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KAI

A paralysing fear grips me as I witness the horrifying sight of individuals emerging from the raging blaze, their piercing screams and aggressive shoving creating a tumultuous atmosphere.

I can’t feel my muscles.

I’m unable to move.

The air is thick with black smoke, blending with an angry shade of red as if it were leading us straight to hell.

Despite the constant stream of people exiting, my breath remains quick and shallow as I desperately search for any sight of Iris, Eli, and Arch.

“They’ll be fine.”

Though I don’t make eye contact with Theo, the tension in his voice is impossible to ignore.

It’s been too long.

“Look at the flames, Kaiden. Aren’t they pretty? They contrast with your skin like a shining glow.”

I keep my eyes tightly shut, feeling the intense heat approaching me.

“I said, LOOK AT THE FLAME, KAIDEN!”

“P-please,” I cry.

My refusal only fuels his anger, clear in the force with which he strikes my jaw, and then proceeds to press the scorching flame against my skin, causing me to let out a piercing cry of agony.

“Kai? Are you good?”

I shake my head, my vision blurring for a moment before I regain my focus.

Pull yourself together, for fuck’s sake!

I need to go in.

I need to get to Arch.

Iris is right. She’s been with us for a short period of time, and she went in.

She’s not afraid of fire.

Fuck you! Fuck you and your fucking fear!

As I gather my courage to enter, a sigh of relief escapes my lips when I spot Elijah returning. But the relief is short-lived, replaced by a sense of dread as I notice the tears in his eyes and the furious expression on Iris’ face.

“Nooo!” Iris cries. “Elijah put me down. We need to go back in!”

“Where is Arch?” I keep looking behind, but there’s nobody.

“The weight of the beam is pinning him down, leaving him unable to escape. I need to go back. Don’t fucking allow her to go back in. It’s a death trap.”

As soon as he releases Iris onto her feet, she’s practically sprinting back into the pit of hell.

“Don’t,” I warn.

I nod at Eli, who dashes back inside, the sound of his hurried steps fading away, with Theo right behind him.

Christ.

“Do not move,” I warn her, but she ignores me and takes a step forward, so I firmly grasp her by the throat. “I said, do not fucking move. We’ve enough to worry about with Arch. We don’t need to worry about you as well.”

“But—”

“Don’t force me to send you into darkness, Poison. Either you’re staying here voluntarily, or I’ll force you to.”

I take a step forward, and she starts to panic.

“W-what are you doing?” I turn my head and see her face obscured by the black smoke, her mascara smudging and streaking across her features.

“I’m going in,” I whisper in her hair. “Be good and wait for us.”

“But—”

“Archer is stuck inside. I am going in. I’ll bring back our boy.” I kiss her once more. “I need to go.”

With lightning speed, I turn and sprint inside, forcefully pushing past people still making their way out.

“KAI!”

Just as I hear her approaching from behind, a deafening noise erupts, shaking the entire area. Suddenly, a section of the ceiling collapses, completely blocking the back entrance.

Shit.

At least she’s outside.

My vision is obscured by thick smoke and fierce flames. I quickly pull my T-shirt up to shield my nose and mouth, determined to keep the smoke out as I search for any sign of their whereabouts.

As the sweat drips from my face, the scorching heat of the flame feels like a painful reminder of something I’ve desperately tried to forget for years.

“ELIJAH! THEO!”

The air is thick with the smell of charred flesh, and my eyes burn as I continue walking over the bodies.

“HERE!”

With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I sprint towards the voices, only to be completely immobilised by the shocking scene before me.

Debris from the ceiling showers down around them, creating a chaotic scene. Meanwhile, a massive beam pins Arch’s legs, blocking his escape.

The blondness of his hair has transformed into a deep, dark shade, almost black. Eli and Theo stripped off their T-shirts, wrapping them around their hands to shield against the searing heat of the metal beam they are attempting to move.

Shit.

“What are you doing here?” asks Theo with worry.

“I’m fine. Focus on him, not me.”

Kneeling beside them, I take off my T-shirt and begin clearing away the debris, creating more space to remove the beam.

“Has he spoken?”

“No.” Eli’s face contorts with pain as he lifts a heavy part of brick, explaining, “He’s been unconscious since we came back.”

