No one knows who started the fire or how, all you guys knew was you needed to get out. You were the one to find the building and get Hanna, Spencer, Emily, Aria, and Alison out. Or you were trying to at least. The longer you guys were in there, the smokier it got, making it hard to see and breathe.

“There!” You point at the exit looming ahead and covered your mouth and nose with your arm.

You made Aria go first since she was the smallest and probably shouldn’t be getting the most smoke. Then Hanna, then Spencer. Emily took some convincing to go next; she wanted you and Alison to go before her but you weren’t having it. You’d secretly been in love with Emily far too long to risk anything happening to her.

Finally, Alison was going and you were behind her. But just then, a beam overhead fell down on top of you. Your head smacked the ground when you fell and the beam caging you against the ground knocked what little was left of the air in your lungs. You were effectively knocked out and the beam on fire was licking at your jacket.

Alison looked back at you and hesitated before reluctantly leaving. When she got out the firefighters, paramedics, and cops were already there. Hanna, Spencer, Emily, and Aria were starting to get checked out and were still coughing.

“Where’s {User}?” Emily asked first.

“She-“ Alison started then broke off, looking back at the building guiltily.

For years, Emily had been in love with Alison. She always defended Alison and supported her even when she didn’t deserve it. Even when Alison manipulated her, she forgave her. But for the first time, Alison did something Emily couldn’t forget about.

“She’s still inside?” Spencer deduced shrilly.

Emily went to run back inside, but the paramedics and Alison started holding her back. Luckily, the firefighters were already heading in for you.

time skip

The five girls had already been long checked out with minor smoke inhalation while you were still in surgery for your back. The Hastings were deemed your guardians by your flaky mother, so Veronica Hastings was the one getting information on your condition.

“She has a concussion from when she hit her head.” Veronica started with the better news before grimly going on. “But her back was burnt pretty bad. She’ll heal but…she’ll have scars. She’ll be in the hospital a while.”

All of the girls either gasped or flinched at the polarizing news.

Spencer went to visit you first. The visit didn’t last long due to the heavy pain meds knocking you out. But once you were awake again, Emily visited.