Wounded Hearts

Chapter 18: Fire

Faith's POV

"I like it...very impressive but it needs more work. So go back and develop on it as soon as possible" I said blankly and went back to my files. "what?...I thought it was amazing. Her ideas were creative and her images were of high quality. Sarah I think you did well....I want you to progress on this idea" Atlas said making me grit my teeth. "I am the head of this project Mr Williams so I am the one who makes the decisions" I spat while looking through my files. "and I am the owner of this place, so I over take you with the decisions Faith. Sarah you can leave now" he said with a sigh. After hearing the door shut, I slammed the file on the table and turned towards him giving him a hard glare. "You need to learn to stay out of my business Mr Williams" I said calmly but with a cold tone.

He sighed again and closed his eyes "Please...please call me by my name...I'm dying to hear my name from your lips Fai...." he said with a hurtful voice. I continued looking down as I fist my hands. I shook my head as I was tired of this....of him...of everything. "Just-" a ringtone cut me off causing me to attend the office call. "Yes" I said through the phone. "Ma'am you have a dinner meeting at 3pm today" my PA said. I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed leaning back into my chair, looking up at the ceiling. "Ok..." I said and ended the call. "Who was it?" a voiced asked me causing me to clench my jaw. "Non of your business" I spat and stood up.

I felt a hand on my wrist pulling me back. "Don't be so cold towards me Fai...please....I can deal with your anger as I deserve it but please don't be so cold to me Fai...it hurts" he said with so much emotion that nearly made me feel bad for him until I realized what he said. I yanked my hand from his and stepped back. "you feel hurt?" I scoffed. I shook my head in disappointment "you're disgusting" I said not wanting to go in detail while he looked at me in shock. "Fai-".."you feel hurt because I'm cold towards you...then I must have felt happy the way you treated me in the past right?" I mocked causing him to look away in guilt and regret. "Fai I-"....."I have an important meeting to attend...excuse me" I said and turned to leave.

"Wait...I'll come with you" he said rushing towards me. I stayed silent and continued walking. He kept following me like a lost puppy which was getting annoying. This wasn't the first time, he would follow me everywhere like how a baby duck follows his mother. I stopped and turned to glare at him. "Stop following me and no...you are not attending the meeting with me" I said with a cold tone. He sighed and stepped closer. "I am coming no matter what" he said with a stubborn tone. I mentally groaned and turned, leaving the building.

I entered my car and saw him walking towards the other side of my car. 'No way am I letting him in', I thought to myself. I locked the car from the inside when he tried opening the door. "Fai...stop being childish and open the door" he said with a glare and tried opening the door. I gave him a smirk and turned on the engine. His eyes widened when I reversed the car and started speeding off. I saw him rush towards his car from my mirror. "Serves him right" I muttered.

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"Ughhh what the f**k is happening here?" I gritted out, honking my horn as I was stuck in traffic. I stuck my head out of my window and continued honking the horn. I got back in and huffed throwing my hands in the air. "f*****g hell" I muttered. Police cars flew past, sirens screaming as they drove past giving me a damn headache. I was stuck in this traffic for at least an hour and I was already late to a dinner meeting. What on earth is happening?.

"Excuse me" I shouted sticking my head out of my car window, calling out to the driver next to me who had his window down. He looked at me and gave me a nod "do you know what's going here?" I asked with irritation. "You should turn the radio on Ma'am.....the school on the corner has been caught on fire that's why we are all stuck in this traffic" he said with a sad face.

'Poor children' I thought to myself. My heart ached for those poor children. I hope they are all safe. I turned on my radio and turned the volume up. "The roads have been blocked for a while due to a fire at Valery Primary School. Fortunately the Juniors have made it out safely...but the infants are yet to be saved. If you are stuck in the M65 road then it will take time for the traffic to end. Police and the fire brigade have surrounded the school....for more updates, keep listening to BBC Radio" I froze when I heard the name of the school.

'Valery Primary School? isn't that the school that kiddo-' . I gasped realizing that Atlas's kid attends that school. I don't know why but my heart started beating fast in fear knowing he was stuck. Without thinking I got out of my car and started running through the traffic towards the school which was nearby ignoring all the shouts. "Hey lady are you crazy?"......"WTF...are you crazy you woman?"

I continued running as I breathed heavily. "f**k, I hope he is fine...he has to be fine....he has too" I muttered to myself as I ran. I stopped running when I saw a massive amount of smoke. Police cars and fire fighters were surrounding the school which was now burnt down. They were spraying the building with water but the fire was too strong as it increased. The school was blocked with yellow tapes preventing people from going forward. I heard screams of parents crying for their kids. I pushed through the people trying to reach the front. I could see the firefighters bringing out the children one by one while some were taken towards the ambulance. "I think that's all of them. There are probably 2 kids left now but they are stuck in the higher part of the building. I don't think we will be able to make it up there as that's where the fire has spread the most" a fire fighter said causing myself to freeze in worry and fear.

