Miracle in Chaos

“Smack—”

The man’s hand trembled. His strength gave out completely, and the phone he’d been holding—borrowed from Mr. Shaw—slipped from his fingers and hit the ground.

Several researchers were already cheering like crazy.

“Someone’s coming! Someone’s actually coming to save us! Hahaha—”

“They’re here to save us, right? Right?!”

“Help! Please, help us—we’re still alive!!”

Someone was still in disbelief, trembling hands clutching Mr. Shaw’s shirt. His wide, desperate eyes screamed for answers, like a drowning man clinging to his last hope.

Just then, a black G-Wagon skidded to a stop in front of them.

Everyone’s eyes locked on the dark SUV. Some of them were already crying, soot and ash smeared across their faces, looking utterly miserable in the flickering firelight.

But no one cared how they looked anymore. When you’re teetering on the edge of life and death, appearance is the last thing on your mind.

The next moment, one of them sprinted toward the car, pounding on the window with all his might as he shouted, voice hoarse with desperation, “Open up! Please, open the door! You’re here to save us, right?! You have to be! I don’t wanna die—I don’t wanna die—I don’t wanna die—!”

It was the same man who’d tried to escort Mr. Shaw into the inferno of the experimental zone earlier.

Maybe his frantic knocking worked—or maybe they really were here to help—because the car door was shoved open from the inside. The man froze mid-knock, hand suspended in the air.

“I-it’s the young miss! It’s really the young miss! She came to save us—she actually came—” someone beside Mr. Shaw shouted, instantly recognizing Raina.

“It’s her! It’s really her! We’re saved!”

“She really came… hahaha… thank God… sob…”

“I’m not gonna die—I’m not gonna die! Miss Carrington…!”

"Sob sob sob..."

Some people collapsed to the ground, crying and laughing all at once, their faces covered in dirt and ash. They looked absolutely unhinged.

Mr. Shaw somehow managed to stay upright. Flames roared all around them, but for the first time, his heart steadied—like a miracle in the chaos.

Raina strode toward them with purpose. “Can anyone still walk?” she shouted. “Help those who can’t. Get in the car, now! I’m getting you all out of here!”

Clearly, Mireille hadn’t planned on leaving them any chance to live—she’d lit fires outside the gates too. Now everything was burning, inside and out.

“Don’t panic! Move slowly—don’t rush! Help each other!” someone called, grabbing onto Mr. Shaw instinctively to keep him steady.

Raina reached Mr. Shaw just as he was about to collapse. He looked awful—hair singed, face and clothes covered in dust, grime, and dried blood.

He stared at Raina, red-rimmed eyes bloodshot and wild. His voice was hoarse, probably from the smoke. “M-Miss Carrington… you, how did you…”

Raina reached out to take him from the other man, but a steady hand appeared first.

“I’ve got him.”

It was Leif.

He’d gotten out of the car at some point and had quietly followed behind her.

Mr. Shaw didn’t recognize him, but seeing he’d come with Raina, he guessed he was an ally. At this point, he was in no position to be picky.

Raina pulled her hand back naturally. “The fire outside is spreading fast. We have to—”

“VROOOM—”

She didn’t even finish the sentence before a loud engine roar cut through the night. Her head snapped up, just in time to see the man who’d been banging on the door earlier now in the driver’s seat, flooring it straight for the base gates.

“Son of a bitch! That bastard—STOP THE CAR!” someone screamed.

“What the hell is he doing?!”

“He took the car! What are we supposed to do now?!”

“What the hell, Cove?! Get back here!!”

The SUV slammed through the gates and vanished into the flames.

Now fire raged on every side. The group was completely surrounded, orange-red walls of flame crackling and popping. The light reflected off their ashen faces—grim, tense… and increasingly hopeless.

Someone’s knees finally gave out, and they crumpled to the ground, sobbing. “W-what do we do now?! It’s all fire! We’re trapped—we’re going to die—”

CRASH—

The gate they had broken through earlier with Raina’s help couldn’t withstand the flames. The wall collapsed, bricks, stone, and twisted metal crashing down to seal off the exit completely.

When it rains, it pours.

Those who had been helping each other along now stared at the blocked gate, their faces filled with utter despair.

“Y-Young Miss… w-what do we do now?!” one of them asked hollowly, voice shaking with fear.

He didn’t expect an answer—his eyes were full of the same hopelessness as the others.

Raina narrowed her eyes and stared at the ruined gate. The fire was growing more intense by the second, heat pressing in from every direction. Sweat trickled down her forehead—whether from the heat or cold fear, even she wasn’t sure.

Leif was still helping Mr. Shaw stand. The older man hadn’t taken his eyes off Raina once. Even though he hadn’t seen her many times in the past, her face somehow felt strangely familiar… like it overlapped with a memory he couldn’t quite place.

He opened his mouth to speak… but stayed silent.

“The fire’s spreading. Are… are we gonna be burned alive here? Miss Carrington? Mr. Shaw? Someone say something—I’m scared…” someone whispered in a trembling voice.

“M-me too… being burned alive… it must hurt so bad…”

The speaker stopped mid-sentence, clearly recalling the horrific deaths of the patients in the experimental area earlier. Their eyes widened in terror, lips clamped shut.

Suddenly, Mr. Shaw whispered, “I’m sorry, Miss Carrington.”

Raina was lost in thought, hand propping up her chin, when she heard the apology. She turned to look at him in surprise.

“The fire wasn’t your fault, Uncle Shaw,” she said softly. “This isn’t on you.”

No, the fire wasn’t his doing. But if he hadn’t made that call… Raina wouldn’t have come. She wouldn’t be trapped here with them—waiting to die.

Before he could say anything else, she straightened up.

“Everyone—pull yourselves together,” she said firmly. “I have an idea.”

***