Zoning in on my work, I tried to finish it as quickly as possible. I wanted to get out. I wanted nothing more than to join Akim on our special dinner date. We’ve been planning it all week, and I wasn’t going to miss it.
There was the opening of a new fancy restaurant that he wanted to try. I have never liked the glamour of life, but for him, I could go. He also sacrificed for me, so it was the least I could do. Besides, people have said the food was divine and a must-try. I knew there was one in the capital, on the coast, and somewhere else, but I’ve never been.
It was hard to contain my excitement. Just being with him made life worth it. I had just filed the last of the paperwork and could almost leave. I heard a blaring alarm as I decided to get a last cup before finishing the projections.
I jumped as I had never heard it before. I closed my ears with my hands. It was deafening. Scanning the hall and office, I saw no reason for the alarm. I wondered if it was a break-in. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the growing fear. I had no idea what was happening, and it made me uneasy.
Looking around, I tried to decide what weapon I could use. I finally decided on the standing lamp. Unplugging it, I turned out the bulb. Taking it by the top, I swung it as if it were a baseball bat. This might work, but it was a bit heavy.
Deciding I needed something better, I left my office. I crouched as I moved towards reception. Looking around, I found nothing better to use. Then it dawned on me, the kitchen.
I slowly made my way there. If it were a break-in, that would be the best place to hide. Plus, it had lots of weapons. However, if it was another attempt on my life, I was probably not safe anywhere. The best I could do was prepare myself.
Entering the kitchen, I gently closed the door before looking through the drawers. The biggest knife I could find was a bread knife. Staring at it, I whispered. “I guess you’ll have to do.” Besides, I didn’t have any other options.
The alarm stopped ringing. Opening the door just a smidge, I peeked out. I didn’t hear or see anything out of place. Then, the alarm started up again. Closing the door, I sank down in the corner. “I have to call someone,” I said aloud, realizing my phone was in the office.
Opening the door slowly, I considered running back to get my phone. But as I looked through the place, I noticed it was quickly filling with smoke. A fire? I could now also smell it. I saw red flames licking the walls towards the stairs and elevator.
There was no way out. I slammed the door shut and looked around frantically. The window was too small to fit through. I placed some towels on the floor by the door, trying to keep the smoke out.
Biting my nails, I tried to think. I had to find a way out. At the last door down the corridor, I was sure I had seen a board that said, ‘Fire Escape.’ Pulling away the dish towels, I opened the door. Staying on the floor, I crawled towards the hallway. As I started moving into it, the flames blew over my head, consuming the ceiling.
“No,” I shouted, moving backward as quickly as I could. Moving back to the kitchen, hoping to find safety, I felt my lungs start to burn. By the time I entered the kitchen again, I was coughing wildly.
I moved through the kitchen door and slammed it shut. The place was already engulfed by smoke, but I hoped it would clear with the door closed. I noticed tiny red tails through the smoke, trying to get through the pantry door. I knew this wasn’t a good sign.
The fire alarm was still blaring in full force above me. My head ached as I struggled to formulate an idea. Looking back at the pantry door, it looked like the flames were fighting the door for freedom.
Trying to see through the smoke, I hoped to find the kitchen door. Maybe it would be better in the big open space of the reception area, I thought. I coughed, and my throat burned. I was struggling to catch my breath. The air was thick, and it felt like I was swallowing tar.
Feeling frustrated, I knew I wouldn’t find the door in this. I lay down on the floor, placing one of the dish towels over my mouth. I tried not to breathe in too heavily. The air was thick. It was hard as my lungs needed air. I felt panic slowly taking control.
Tears slowly escaped as I tried not to panic. I knew I had to conserve the little air I still had. “Akim will come. He will find me,” I mumbled as I pulled myself into a ball. But the heat within the room was rising sharply.
I knew the door had to be against the wall somewhere. Getting up, I stumbled around like a blind man, feeling every nook and cranny. My head spun, and I felt faint. I knew I had to make haste, or I was going to die in the kitchen.
