Chapter 72 - Bright flames

I stared at the small gold band on my ring finger. I haven't taken it off since the day they gave it to me. Demos' large hand closed over mine covering the ring. His warmth seeping into my cold shivering hands. I can't believe this is happening.

"It's going to be ok," he gave me a tight smile. In the background, the scared tenants were sobbing. Only a few minutes went by from the call of Mr. Ramdin. Grant stood in front of the exit door, it was wide open and a tall artificial wearing a blue uniform stood on the landing peering down. Some of the other artificial ventured down the fire escape to access the situation of the lower floor. But they came back quickly with a grim face. From what I heard, the stairs have melted away and a good portion of the front of the lower building has blasted off. I was surprised it was still standing.

"Liliane, it's going to be ok," Demos repeated like a mantra. Somehow I clung to his words, it was my lifeline. An old man in stripe pajama bottom abruptly stood up. He had taken off his shirt to cover his mouth. He was one of the tenants we saved from the upper floors.

"We are all going to die here! I don't want to die. You said that they are rescuing humans at the top of the building, right?" he pointed at Grant who slowly nodded. "Then why are we waiting here?" Grant turned to face him with a solemn expression. The man was gleaming with sweat, we all were except for the artificial who appeared at ease with the rising temperature.

"I'm not preventing you from leaving. If you think, fighting off other humans to get on a limited seat craft to get out of this hellfire is something you are capable of doing, you are free to do so," he paused with one hand in his pocket. "But know that the stairs case to the upper floors is packed with smoke. You've seen it with your own eyes. And it's a long wait up those eighty-eight floors. Also, the maintenance lift only goes up to floor seventy and I'm not sure the backup generators are still on. There are too many unknown elements in this equation for a save outcome on in this situation," the man frowned and squeezed his hands into fists.

"I'll take my chances instead of waiting here for a rescue that won't probably come," he turned to the other persons clung together in a corner of the corridor. "Who is coming with me?" two young men got to their feet followed by a reluctant middle-aged woman in a yellow dress. A sudden explosion startled the group making the situation more urgent.

"We must go!" shouted the young man with blond hair and blue highlights. "Those artificial, no one is going to save them...but we, at least, we can make it. Get up, let's go before all the helicopters leave," he urged the other tenants. A couple more joined them out of sheer fear. The prospects of dying weighed heavy in their decisions.

"Liliane, you can go if you want," whispered Grant standing next to me. I didn't notice when he had moved. My eyes were solely on the group preparing to leave. My hands gripped Demos' shirt and faced Grant silvery gaze. Did he really want me gone?

-Of course, I don't want you to leave. I just want to give you the option of saving your life, if the transport happens to come too late.

He face was riddled with concern, I held out a hand which he eagerly took. The contact was so reassuring. For a while, I thought he hated me. He acted so coldly that it broke my heart. He gently pulled my hand and pressed it against his cheek.

-I don't hate you. I have new priorities that I can't overlook. I'm sorry that I may have seem cold towards you.

He kissed my fingers sending a tingling sensation up my arms. He lifted his eyes, they were aquamarine, a shadow of a smile danced on his smile. I missed the smiling Grant.

"I'm sorry I can't smile right now. Let's get out of here right then I'll be cracking jokes and tickle you to death," he whispered and let go of my hand.

"We are leaving," shouted the man in strip pajamas. "We'll let help know that there are still people here and come rescue you," Grant nodded at them then turned to the artificial in the blue uniform.

"Alter, please escort them till the elevator and make sure they got on safely then come back as quick as possible," the uniform guy quickly went to the exit down through which we came down and held it open for them. A thin layer of smoke escaped from the stairs. There were tears and good lucks before they disappeared behind the closed door.

This left the corridor eerily silent. About a dozen artificial stood on the left by the exit door and further away in a corner only three elderly women hugged each other while shivering.

"Don't worry, it's going to be ok," Demos' arms tightened around me pressing me to his chest. There was something terribly sad and I couldn't put my finger on it. My throat felt tight and quiet tears rolled down my cheek. His lips kissed my forehead.

"It's going to be ok," low roar and cracking could be heard from the busted windows.

"I want us to be together... always," I sobbed more tears streamed down my face.

"Always," repeated both of them at the same time. I looked up and found Grant standing beside me his face dead serious.

"We are going to get out of here... all of us," he said with such confidence I had to smile and he smiled back. The beautiful radiant smile I love and cherish. But something off his shoulder caught my attention. Nicolai hurried to the exit and peered at the sky.

"Grant!" he shouted while pointing upwards.