When all the present people gathered in front of the burning house, the first thing that crossed thomas's mind was 'what if there's someone inside that fire...'
He thought of going inside the house and looking, but the extreme heat that was coming out the house thwarted him instantly. He could not go further than being a good hundred feet away from the house. Nothing inside was likely to survive this fire.
"I'll call for help" Henry said out loud before turning away. Except for them two, none of those people who accompanied them seemed interested to watch the fire spread any further.
Its just an old warehouse on fire, what can possibly happen?
But among them, Thomas stood still. nothing seemed right in his view, 'why did a fire break out just when we were about to search this place...as if...someone wanted to get rid of the evidence'
He was also about to walk away, but then he heard a scream echoing in the wind calling for help. "what was that?"
"what?" henry asked confusedly.
"I thought i heard something..." not even after a second he was done speaking, he heard the cry of help again.
Again doubting his hearing, he looked up to henry. but this time, it was clear enough for both of them to hear. "Is somebody inside there?!?" the other one shouted.
thomas's terror mounted with every word, "It cant be...". the fire was so intense that they feared the victim has already died...
his heart felt uneasy, as if he was losing something really important to him "what if..." his throat tightened as he thought of the possibility.
"y/n!" Thomas was running inside when henry stopped him with all his strength, "Are you crazy!?! why would y/n be there!!"
In his trembling voice, thomas spoke out, "Dont you get it!! a fire broke out as soon as we issued for the search, its as if the captors are trying to get rid of her before we find this place!"
"We dont yet know for sure its her and the firetruck is on its way! we can wait-" but none of henry's words clicked sense in him. he was seized by an unreasoning panic. it occurred to him that the person was dead. breaking out from the other ones hold, thomas ran to the storehouse entrance.
"You Idiot!" trying to stop him again, henry also closed in. but as soon as Thomas was nowhere to be seen, a wooden wall fell down from one side and blocked the entrance.
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With continously screaming, y/n eventually lost her voice. she was half mad in frightment. her body felt numb, 'who am i kidding screaming for help...there's no one out there to help me'
She closed her eyes, wanting to remember something happy, but the only thought in her head was the fact that the fire will soon burn her down.
She needed to feel something deep, but there was only fear left. she needed something that meant... something! but she could only see the flames burning deep red infront... she wasn't ready to die...
Just then she heard a loud thumping, repeative sound. It was coming from far away. The sound was resulted from banging hardly on a door.
She assumed somebody from the captor's side was coming at her so she shouted with all her might, "Please save me! I promise I wont tell anyone about it! just let me live this time!"
'Wait...if they wanted to keep me alive, i wouldnt be here in the first place...?'
Cutting off her thoughts, a familliar voice echoed, "Is somebody in there?!" Walking out from the deep smokes, Thomas... was infront of her. She couldnt believe it, 'am i hallucinating?'
"y/n!" hugging her tightly in his arms, Thomas broke down in tears. he pulled her closer and spoke softly, "Its all right. Im here now." only after the tight hug began to hurt, did y/n realise it wasnt a dream...He was finally here to save her.
Thomas quickly withdrawed, "Lets get out of here before the fire gets even stronger-" reaching down his pocket, a knife was pulled out. the tightly knotted rope seemed more stronger than they expected. even after repeatively trying to cut it, he failed.
He cursed everytime he failed. the knife he always carried around for safety was nowhere near useful now.
left speechless, y/n could only stare. everything seemed like a dream and nightmare at the same time. she was relieved that, if this is meant to be her last moments, she could finally see thomas.
But his scent and warmth only made her panic increase. if they dont manage to get out of this place on time, thomas would be risking his life for her, "thomas..."
"Just hold on, I'll get you out of here."
with his continuous try, the rope was finally tore apart. but it would be a mistake if they thought they could just run out of there.
A month ago, y/n had lost control on one of her leg. It wasnt treated since. in result, she could barely stand up.
Even in this messed up situation, Thomas softened his voice as much as he could. but inside he was terrified in every bit of it. "can you walk...?" the other gave silence as response.
"..." He didnt know what y/n went through for the past month or if something terrible has happened to her while he wasnt there.
And now, all of a sudden, they were fighting for their lives. he feared that if anything goes wrong, he might lose her forever...
putting one of her arm around his shoulder, he supported her broken leg. y/n was almost losing her consciousness with inhaling the smoke for too long.
His eyes were burning but he had to keep them wide open and look for a way out.
Finally, there was a sight of exit. but the roof above was about to collapse any moment. as they carefully avoided the burning areas and walked towards it, the wall behind then broke down. it only meant one thing, no returning.
"Its all right, we can find a way out...just hold on to me." but just as they feared, the entrance was blocked again with loud noise. they couldnt make it out on time.
Thomas glanced, and found that y/n was almost out of breathe. He quickly put her down on a dry corner, "hey, stay with me."
There was fear in her eyes. a good reason for it existed behind that fear. she was afraid that someone else's life was in danger because of her. still, she wasn't going to let it happen easily.
she reached up and tried to grab his hand, trying to pull him down to her level. he quickly did so to hear her out. to his surprise, she was... smilling.
"Thomas...Im really glad you came to save me...but- you should leave me...and get out of here." her way of thinking enraged the other one.
It resulted him in shouting, "Are you insane? If i were to leave you here, i wouldnt have come here for you in the first place."
Looking back, they noticed that the fire had doubled from the last time they saw it. "I went through hell while looking for you and I would do it again if it means we both can walk out of here safely. "
"You don't understand... you can't die because of me!... leave me here—" Thomas cut up her words before she could speak any further. "I won't leave you again. Not now, not ever."
He supported her again as they both stood up. Finding no way out of that place, they continued to walk on the dry spots. He knew that every exit was destroyed by the fire. But he refused to give up...
'This guy really dont understand that we're about to die here' y/n thought as her hands involuntarily cupped his face. her breathing started to slow down as she stared at him, "If we...really manage...to get out of here..."
"Stop struggling-"
"Lets watch the fireworks again."
As soon as her words reached him, the time stopped for a second. he felt like everything around him dissappeared...
why was he suddenly so afraid...? what did those words mean to him...? why did she say it in a time like this...'It cant be-'
The warm hand that once held his face slowly slipped off before he could hold it. "No!"
Her eyes closed before he could see the light in them, "y/n!"
"You cant leave me like this! wake up!" He shouted again and again. but as if his words had disappeared in the air, nothing reached her.
Her vision was slowly started to fade away. all she could see was fire raging around her. Thomas kept calling her name, but she heard nothing. She saw him burst into tears, but she couldnt move a finger.
She dragged him down and left first.