Inside, the heat was suffocating. The fire had consumed almost every room. The roof threatened to collapse. Aletha staggered through the debris, her legs trembling, her throat burned by the smoke.
She looked for a way out. But every corridor seemed sealed off by flames.
A crack above her. A huge piece of debris fell from the ceiling.
She rolled sideways just in time, narrowly escaping death. But the fall had weakened her. She coughed, gasping for breath, then collapsed to the floor.
Smoke enveloped her. Her vision blurred.
She then saw a figure beneath the rubble, covered in blood.
"Nick…?"
He was looking at her, his eyes filled with pain. He was reaching out for her.
— "Aletha..."
She crawled towards him, reaching out her hand too.
— "Nick... hang on... I'll... I'll help you..."
But he wasn't there.
An illusion.
— "Aletha! Wake up!"
Another voice. Real this time.
Caden was there. Crouching beside her, he was shaking her gently.
— "It's not real, Aletha! Look at me!"
But she was still whispering.
— "Nick... I'm here..."
Caden frowned.
— Who is Nick?
But now wasn't the time. He took her in his arms. She passed out, unconscious.
— "Hang on..." he whispered.
He ran toward the exit, dodging burning beams and collapsing walls.
Outside, the crowd screamed in shock as he emerged from the flames, Aletha lying inert in his arms.
Zetch and Bella also jumped through the barrier, running toward him.
"Is she okay?!" Bella cried, frantic.
Caden, panting, gently lowered her to the ground.
"She inhaled too much smoke... She lost consciousness."
An ambulance arrived at the same time. They quickly took care of Aletha. Caden climbed into the back of the vehicle, holding her hand. Zetch and Bella climbed into a taxi, their eyes fixed on the ambulance as it drove away.
"Hang in there, Aletha..." Bella whispered, tears in her eyes.