MY SECOND BUT TRUE LOVE #Wattys2016

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Amarion

I headed upstairs in order to avoid the flirty girls. Well, the complete male graments section had more females than downstairs. Most of them appeared all set to throw themselves at me. I looked away and a pair of shoes caught my eyes. They were black and red. A design I had never seen before. I headed for the footwear shelves. 

I grabbed the pair and sat on a bean bag to try them on. They looked cool and were comfortable to wear. Luckily, they were of my size. I took them off and reached for my sneakers while gazing around. Innumerable people were busy shopping like maniacs. A sale had made them too deranged. I decided to chill in my position for a while. I took my cellphone out of my pocket and opened Amour's texts. I've read them countless times but never got bored. I enjoyed rereading each message. A grin was plastered on my face as I scrolled down the screen. It was difficult to not being able to talk to her for days. I wished we could get together soon. I don't think I'd be able to endure her silence. I damn miss her!

All of a sudden, all the lights went out. My face was irradiated by the light of my mobile screen. Everyone clamoured with fear. Faint screams and haunting commotion echoed in the area. A short announcement was made but I couldn't hear a thing due to the consistent disturbances in the speakers. The fire alarms activated and produced irritating noises. Lily and Jade were downstairs. I grew frantic. I had to get them out. I shoved the phone in my pocket and stood up. Just then a man came running out of nowhere and collided with me. I fell to the ground on my stomach and something crashed on my right leg. I loudly cursed the man and asked for help but he had gone already. The background noises made the scene more horrible.  Banging, collapsing, ringing, yelping, crying, ruffling and running sounds dispersed in the air simultaneously. I covered my ears with my palms. A few men ran over my other leg. I whimpered with pain but none bothered to aid.

When the hullabaloo grew a little feeble, I pulled out my cellphone and flashed the light on my right foot. A big shelf had fallen on my leg. I tried pushing it with my leg but it didn't work. I attempted again with my hands. After various failures, I leaned my back against the wall. I checked my mobile for network and unfortunately it was unavailable. How were my sisters? I prayed to God to keep them safe.

Gradually,  burning smell reached my senses. I had assumed it to be a black out but it was a fire. I could see orange light in the area ahead of me. "Anyone there? I need help" I shouted with distraught. "Anyone?" I cried at the top of my lungs but there wasn't a reply. I took my lower lip between my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut. The ache in my leg increased.  And I didn't know where my sisters were. I was stuck on a darkened floor with a destructive fire approaching me. Nostalgia and agony took over me. Mom and dad? Lily and Jade? Sean? Amour? My breathing grew heavier and my heart went under high palpitation. I coughed as the smoke engulfed me. The autumn like hued wave of sparks headed for my trapped body. Just a few metres away.

Is this how I was going to end?

Amour

I climbed the stairs quickly but they seemed to be never ending. With the help of the dim light from my cellphone I reached the first floor. The place was filled with dark aerosol. The sharp smell of burning was spread in the air. The fire alarms rang rapidly. Little showers of water fell from the ceilings but were of no help forth the havoc. I coughed as the contamination entered my process of respiration. Things were partially visible. The area was vast and I had no idea where Amarion could be. I covered my mouth with my hand and walked ahead. The guiding gleam from my phone dulled and went out. "No! This can't happen" I muttered and struggled with my mobile but the flashlight had consumed the complete battery. How was I going to search Amarion without light?

The place felt warmer indicating that the fire was closer. I shoved my phone into my pocket and continued my trail. "Amarion!" I called loudly. "Amarion!" I repeated but there wasn't a response. After wandering for a while I decided to retreat as there was no one there. Perhaps, he left earlier. I unwillingly turned to the stairs but then I heard a booming thump. Was someone there or was it the decorations wrecking? I moved nearer to the source of noise and yelped "Amarion!"

I heard distant groaning. There was someone present.  I jogged to the supposed corner and fell while dodging an object. The ache in my ankle rose sharply. I whimpered and held my foot with my hands to apply pressure.

