Ease her pain

Smoke was already curling into the room from the hallway. The acrid scent of burning plastic and chemicals hit me like a punch to the face.

I grabbed my phone and shoved it in my pocket. "Where's the stairwell?"

"That way!" Mia pointed. "But people are stuck!"

I followed her out of the office, the hallway thick with smoke and chaos. People pushed past us, some coughing, others crying.

Then there was a deafening explosion from below. The ground trembled. Lights flickered, then died, replaced only by emergency exit signs and the glow of fire.

We reached the stairwell, a few people were trying to help others down. My eyes burned, lungs tightening.

"Come on!" Mia pulled my wrist. But I hesitated.

The guards. Where were they?

I turned and looked down the hallway behind us, a shadow moved. "EMILY!"

Jonathan appeared, coughing hard but pushing through the smoke. "Marco’s on his way. We need to move. Now."

He grabbed me and Mia, and helped us down the stairs. But the heat was rising.

By the third floor, thick smoke made it nearly impossible to see. The walls were glowing orange now, flames licking up from below. Someone ahead of us slipped and fell, and people screamed.

"Back! Back!" Jonathan yelled. "We need another way!"

Another explosion rocked the staircase, dust and debris rained down from above.

Jonathan cursed, then kicked open a door into a hallway. We followed, running blindly through offices and conference rooms until finally we saw a window.

Jonathan smashed it with a chair, letting in a gust of clean air. "Stay here!"

He grabbed his radio. I could hear him shouting into it. "Marco, she's with me. Fifth floor, east side. Fire's too strong. We need air support or we're stuck."

Mia was sobbing, crouched in a corner. I moved to her, trying to stay calm. But my hands were shaking. My skin felt like it was burning. Every breath felt heavier.

A sudden loud noise from outside drew our attention. A helicopter? No. It was Marco’s car, driving fast. The screech of tires rang out from the courtyard below. 

Another explosion rocked the floor. This one was close.

Jonathan turned to me. "He’s coming in. I don’t know how, but he’s coming."

Moments later, Marco himself appeared in the smoke, covered in soot, his eyes were blazing. He ran straight for me.

"Emily!"

He didn’t waste time. He yanked off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders, then turned to Camille and barked at the guard, "Get her out. Now."

He looked back at me. "You okay?"

I nodded, tears in my eyes. I wanted to collapse into him, but there was no time.

We made our way back to the stairwell—Marco in front, Jonathan covering the rear. The path was half-blocked by debris, but they cleared it enough for us to get through. 

We burst out into the courtyard, coughing and gasping.

Marco turned to the guard. "Get them to the car. Take them home."

"What about you?" I choked out.

"I’m making sure no one else is trapped."

He turned and ran back inside before I could say another word.

The building would be on every news channel within the hour. Marco’s team handled everything before the fire trucks even arrived. By nightfall, the official report would say: accidental electrical fault.

But I knew better, and so did Marco.

MARCO'S POV

It was already late by the time I finished rescuing everyone. 

I walked towards my car, the figure of Emily sitting inside sleeping came to view. I hastened my pace, I opened the car door gently and stepped inside. 

How can someone look so innocent, she slept peacefully without a care in the world. I wished she hadn't been dragged into this world. 

But as long as she was the daughter of Mr Harper, she was already drawn into this world the moment she came from her mother's womb. 

She stirred and her eyes fluttered open, her long lashes blinking seductively at me. I wish she knew the effect the little things she did had on me. 

She sat up immediately she saw me “are you okay?” She asked calmly, her eyes searching my body for any sign of injury. 

“I'm fine Em, I told you to go home.” 

“I was waiting for you.” She withdrew her hand, looking slightly hurt.

“You didn't have to.” I turned, focusing on the Engine. 

What is wrong with me? Just a moment ago I was terrified that I'd lose her to that fire and now I was being cold to her. 

I looked at her with the corner of my eye, she was fighting the tears. 

I removed my hand from the steering and held her shoulder, pulling her to myself. 

“I don't want to hurt you Em, you're too innocent for my world.” 

“It's too late, I'm in your world, I was born into this world, remember?” She looked up, her eyelashes were wet from her unwashed tears. She blinked innocently at me. 

I couldn't resist, I brought my lips down and kissed her, all I wanted to do was ease her pain.