The Fire

Chapter Four – The Fire

Maya’s POV

A Month After

I sat inside my small private lounge at the back of the event hall, far from the noise. My hands were shaking slightly as I touched my forehead. I didn’t feel okay these days, I just tried to keep on pretending using the drug my friend prescribed for me to use, but it didn’t get any better and I don’t like going to the hospital.

After using the morning drug, My body was warm. My stomach… strange. I didn’t understand what was wrong.

Maybe it was the stress. Maybe it was everything that had happened lately.

I had lost my home. My husband. My peace and everything that I thought I had.

And now… I couldn’t even rest.

I placed my hand gently over my belly, pressing it lightly. There was no pain… just a strange feeling I couldn’t explain. A feeling that scared me.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm my mind.

Suddenly, my phone rang. The sharp sound made my heart jump.

I picked it up.

“Hello?”

“Maya… Maya!” It was one of the security men at Denim Company. His voice was rushed. Scared. “Something terrible has happened!”

My heart dropped.

“What happened?” I asked, already standing up.

“There’s fire, ma’am. A big one. The company… it’s burning!”

My mouth opened, but no sound came out.

I froze.

No. No, it can’t be.

“What… what do you mean?” I asked again, my voice shaking.

“The main building is gone, ma’am. It’s almost gone. People are running everywhere. I think it’s an attack. We don’t know yet…”

My hand dropped.

The phone slipped from my fingers and fell to the floor.

No strength left.

I rushed to the bathroom and leaned over the sink, throwing up everything inside me.

Tears came out with it.

I couldn’t breathe. I held the wall and slid down, sitting on the cold tiles, trying not to cry too loud. But the pain was too much.

This company… this company was all I had left. My father’s dream. My hard work.

Gone?

I forced myself up, even though my knees were weak. I cleaned my face with tissue and walked out.

Tasha saw me and ran over. “Maya! What’s wrong? You’re pale!”

“I have to go,” I whispered.

“Where? Maya, you don’t look okay, I just think you need to go away from the country right now, where’s your passport?”

“You don’t need to hide it from me Tasha, I have heard, the security man have called me, what have I done to deserve all these in the past days”

“I want you to know this is just a phase, a challenge, you will pass through this and testify, you don’t have to go there right now, I will take care of all, you can’t go to the company to see what’s going on there, it is not good for you”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t even stop to think.

I just left.

By the time I got to the site of the company, thick black smoke was everywhere. Fire trucks. Police cars. Crowds. Reporters.

It was real.

It was gone.

I stood still, in front of what used to be my company.

My legs trembled.

The air smelled of smoke and fear.

People were shouting. Some were crying. The roof had fallen in. The name sign had melted.

My breath caught in my throat.

I took one slow step forward.

Another.

Then my eyes went black.

And I fell.

I didn't hit the ground.

Someone had caught me.

Strong arms.

A familiar voice.

"Maya, Maya” he called me out, “Do not worry, I have got you, okay?”

My head was on a warm chest. I tried to open my eyes but couldn't.

Everything was spinning around me.

"Maya! Stay with me!"

It was him. The man from the hotel. Garrett.

I heard his voice again, shouting at someone. "Call an ambulance now!”

He scooped me up in his arms and carried me like I didn't weigh anything. His grip was hard, but gentle. Like he was afraid I would break.

I was half-asleep.

I could hear him speaking as he rushed me into the rear of his car.

"It's alright," he whispered to me again. "You'll be fine. Just don't leave me."

My fingers extended slowly, reaching for something—anything.

His hand covered mine.

"I'm here," he said to me, as if he overheard me think. "I'm not going anywhere."

And in that instant… in spite of everything that I had lost…

I felt safe.

For just a moment.