Chapter 203
By the time Ebana arrived at the Therapy Center, flames were raging from the building. Fire trucks and ambulances were parked outside. Firefighters were spraying water to extinguish the blaze.
Eliana turned pale at the sight, her instincts screaming at her to run in.
Bystanders quickly stopped her. “You can’t go in. It’s too dangerous!”
“Charging in now would just get in the firefighters‘ way.”
Eliana parted her lips but couldn’t utter a word. The fire reflected in her pupils, filled with nothing but boundless fear and confusion.
Before long, several firefighters emerged from the building, each carrying a child in their arms.
Eliana pushed past the hands restraining her and ran forward.
One of the firefighters asked, “Who are you?”
Checking the children’s injuries with trembling hands, Eliana replied shakily, “I’m one of their guardians.”
The kids were unconscious, but thankfully, none appeared to have obvious burns.
As Eliana began to breathe a little easier, a firefighter added, “These kids weren’t burned because the adults inside formed a circle around them, shielding them with their bodies.”
Just as his words sank in, two more firefighters carried out a woman on a stretcher. Her back was badly burned and covered in wounds, and her face was
blackened by smoke.
Eliana recognized her. It was Daria, the round–faced girl who had brought eggs to Isaac the night before.
The injured were quickly loaded into ambulances.
Eliana could no longer hold back her panic and cried out, “Isaac! Bernie!”
Her grief–stricken expression was heartbreaking. A firefighter tried to reassure her, “Miss, don’t worry. We’ll get everyone out safely.”
Gradually, the fire was under control. More and more survivors were pulled from the building. Moans and cries of pain filled the air, turning the scene into a living hell.
Eliana helped carry the injured to ambulances. Her gaze kept darting back. Finally, she saw Isaac being carried out. She rushed over. He lay motionless on the stretcher, eyes shut, the skin on his stomach curled and peeled.
As they lifted him into the ambulance, a charred scrap of paper, little more than a corner, fluttered from him.
Eliana picked it up. The next second, she froze in shock. She thought, ‘Isn’t this from my diary? Did he get burned like this trying to protect it?‘
Someone suddenly shouted, “Over here, now!”
This shout snapped Eliana back to reality. She turned around. Tears blurred her vision, and she barely recognized Bernice.
Staring at the blackened ruins of what had once been a place of laughter, grief welled up like a flood, Eliana threw her head back and screamed–a raw, wordless howl of agony.
At Burke Manor, the blare of the TV drowned out Hannah’s smug laughter. She said into her phone, “Ms. Powell, let’s keep tonight’s event our little
secret.”
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15:35 Sun, 22 Jun
Chapter 203
“Naturally,” Alice replied before hanging up.
A knock at the door made Hannah stiffen. She dropped her phone. “Who is it?” Her voice was ice.
“It’s me, Hannah. I warmed a glass of milk for you.” Belinda’s voice came through the door.
Hannah opened the door. The lingering cruelty in her eyes made Belinda flinch. “Hannah? You… Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” Hannah glanced at the milk, then forced a smile. “Mom, you don’t need to bring me warm milk or sleeping pills anymore. I can sleep just fine.”
