Crowned in Crimson Cinders

Chapter 39: The Collapse (Darians POV)

Seeing her like that—completely wrecked—broke something in me.

Aleah was on the ground, crumbling beneath the weight of loss, sobbing into her hands like the world had ended. And maybe for her, it had. All of her brothers had run back into the fire—for Brylee. For their sister.

And now, they were probably gone.

I don't know what came over me. Maybe it was the image of three good men willingly sacrificing themselves for the sake of someone they loved. Maybe it was just seeing Aleah like that, unraveling, and knowing there was nothing I could say to make it better.

I couldn't take it anymore.

Without thinking, I bolted forward—one step, two, then three. I was halfway to the wreckage before a hand clamped down on my arm and yanked me back.

I stumbled and turned, only to come face-to-face with Brock.

"What the hell are you doing?" he shouted, eyes wild. "Are you insane? That building is going to collapse any second, and you were just going to run in there?"

"I can't just stand here and do nothing!" I yelled, trying to tear myself from his grip.

Brock tightened his hold, locking both my arms to my sides like iron. "Why not? Why do you even care if they make it out or not?"

I didn't answer—I couldn't. My eyes had already drifted toward Aleah. She was still on her knees, clutching Brylee. The sobs were quieter now, but her body was shaking, curled over like she was trying to fold herself into the earth.

Brock followed my gaze. His expression shifted, softened.

"You're doing it for her," he said, his voice lower now. Steadier. "You don't want her to go through this. You don't want her to lose them."

I nodded, barely. My chest felt tight. When I looked at Brock again, I saw tears tracking silently down his face.

"Listen to me," he said, gripping my shoulders. "If you go in there and die, you'll just add to her pain. You'll break her. You know how much she cares about you."

He shook me, as if trying to rattle sense back into my skull.

"Just... please. Don't do this. Don't throw yourself into a fire for three men who—" He choked on the end of his sentence.

It struck me in that moment that Brock had been their brother too. He had fought with them on the battlefield, charged into battle, and commanded hundreds of men, all together. NNot only did Aleah lose three brothers, but so did Brock.

Then, the building collapsed.

The roar was deafening. I didn't think—I just ran.

I sprinted straight for Aleah, throwing myself over her and Brylee just as the rubble came down. Dust filled the air, choking and thick. Debris showered down, pelting my back, and I held her tighter, shielding her with my body.

Then everything went still.

The dust settled like snow, painting the world in a haze of gray. I lifted myself off Aleah slowly. She wasn't moving.

"Hey," I whispered, voice shaking. I brushed the hair from her face, but she didn't respond.

Panic twisted in my gut as I scooped her into my arms. She was breathing—but limp, her skin pale beneath the layer of ash.

I looked around.

Where a church once stood—majestic, colorful, and full of light—there was now nothing but wreckage. Splintered wood, shattered stone, and silence.

Somewhere in the distance, a child cried.

Everyone else was still. Staring. The silence was deafening.

No one spoke. No one moved. Everyone just stared at the annihilation laying in front of us.

I didn't know how many of them had seen Clifton, Tristain, and Sebastian go back in. I didn't know how many understood what they'd done.

And I tried—not to hope. Because hope, when it lingers too long, becomes dangerous. It starts as light and ends as torment.

But I couldn't help it.

Some part of me still believed they might have made it out.

Some part of me still hoped.