I trailed my eyes through the crowd to see if the kiddo is there. I started panicking when I didn't find him. Without any fear or thought I stepped over the tape and ran towards the burning building. "I'm coming for you kiddo, hold on" I muttered to myself with slight tears falling out. "OII...MA'AM STOP...YOU CAN'T GO IN THERE...MA'AM!" someone shouted but I ignored him. I could hear the police yell at me at the back and I knew they were running behind me but I didn't care as kiddo was my main priority and concern.

I entered the burning building feeling a burst of heat hit my face. I started coughing as smoke filled my lungs. Luckily I had a scarf around my neck and covered my mouth with it. I carefully walked past the burning wood that was falling from above. "KIDDO...LEO!" I shouted coughing in between. "MOMMA!" I heard a yell from the opposite side. I quickly ran towards the voice but stopped when a plank of wood fell in front of me making me scream "Ahhh". I quickly moved to the side not wanting to get burned and ran towards the voice.

"LEO...WHERE ARE YOU LEO?...SHOUT FOR ME BABY!" I yelled while coughing. "MOMMA!" he yelled again which was now close. I stood in front of a classroom which was now destroyed due to the fire. "MOMMA...MOMMA!" I heard cries from the same room. My heart pumped fast in fear. 'How was I going to go past this?.'

I took a deep breath and made a small pray. I slowly stepped over the wood that was on fire. "I'M COMING FOR YOU BABY....HOLD ON" I yelled. I could see two heads under the table and sighed in relief seeing he was ok but not for long. I finally approached him while he cried. "Shhh it's okay baby...it's okay...come here" I opened my arms for him. His face was filled with black charcoal due to the smoke. He coughed and came into my arms hugging me tightly as he cried. "Shh it's okay, I'm here to save you. You are a brave boy right?" I asked him cupping his cheeks. He hiccupped while sobbing and nodded his head "then I want you to stay strong for me baby. I'm going to get you and your friend out okay?" I spoke with a loving voice while he nodded with tears hugging me tightly. I gave him a tight hug, kissing him on his forehead.

I helped the other child out and gave him a hug. I could feel the heat increasing indicating I had to get out of here as soon as possible or else we are roasted. I took a few deep breaths and gave the boys an encouraging smile. I picked kiddo in my arms and held the other kid's hand who was slightly smaller. I slowly started to walk out of the classroom but when I turned fire was everywhere. I could hear cries while I teared up myself but I wasn't going to give up. I felt kiddo cry into my neck as he clinged onto me for life.

"Ok...let's do this" I mumbled trying to encourage myself and started walking. I put kiddo down and helped him jump over some plank of woods as well as the other kid. I then jumped over the wood and ran towards the exit. I turned to the other kid and asked him to run as fast as he could as the door was opened. He cried giving me a scared look. "I'm right behind you sweetheart. I promise nothing will happen to you. I want you to run as fast as you can and run out of that door" I comforted him. He cried but gave me a nod. "Ready?....1....2....3 RUN!" I yelled causing him to run with his little legs. Once I saw him get out I sighed in relief. Now it was me and kiddo left.

He kept clinging onto me as he sobbed. "Ok baby now we need to run...I want you to hold on me tight ok?" I said cupping his cheeks. "I...I wuv (love) you momma" he cried making me tear up. I took the scarf off my mouth and wrapped it around his mouth so that the smoke doesn't damage his lungs. I picked him up and took another deep breath. I looked at the door ignoring the fire that surrounded us. I started to feel light headed as the smoke got into my mouth and eyes but shook my head. "Ok...ok we can do this" I whispered.

I then ran and ran holding onto kiddo as tight as I could. "Ahhh" I screamed when a plank of wood hit my arm which was burnt but continued running. I ran and ran and was nearing the door until a massive plank of wood blocked my way blowing fire in front of us. I screamed and backed out as quick as possible. I could see the firefighters in front of the door yelling for us. I coughed, feeling dizzy but didn't give up.

I looked at the kiddo and saw her (Melissa) in him. I started to tear up thinking about what I was going to do. Dario's face flashed in front of my mind as tears fell out of my red eyes. I held kiddo from under his arms while he looked at me confused, fresh tears continuing rolling down his eyes. I looked at the men in front who were holding their arms out with blankets. I then screamed and threw him towards the men with as much strength I had as the door was closer. "MOMMMMA!" I heard a cry.

I fell to the ground as the fire surrounded me. I started to cough as smoke filled my lungs. I took a glance towards the door, feeling relieved that they caught him. All of a sudden everything started going blurry. I could hear yells but they started to die out as the fire got stronger. I started sweating as I felt the heat take over burning my skin. My whole life flashed in front of my face, my mother, my father, my two older brothers, everything just flashed in front of my eyes. I miss them all. My eyes slowly started to close, the heat becoming stronger.

"Dario" I whispered before darkness took over my mind.