chapter 22. Shush, I am here

[chapter 22. Shush, I am here]

The servant's voice was barely audible over the blaring fire alarm as he announced, "Sir, the left wing is on fire." Panic set in as everyone in the room jumped to their feet, running for the exits.

Theodore's heart raced with concern as he frantically searched the crowd, "Where is Liliana?" The fear in Theodore's chest grew with each passing moment as he pushed through the crowd, his legs carrying him towards the left wing of the mansion where Liliana's cries for help wailed over the blaring fire alarm.

Wilson and Garold were already at work as Garold moved to evacuate all the people in the west wing to a safe location.

Theodore's heart was heavy with relief as he saw Liliana and held her close, tears streaming down his face as he thanked the gods that she was safe.

"Liliana," he hugged her shoulder- moving her away from the fire. "S-Sameul," she breathed. "He is in his room within the fire." Theodore's body stilled.

Lilian stood in the middle of the room, her eyes wide with terror as she watched the raging fire spread through the west wing of the Mariano estate, engulfing everything in its path in a sea of flames and smoke.

"Samuel," she exclaimed, her voice laced with panic. "He has asthma. He won't be able to breathe in all this smoke."

Maxim grabbed her. "You are running towards the fire."

"Leave me."

She pushed him, and his eyes widened at her strength. Quick on foot, Selena ran towards the fire, her mind blurring the shouts behind her.

As Liliana spoke, Selena, who was standing next to her, suddenly sprang into action, her mind made up to save her brother, Samuel, who was trapped upstairs in his bedroom. "I'll go get him," she said, her voice determined.

Before anyone could stop her, Selena had already run off towards the stairs, the flames growing closer and closer with each passing moment. Liliana's heart raced with fear and anxiety as she watched Selena disappear into the smoke.

"Selena!" she exclaimed, but it was too late. Theodore's eyes darkened, ready to go and save his children.

But before he could take another step, a hand reached out and stopped him. "Boss," Wilson said, his voice urgent. "Let us do it. You can't risk your life like that."

Theodore looked at his secretary, his eyes blazing with determination. "I can't stand here and do nothing," he said, his voice fierce. "My children are in there. I have to save them."

Wilson nodded, his determination matching Theodore's. "I understand," he said. "But let us go in instead. We got trained for situations like this. You have to think about the bigger picture, about what's best for the company and your family."

Theodore hesitated, torn between his desire to save his children and his responsibility as the head of the company. Finally, he nodded, his expression grim. "Fine," he said, his voice laced with pain. "But you have to bring them out. No matter what it takes."

----

The heat was intense, and her skin was starting to blister from the flames. She could hear the sound of the roof collapsing behind her, but she pushed herself forward, determined to find her brother.

Selena's heart raced as she entered Samuel's room, the heat and smoke making it difficult to see. She could hear his coughs and wheezes, the sound of him struggling to breathe. She could see his silhouette, writhing in pain as the flames licked at his feet.

She rushed to him, her heart pounding with fear and worry. Crouching beside him, she could see the struggle etched on his face as he tried to gasp for air. "Can you breathe?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern as she reached out to touch his chest, feeling the ragged rise and fall of his breaths.

His eyes were wide, panicked, and sweat beaded his forehead as he struggled for each inhale. Selena could see the heat of the fire reflected in his eyes, and she knew they had to get out of there fast. She scanned the room, looking for a way to help him breathe. She spotted a pillow and grabbed it, tearing off the cover and using a nearby water jug to soak it.

She pressed the damp cloth to his face, hoping it would help him filter out some smoke. She pressed the pillow to Samuel's face, urgently urging him to breathe through the wet fabric, her heart pounding with fear and urgency as she watched Samuel struggling to inhale. She could see the relief etched on his face as he finally started to breathe more easily.

She helped him to stand up and supported him as they made their way to the door. She knew they had to get out fast, the fire was spreading rapidly, and the heat was becoming unbearable.

"Selena, Samuel!" Wilson shouted as he rushed into the youngest room. His body visibly relaxed as he caught sight of the two of them, but the relief was short-lived as he noticed Samuel struggling to breathe. Without any hesitation, Selena turned to Wilson, her voice urgent. "Carry him," she commanded, already moving to assist.