After five minutes of tirelessly removing the debris, it feels as if our efforts are in vain as the fire relentlessly advances towards Arch, creating an ominous illusion in its wake.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“What are you doing?” asks Theo as he sees me standing up.

“There’s a small gap here.”

“You’re going to stay stuck by the flames,” groans Eli.

“Maybe, but it’s worth the shot. The flames are too close. The pile of debris is obstructing our way, making it impossible to reach him. By the time we manage to get there, it will be too late, and we’ll still have to lift the beam off his legs.”

“We don’t fit in,” says Eli as he strains his eyes to look right and left for anything that could help us.

I know they don’t fit in. I’m not even sure I do. But I’m the smaller one out of all of us.

“That’s our best shot.”

We don’t have a minute to spare.

I prepare myself and lean in closer, stretching my muscles while checking out the gap.

Fuck, this is small.

I start by moving my leg, then my head, and finally my torso.

I let out a piercing scream as the burning sensation of the beam sears my back, causing me to freeze in place.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Kai, come back.”

“I’m fine.” I grit my teeth and push through, contorting my body into uncomfortable positions.

C’mon, c’mon, c’mon.

I grit my teeth and stifle the pain, but another scream escapes my lips as the searing metal burns against my skin, finally freeing me from the wreckage.

I reach the other side, feeling the nausea subside as I take deep breaths to steady myself.

“KAI?” screams Theo.

“I’m okay. I’m there.”

Fuck! I can feel the excruciating pain as my raw skin opens up on my back, and the smell of burning flesh fills my nostrils.

My heart racing, I quickly move towards Arch, dropping to my knees as I caress his hair, pushing the strand away from his eyes.

“I’m going to take you out of here, babe. Do you hear me?” My hand trembles in his hair as I shout at the guys, the sound of my voice mixing with the crackling of the fire. “He’s still breathing!”

Moving rapidly, I reach the other side and position myself at his feet, allowing me to get a clear view of the guys on the opposite side.

“We don’t have much time,” I rasp, choking on the acrid smoke that fills the air. “We’ll need to get the fuck out of here once he’s free.”

They know it.

I know it.

While they continue to shift the debris, I grimace in pain when my hands come into contact with the scorching metal, straining to lift the weighty beam.

I tightly shut my eyes, my muscles tense as I desperately attempt to block out the deafening roar of the encroaching fire.

But all I see is him, his steps echoing in the silence as he tightly grips a blazing torch.

Focus!

I vigorously shake my head and tightly grip the beam once more, my piercing scream echoing amidst the chaotic scene as I strain to lift it, but it remains immovable.

C’mon.

I block out everything, the only sound reaching my ears being the fierce growl that escapes my lips as I push past the excruciating pain and the heavy burden of it.

Driven by rage, I forcefully push against the beam, fuelled by a burning fury that threatens to consume me.

A sudden burst of adrenaline courses through me, making it easy to lift the beam.

I groan as I push it to the side, allowing me to release his legs.

Fuck.

I don’t stop to look at the blood that drips from his legs and back, the metallic smell filling the air, as a loud cracking sound reverberates through the room, followed by another part of the ceiling crashing down mere inches from me.

“KAI?” shouts Eli.

“I NEED OUT, NOW!”

As I bend down, I carefully lay Arch on his back before scooping him up and holding him securely in my arms.

“He’s bleeding!”

“Here.” Theo’s face appears, followed by the last piece of brick falling down, creating a wider passage than before.

With Arch nestled securely in my arms, I cautiously rise to my feet, shielding his face from any potential harm.

“I got you, baby. I got you,” I whisper over his face as I walk towards the passage.

My body is burning alive. I can feel each of the flames grazing it.

“Your hands,” says Eli as I reach them. “Give him to me.”

I shake my head. “I got him.”

“Let’s go,” Theo says, but I stop him as he walks towards the back entrance.

“The ceiling collapsed, blocking the entrance with a pile of debris. We need to find another one.”

“We don’t really have much possibility,” he groans.

“This way,” Eli says, pointing at the side of the bar. “The restroom. They have windows in it.”

Let’s pray for it to be spared from the destructive flames.