"Anyone there?" A painful voice cried. It could be Amarion. I got up and ran to the person. My foot hurt consistently but I was too joyous to care. I made my way hurriedly to the origin of the voice.

I stopped when the faded red light of the emergency alarm showered a huge cabinet lying on the floor. The man next to it didn't seem like Amarion but he too needed help. I moved around the huge obstacle  to face him. "Can I help you?" I asked out of breathe. The victim was yet farther from me. I repeated my question to make sure he heard me. He looked up with a jolt and the crimson light revealed his face. My eyes widened and I rushed to him.

"Amour?" He said in a strained tone.

"Amarion" I responded in a trembling tone. I knelt down and held his face in my hands. "Are you okay?" I questioned and wiped the sweat from his cheeks using my thumb. "No" he answered in  a low voice. "We'll get out of here" I assured him and prepared him to get up. "No use. My leg is stuck" he replied in monotone. "I'll do something" I said while observing his ambushed limb. "How did you even get here and how did you find me?" He asked with confusion and grabbed my arm. "I came here to shop" I informed and tried pushing the massive block from his leg. "Lily and Jade" he reminded and groaned with pain. "I got them out. Now your turn" I informed whilst attempting to set him free. "You joined the fire brigade or something?" He sniggered. I didn't reply and continued pushing the heavy shelf. "It is of no use" he hushed. I ignored him and carried on with the effort. He mightily held my arm and pulled me towards him. His fingers brushed against my sweaty cheeks. "Go" he whispered.

"What?" I questioned with bafflement. "You heard me. Leave" he said in a low voice. His eyes turned dreary due to lamentation. I couldn't believe him. He was asking me to give up and run away cowardly. The lively radiance which I've always witnessed on his face had concealed itself with tedious defeat. Had he assumed that he'd die? The guy who brought revitalisation and revolution to my banal life had surrendered so soon. I wouldn't let him do this. "I'm not going without you" I replied stubbornly. "You have to go or else you'll lose your life too. Please leave" he pleaded in a sentimental tone. But his words aroused my wrath. "No" I responded angrily. "Go" he whined.  "I can't just leave you like that" I reasoned. "Why can't you?" He yelled. Why can't I?

"Because I love you" I shouted frankly. What? What did I say?

He looked at me with equal astonishment. It was manifest from his expression that he didn't see that coming. Honestly, neither did I. The scarlet light bathed our flabbergasted faces.

"What?" He exclaimed. I gazed into his profound hazel eyes and witnessed the life returning to them. I observed his flawless face and the fraught fading away from it. I placed my both hands on his either cheeks and smiled. I received the most awaited signal from my heart.

"What about him?" He asked in reluctance. "He was my past. He never did anything for me yet I fell in love with him while you did sweetly unanticipated things for me. How can I not fall for your singing? For your amazing personality? For your pure heart? For your guileless soul? How can I not fall for you?" I confessed to him and myself as tears streamed down my face. He smiled and his eyes turned watery too. "And you're asking me to leave you. Do you think I can endure losing you?" I complained while snivelling. "I'm sorry and I love you too" he lifted my chin with his thumb and replied cheerfully. He kept his other hand on the small of my back and brought my body closer to his. I placed my legs on his sides and moved my hands to his neck. He stroked my cheek and glanced my lips. I closed my eyes and leaned forward. His hand shifted from my chin to the back of my head. He brushed his lips against mine and with one last breath they crashed. I took his lower lip between mine and pressed it gently. He did the same with my upper lip. His tounge grazed mine.

The destructive fire surrounded us but couldn't compare to the blazing flames inside our hearts. It unmatched the heat of our kiss. We indulged in the passionate smooch ignoring the waves of conflagration. The bleakness in my chest thawed. The emptiness and melancholy were replaced by endearment and completeness. The affliction I've been enduring for so long, finally approached to a conclusion. The inferno swirled around us but was unable to put us apart. The firestorm of our love was peerless. The combusting demolition couldn't be juxtaposed with it.

It was my epiphany of falling in love again. A fluorescent love.