"I've got him," Wilson called out, lifting Samuel onto his back. "Miss, we need to go now," he urged, his eyes flicking to the flames rapidly engulfing the room.

"Right behind you," Selena said, her heart pounding with adrenaline. She followed Wilson as he kicked open the door, the heat, and smoke nearly overwhelming as they struggled to make their way out of the burning building.

Flames licked at the walls; the heat intense on their skin. Selena's eyes darted around frantically, searching for a way out. The smoke was thick and acrid, making it hard to see and breathe.

Wilson grunted as he hoisted Samuel onto his back, the younger man's coughing fits growing more frequent. Selena could see the sweat pouring down Wilson's face, the strain of carrying a limp body clear on his face.

"Come on," she shouted, her voice barely audible over the roar of the fire. She kicked at the door, the wood already starting to burn and crumble. It budged slightly but didn't give way. "Fuck," she swore, redoubling her efforts.

Finally, the door gave way, and they stumbled down the stairs. Selena's eyes stung, and her lungs felt raw, but they were alive.

Wilson moved forward, rushing.

Selena stopped and turned back to the flames.

----

"Selena!" Wilson shouted; his voice filled with urgency as he searched for the young miss. Liliana's gaze followed his, a feeling of dread settling in her stomach as they both realized she was missing.

Theodore's heart dropped.

"My research," Samuel gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "My server, it's burning. All my files."

"Forget about that right now," Maxim hissed. His eyes scanned the raging inferno for any sign of Selena. "Where is she?"

Wilson's face paled as he realized the seriousness of the situation. Selena was missing, and the fire was spreading rapidly. He knew they had to act fast if they wanted to save her. He turned to Liliana and Samuel, his voice firm, and determined.

"We have to find Selena. Now."

The roar of the fire trucks' engines could be heard growing louder and louder as they raced to the scene. The bright red and orange lights illuminated the darkness, casting an eerie glow on the burning building.

As Wilson and Maxim prepared to re-enter the burning building, they spotted a figure emerging from the thick smoke. It was Selena, coughing and stumbling towards them, her hands clutching three hard drives tightly. Liliana rushed to Selena's side, her eyes widening at her daughter's scorched hands.

"I am fine," she croaked, pushing Liliana away. She stumbled as she picked it up, her fingers shaking as she unlocked it. Her reddened eyes, prickled with smoke, slowly widened as she saw the notification on the screen. Hayate's location was still in the estate.

Panic set in as she realized he could be in the fire. The smoke was now so thick it was hard to see or breathe. She had to find him.

Tears streamed down her face as she called out his name, her voice hoarse with fear, her heart pounding with worry. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him, not now, not ever.

How many deaths of her loved ones was she going to see before her eighteen birthday?

"Hayate," a rough breath left her lips.

The voices around her were ringing as her mind buzzed with a sense of urgency. She needed to find Hayate. The smoke and heat were overwhelming, but she couldn't let him get trapped in the inferno.

"Hayate," she cried out in desperation, tears streaming down her face. Her heavy body pushed through Liliana's hold, moving her legs back to the blazing fire. Maxim captured her in his arms.

Her heart pounded with fear and anxiety as she struggled against him, tears streaming down her face. "Let go of me," she cried out, her voice trembling with emotion. Maxim, confused by the sudden shift in her state, tried to calm her down, but she was determined to reach the other side where the fire was raging.

She could feel the panic rising in her chest, her mind racing with the thought of losing Hayate forever. The fire was raging all around them, and time was running out. She had to find him, no matter what the cost.

"Selena," Theodore's voice laced with unease as he looked at his daughter struggling in Maxim's arms. She was determined to reach the other side of the room, where the fire was burning the wing down. "Calm down, sweetheart," he said as he inched closer to her. Maxim winced as she kicked his shin, ready to run into the fire.

A strong hand grabbed Selena and pulled her into a firm chest. "Shush, moon, shush. I am here," a soothing voice whispered, patting her back.

"Hayate," she cried, pulling him closer.

~~~~

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