Ambervale Island
Savannah felt the heavy, humid air as she hurried through the village. The usual calm had turned into a tense, electric atmosphere. A woman's cries cut through the quiet of the vaccination day, breaking the sense of normalcy everyone had been trying to keep up for weeks.
Elijah was right behind her, a calming presence, but Savannah barely noticed him as she focused on the woman's scared face. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her eyes were full of fear. Savannah crouched down, her heart racing, and tried to reach out to her. "What happened?" she asked gently, hoping to help the woman speak.
"I-my sister," the woman gasped, trying to catch her breath. "She's not breathing. She's... Laying unconscious." Savannah felt a rush of urgency. She knew she had to act fast. "Okay, stay with me," she said, looking the woman in the eyes, trying to keep her calm. "Sit here and take some deep breaths. Someone will help you."
She stood up fast, looking around for other volunteers. "Jenna! Can you help her? Just stay with her and make sure she's okay," she shouted, already heading back the way the woman came from. Elijah was right beside her, his presence a comfort. "Should I take the lead?" he asked, but Savannah shook her head. "No. I know the way. Just stick with me."
They rushed through the village, their footsteps loud in the quiet. As they got closer to the woman's house, Savannah's mind was spinning with thoughts. Was it a medical emergency? Did she need to do CPR? Her training came flooding back, giving her a sense of purpose.
They reached the house, and Savannah pushed the door open. The hinges groaned. Inside, the air felt heavy and tense. She saw the sister lying on the floor, motionless, and her instincts took over.
"Elijah, call for backup!" she shouted, kneeling beside the unconscious woman. "And grab the first-aid kit!" Elijah nodded and took off, leaving Savannah alone with the woman. She checked for breathing, her heart pounding as the seconds dragged on. No sign of breath. Fear started to rise, but she pushed it down. She could handle this.
"Okay, focus," she muttered to herself, checking for a pulse. It was weak, but it was there. A wave of relief hit her, but she knew she couldn't waste any time. She began CPR, counting carefully, and urged the woman to keep fighting.
Just as she was about to check for a pulse again, she heard Elijah's hurried footsteps coming back. "I've got the kit!" he shouted, out of breath but ready to help. Savannah looked up at him, her eyes filled with desperation.
"We need to keep her breathing, Elijah! I need your help!" They worked together, focused on the task at hand. The world outside faded away, leaving only their struggle to save a life inside those walls. She wasn't going to let this woman die. Not now. Not after everything they'd been through on this island.
Twenty minutes later
Savannah knelt beside the lifeless body, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. They had fought hard for twenty minutes, trying to push back the overwhelming despair. But now, all that was left was silence, and it felt like a personal failure.
The woman's sister had passed away, leaving Savannah with a deep ache in her heart. Elijah's steady hand on her shoulder brought her back to the moment. "Savannah, it's not your fault," he said softly, his voice a calm presence in the chaos. She wanted to believe him, but the memory of the woman's desperate face kept haunting her. She just couldn't let it go.
She stood up, and something strange caught her eye. Dark, prominent dots, kind of like freckles, were showing up on her arms. A knot of worry formed in her stomach. "Elijah," she called out, her voice getting a bit higher. "Check this out." He turned around, his eyebrows pulling together as he moved closer.
Savannah showed him her arms, the spots clear to see. "Any idea what this is?" she asked, trying not to let her growing panic show. It was Savannah, she had a habit of asking people whoever beside the question that was only relevant to her, maybe she forgot this time it was Elijah who had no idea about anything about this.
"I'm not sure," Elijah said, his face changing from calm to worried. "I'll go call for help." He rushed outside, and Savannah's heart pounded as she waited for him to come back. The minutes dragged on, feeling like hours, as she looked at the dots, each one a reminder of the chaos they'd just been through.
What if this was contagious? What if it was connected to the woman's condition? She glanced back at the woman's body, the weight of what had happened sinking in. They needed answers, and they needed them now.
Finally, Elijah came back with the head of the volunteers and two others. They burst in, looking worried. "What's going on?" the head volunteer asked, glancing between Savannah and the lifeless woman"Check this out," Savannah said, holding out her arms. "These spots just showed up. I have no idea what they are, but they look pretty scary."
The group leaned in, their faces changing from worried to puzzled. "Do you think this is related to her condition?" the head volunteer asked, his voice tinged with worry. Savannah shook her head, feeling frustrated. "I have no idea! But we need to figure out if this is dangerous. What if more people start showing signs? We can't let this get out of hand."
The volunteers looked at each other, the gravity of the situation hitting them hard. "We need to get the medical team here," the head volunteer said, her voice calm even though Savannah's heart was pounding with panic. "No point taking risks. We'll keep you isolated for now and gather the info we need." Savannah nodded, her heart racing. "Please, we have to hurry. If this is an outbreak, we can't let it spread to anyone else on the island."
As the volunteers got to work, Savannah felt a mix of fear and resolve. She couldn't save her, but maybe she could stop more people from getting hurt. They were all in this together, and she wasn't about to give up now.
Baldwin's mansion
Blaze sat behind his mahogany desk, the dim light making long shadows in the corners of the room. The city's problems weighed heavy on him, but he loved the power that came with it. Across from him, Arthur flipped through a stack of papers, his fingers moving quickly and smoothly. "Rodriguez really went all out this time," Arthur said, looking up with a raised eyebrow. "His third-party company is full of scams and cons. The bigger the players, the deeper their pockets."
Blaze leaned forward, really curious. "Spill it. Who's he ripping off?" Arthur slid a file across the table. "Check this out. He's scammed some big shots-investors, politicians, even a couple of famous celebs. They're all eating out of his hand."
Blaze's lips curved into a smirk as he looked over the names. "Impressive. But he's taking a big risk. Someone's bound to catch on sooner or later." Arthur nodded, tapping a pen on the desk. "That's the tricky part. He's been using his connections to stay under the radar. He knows how to work the system."
"Yeah, he sure does," Blaze said, leaning back in his chair, his mind spinning. "But everyone makes a mistake eventually. What's his real plan? Is he just after the money, or is there something bigger he's working on?"
Arthur started typing fast, checking out Rodriguez's latest transactions and business moves. "Seems like he's trying to set up a legit front. if he keeps the scam going while growing his biz, he could really plant his feet in the city."
"Not if we have a say in it," Blaze cut in, his voice sharp. "We can't let him get that kind of hold. We need to show him who's really in charge."
Arthur looked thoughtful. "Let's bring in Santos and Mendez. If we can win them over, we can put Rodriguez in a tight spot from every angle."
Arthur's fingers paused over the keyboard. "It's risky. If they find out what we're planning -" "Then we make sure they don't," Blaze cut in, his voice icy. "I need you to set up meetings. Let them know we're interested in a partnership-something that can take down Rodriguez's empire bit by bit." Arthur nodded, thinking hard. "And if we get the chance, we can strike while they're distracted. Hit them hard and fast before they even realize what's happening."
"Yeah" Blaze said, feeling a rush of adrenaline from the upcoming confrontation. "We'll present ourselves as the saviors, the ones who can protect their interests and take out a common enemy." He paused, thinking about the men who would join this plan-his best guys, chosen for their loyalty and toughness. "We need to get the crew together. I want them on high alert, ready for anything. This isn't just a business deal; it's a war."
With that, Blaze leaned back in his chair, feeling the excitement of the game light up inside him. The city was like a chessboard, and he was ready for his next move.
Author's Note :
I know I'm taking too much time letting Blaze and Savannnah have a day full of romance but.... I can't help :(
Happy reading<3
Have a good day/night <3<3