Amidst the chaos caused by the fire, Soren felt as though time itself had suddenly come to a halt.
The world around him moved in frantic bursts of motion, villagers shouting, feet pounding against the dirt road, buckets of water sloshing as people rushed toward the burning building. Yet to Soren, everything seemed distant and strangely muffled, like he had been pulled into a silent space where only one thing existed.
The flames roared violently as they devoured the wooden structure, bright tongues of fire crawling hungrily along the walls and roof. Thick smoke poured into the sky, dark and suffocating, carrying with it the sharp smell of burning wood and ash.
But what made Soren's chest tighten painfully was not the fire itself.
It was the screams.
From inside the building, faint yet unmistakable cries echoed through the chaos.
Small voices filled with terror called out for help, some crying and some are screaming in panic as the fire spread around them.
"Help! Please!"