Taking another step forward, I felt the hot steel of the handle. Relief washed over me for a second. As I opened it, a gust of wind blew me forward, and I fell to the floor. My head hit something on my way down. Rolling to my back, I tried to see, but I couldn’t.
As a coughing fit took over, I rolled to my side. The strength of the couch shook me as I was breathing in black air. I tried to look for a window, but the flames were now everywhere. I tried getting onto my knees so I could move away, but I had no strength to lift my head.
Closing my eyes, I was about to give in to the heat and smoke. Suddenly, I felt large hands pulling me up. I tried to fight back, but my swings were weak. Before I knew it, I was hanging over someone’s shoulder. Then, like an angel, I heard his voice. “Relax, Zhen, I’ve got you.”
My body relaxed at the sound of his sweet voice. “We need to get out. Hold on, I’ve got you.”
I felt him moving down the hallway and then up some stairs. I bounced like a rag doll up and down as he moved. As he stepped out and the fresh air hit me, I became frighteningly aware of what was happening.
“Put me down,” I mumbled. “We need to go back. We must save the documents.”
Akim kept moving as he replied. “You are safe. That is all that matters.”
Turning in his arms, I protested. “No, no, we must save what we can. Please, let’s go back in.” My mind was racing as I thought of all our hard work being turned into black dust. So, I insisted. “The company can’t take such a loss as this, please, Akim, the documents. Put me down, we must save what we can.”
He finally stopped moving. Lowering me into his arms, he held me tight as I coughed some more. “Please,” I begged.
He frowned and then growled at me. Yet, I could see the concern and care in his eyes. “I don’t care if we lose it all. Your life is more important than any document or building.”
For a moment, a shock ran through me as his words sank in. I smiled weakly and hugged him. I could hear the crackling sound of the fire behind me. My head still ached, and the dizziness wasn’t gone.
Closing my eyes, I coughed again, but this time, it felt like something was stuck in my throat. I could vaguely hear the fire engines as they approached. Knowing he was bratva, I knew he had to leave. The cops would look at this in another light if they saw him.
“You can go,” I whispered, feeling faint.
“No, I’m not leaving your side,” he said, keeping me up.
I was touched by his words. He was prepared to take on anything just to be with me. He walked back some more as fire trucks started pulling in. With every step, I felt weaker and weaker. I was grateful he was holding me up.
As he took another step back, I felt a strong arm pulling me out of his embrace. Looking up, I saw my brother glaring at Akim. I was glad it was Timofey and not one of the others.
I could feel Akim pulling softly as he swung around to look at us. I felt the fear of this confrontation shake my core. “Let go of her, what the fuck do you think you’re doing with Zhen?” Akim blew at Timofey.
Realizing that the truth would now be exposed, I felt my mind shutting down. Timofey pulled me up as I sank to the ground. “I’m here to protect her!” Timofey spat back.
Akim’s possessive streak kicked into high gear. I could see it in the deadly cold stare he directed at Timofey. His voice sounded more like a roar. “What the fuck do you mean you’re protecting her? What the hell gives you the right to just pull her out of my arms?”
The dread of all that was happening filled me, making me nauseated. Every time I coughed, it felt like my head might explode. The dizziness wasn’t clearing, and I felt weak. I wanted to stop Timofey, but couldn’t. I was sure that if he let go of me, I would drop to the ground.
I knew the words he was about to utter would shatter my world. “As her brother, I have all the right I need to take her to safety and away from you. Who do you think you are?”
Fading in and out, I heard my brother slowly breathe before speaking again. “You should never have been around her.”
Blinking rapidly, I saw Akim’s face fall as realizations started sinking in. I wanted to say something, but except for being weak, I knew the look on Timofey’s face. It was one warning to hold my tongue.
Akim stepped closer, but Timofey held out his hand while he spoke. “No, I’m warning you, I will take you down.”
Suddenly, everything around me turned black, and I felt my body sinking.
