Anguish

Without thinking, I broke into a run, Jay hot on my heels. As we got closer, the heat hit us full force, and the sight of the burning building came into full view. Flames danced wildly over the front of the store, consuming everything in their path. A crowd had gathered, people standing there, staring in shock, but no one was doing anything.

A few of them recognize used us. I could hear we a couple of them sayingng

“Hey are those her boys?!”

“Mom!” Jay screamed, skidding to a halt in front of the entrance.

I didn’t stop. Without a second thought, I ran straight for the door, ignoring Jay’s panicked voice calling after me. Flames roared around me, heat pressing down from all sides, but I pushed through, trying to keep my focus.

When I came out in the other side I felt like I had entered hell itself fire burned everywhere, flickering and dancing around the room. Dark black Smoke filled the ceiling as everything burned away.

The air was suffocating, I could hardly breath. I regretted not taking a breath before coming in but was in a rush. I looked around and couldn’t See mom. I ran through the building jumping over broken pillars and burning wood. If I tripped over one thing it would be over for me I would suffer from intense burns. The ceiling creaked ominously above me as parts of it crumbled to the ground.

Sweat dripped down my face, my breath coming in ragged gasps from the thick smoke, but none of it mattered. All I could think about was finding her.

“Mom!” I shouted, my voice hoarse as I searched through the flames. No answer.

I stumbled to the back of the store, pushing open the door that led to the storage warehouse. The fire hadn’t taken this room yet, but it was close. Flames flickered along the walls, and the heat was unbearable. Then I saw her.

“Mom!” I started to run to her side. She was trapped under a massive metal beam, her body pinned to the floor, the heat from the flames warping the metal around her. She was alive, but barely, her face pale, her breathing shallow.

“King wait,” she whispered, her voice weak. She was trembling, her eyes filled with pain but somehow still focused. She was trying to warm me if something but of what.

Then I saw it

Behind her ,a creature was standing guard, it was like some kind of sick sentinel. It was a creature straight out of a nightmare. It looked like a giant salamander, its body wreathed in fire, as big as an alligator but made of molten flame. Its glowing eyes stared straight at me, but it wasn’t moving. It just stood there, as if waiting for me to make the first move.

I had no Skill. No power to fight something like this. But that didn’t matter. I had to save her.

I glanced around quickly, trying to come up with a plan. The flames were closing in, and the salamander didn’t seem like it was going to move anytime soon. But maybe… maybe I didn’t need to fight it directly.

“Stay with me, Mom. I’ll get you out of here.”

She didn’t respond. I could see the pain etched into her face, and I knew time was running out. I had to act fast.

I grabbed a nearby metal shelf and hurled it at the salamander’s head. It clanged loudly, drawing its attention, and in that moment, I bolted past it toward the back entrance. The creature turned its head toward the noise, curious, just long enough for me to throw open the door. It lunged after me, narrowly missing me , slipping outside, i hurriedly slammed the door behind it.

I quickly pushed a burning shelf over in front of the door. It was damaged enough to crumble into pieces leaving a heavy pile of debris blocking the entrance.I ran back to Mom. As I got close my pace slowed. I was terrified at what I saw. The beam had started melting into her skin, burning through her back, searing through her bones. I felt a lump rise in my throat. How was she still conscious? How was she not screaming in pain?

Moving off of impulse , I grabbed the beam, but it was searing hot. I recoiled, my hands burning. “Mom, I—hold on. Just hold on, okay?” I tried to lift it again, this time using my shirt as protection, but it wouldn’t budge. I had the strength of a teenage human. And I never worked out much plus in these extreme conditions, this was nearly impossible.

“I’m sorry, King,” she whispered, her voice barely audible now. A tear attempted to fall from her her eyes but it burned up instantly.

“No, don’t. Don’t talk like that, I’ll get you out of here.” My own voice cracked. I was running out of time. I tried to lift harder.

Suddenly, there was a crash behind me. The door exploded inward, and the salamander was back, flames crackling around it. Its fiery gaze locked on me, and I knew I couldn’t take my eyes off it for a second.

I stepped in front of my mom, raising my fists even though I knew it was useless. But before I could act, something flashed in the corner of my vision—a piece of burning debris, flying through the air, propelled by the collapsing ceiling.

It struck with a sickening thud.

When I turned, it was already too late. The debris had hit her neck, severing it cleanly. Her body went limp, the pain on her face replaced with something eerily peaceful.

“No…” I whispered, my entire body going numb.

The world seemed to slow down. The salamander, the flames, the crumbling building around me—it all faded into the background. I dropped to my knees beside her, my mind refusing to process what had just happened.

“Mom…” I whispered again, but there was no response.

Just the crackle of fire, and the overwhelming silence that followed.

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