Two Degrees

Akira wakes up, barely remembering the car crash. She sees everyone else moving and everyone appears unscathed, but the car will not start. The other car is still there, also not moving. The fire continues to grow, approaching the vehicles, and Akira remembers the burning car in the ditch. She yells to her father that they have to escape.

Daniel and Sue do not want to leave the car, but Lars insists. The men exit first, and Sue has to be pulled from the vehicle. Outside, the air is boiling hot, and smoke fills their lungs. Akira realizes that Sue is hurt: One of her arms is limp and she is clearly in pain. Lars and Daniel run to the other car to rescue the occupants. A burning tree falls between them, separating Akira and Sue from their fathers.

The dads yell for their daughters to run away as they help an elderly couple out of the other car. Akira and Sue are hesitant because they don’t know how they will survive the fire by themselves. More trees begin to fall, and the girls begin running through the smoke. They reach a clearing, but the fire follows close behind. Sue, in pain, hesitates to continue, but Akira encourages her on.