. âHave you gone bleedinâ mad?â
She pummelled at his chest to stop him, and the next minute she went reeling as he punched her back.
âYou silly bitch, canât you see Iâm doing it for the best?â
â
No
. I think youâre doing it because you like hitting women,â Dolly raged, pulling Gracie into her arms, and wincing at the pain in her bruised chest.
âIt ainât the first time,â she heard Billy snigger.
People were pushing past them to get away from the inferno, not bothering with the four people bunched up against the wall of the alley, and more
Even as the uneasy thought swirled into her mind, people began shouting. Excitement at the occasion turned to mild alarm and then panic. The shouts became screams, and nearing the door, Gracie swivelled around to see flickers of fire appear as if from nowhere.
âRun, Gracie,â she heard Billy shout, pushing her so hard she almost fell.
âGet out while you can, ducks, before youâre fried to a crisp,â someone yelled in her ear.
All the doors were suddenly opened, and Gracie was nearly flattened as the mass ofpeople fought to get out of the hall through what seemed now to be minuscule openings. A huge roar sounded behind her, as a sheet of flame was ignited by the rush of air from outside.
Without warning, the beautiful, slowly circulating ball of lights in the centre of the hall came crashing down on the people right beneath it. Shards of glass flew everywhere, and the dancersâ finery was quickly sprayed with blood, and worse.
âGawd Almighty, whatâs happening?â
Dollyâs scratchy voice came to Gracie through the chaos, and she grabbed hold of her friendâs hand and almost hurled her through the open door to the welcome air outside. They fell to the ground, in real danger of being trampled by the others following, and the next minute they were hauled to their feet and pulled sideways into a nearby alley. It happened so fast that what had been such a splendid occasion, was now a heaving mass of bodies all trying to escape from the pall of black smoke and flames coming from the building.
Gracie and Dolly were still catching their breath when the sound of fire engines streaking through the night added to the unreality, and they clung to one another in sheer relief that they were alive, even thoughit became clear that many were not going to be so lucky.
âBloody good thing we were near the entrance,â Jim said hoarsely, flexing his knuckles in his familiar way, as if to fight the whole damn world if he could.
âThe poor buggers who were nearest the band didnât stand a chance,â Dolly sobbed, her face streaked and ugly with tears, her lipstick smeared across her cheeks like a garish clownâs face.
Gracie felt her heart stop. Nobody knew what had started the fire, but the Palais had been built on the site of an old warehouse.
Like the phoenix rising from the ashes
, one of their lodgers had said, which seemed like a horrible omen now. But Gracie was remembering that the band had been playing at the far end of the hall, well away from the entrance doors. Charlie Morrison had been playing his saxophone, and it was a sure bet now that he was one of those who had been burnt to a crisp ⦠that handsome young man, whom she had foolishly dreamed was going to be her knight in shining armour â¦
âGawd Almighty, whatâs got into her now?â Jim asked irritably, as Gracie started keening uncontrollably.
âItâs shock,â Dolly said, startled by thisuncharacteristic wailing.
âThereâs only one way to deal with that,â Jim told her, and Gracie felt a stinging slap across the side of her face.
âWhat are you doing?â Dolly yelled. âHave you gone bleedinâ mad?â
She pummelled at his chest to stop him, and the next minute she went reeling as he punched her back.
âYou silly bitch, canât you see Iâm doing it for the best?â
â
No
. I think youâre doing it because you like hitting women,â Dolly raged, pulling Gracie into her arms, and wincing at the pain in her bruised chest.
âIt ainât the first time,â she heard Billy snigger.
People were pushing past them to get away from the inferno, not bothering with the four people bunched up against the wall of the alley, and more
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