Tears blurred my vision as my thoughts ran wild, messy and loud in my head. Nothing made sense anymore. Then, through the crackling heat, a voice cut through everything.
"Vivian!"
My head snapped up. Through the flames, I saw him—running straight toward me like nothing else mattered.
"Fabian…" My throat burned as I forced the words out. "I—I'm here… here…"
He heard me. Of course he did. He always could. He rushed forward, but the fire at the doorway roared higher, blocking him out. He tried to force his way in, lifting the extinguisher, but it gave out with a useless hiss.
Panic clawed at my chest.
Was this it? Was I really going to die here?
Then, before I could think again, Fabian threw the extinguisher aside and stepped straight into the flames.
"Fabian, no!"
My heart nearly stopped. The fire was wild, hungry, but he didn't slow down. He moved like something deeper than reason was driving him—like instinct had taken over, something raw and unbreakable.
