Green Valor

Fire

As Saskia and Yuri dash through the panicked crowd, the acrid smell of smoke thick in the air. Flames licked the sky from the nearby building, casting an eerie glow over the chaos.
The ground shook beneath their feet as bombs exploded in the distance, sending tremors through the crumbling party headquarters. Screams filled the air as people pushed and shoved, desperate to escape the collapsing building.
"Yuri, look!" Saskia pointed to a plume of smoke rising not far away. "The building is on fire!"
Yuri tugged on her arm, urging her to keep moving. "We have to get out of here, Saskia! This whole place is coming down!"
But Saskia's eyes were wide with fear and determination. She looked back toward the building they had just fled, her heart pounding. "Jack... He's still in there," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of flames and panicked cries.
Yuri shook his head. "We can't go back, Saskia! It's too dangerous. We have the cure—Jack would want us to get it to safety!" He gestured to the bag slung over his shoulder, holding the precious vials that could save countless lives.
Saskia hesitated, torn between her duty and her heart. Her eyes darted toward the building, then back to Yuri. "You take the cure," she said finally, thrusting the bag into Yuri's arms. "Get it to safety. I have to find Jack!"
"Saskia, no!" Yuri shouted, grabbing for her arm, but it was too late. Saskia had already turned and was sprinting back toward the flames.
Yuri cursed under his breath, his eyes scanning the crumbling structure, then the panicked crowd around him. He knew he couldn't follow; the path was blocked by debris, the ceiling had already begun to collapse. His only option was to get the cure out safely. Reluctantly, he turned and pushed through the crowd, fighting his way toward the exit.
Meanwhile, Saskia dodged falling debris, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she made her way deeper into the burning building.
Her heart pounded in her chest, fear gripping her, but she pressed on, driven by the thought of Jack trapped somewhere inside. Flames licked at her heels, and smoke stung her eyes, but she kept moving, determined not to give up.
As she rounded a corner, she nearly collided with Yuki and Sofia, who were rushing toward the exit. "Saskia!" Yuki gasped, her face streaked with soot. "What are you doing? This place is coming down!"
"I have to find Jack," Saskia panted, her eyes wide and frantic. "He's still in there with Cordero!"
Sofia's eyes flashed with a mix of fear and resolve. She grabbed Saskia's shoulders, her voice sharp. "You're insane! Running back into danger? You'll get yourself killed!"
"I don't care!" Saskia shouted back, shaking off Sofia's grip. "Jack needs me. We have to save him!"
Sofia hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching Saskia's face. Then she nodded, a determined look settling on her features. "Fine," she said, her voice firm. "If you're going back in, then I'm coming with you. We'll find Jack and end this, together."
Yuki grabbed Sofia's arm, her eyes wide with fear. "Sofia, no! We need to get out of here!"
Sofia turned to her, a sad smile on her face. "Yuki, I've spent my whole life running away from things. Maybe it's time I ran toward something worth fighting for."
With that, Sofia and Saskia turned and ran back into the flames, the heat scorching their skin as they navigated the crumbling building.
The ceiling above groaned, beams snapping and falling around them, but they pressed on, determined to find Jack and end Cordero's reign of terror—even if it meant risking their own lives.
As they moved deeper into the building, the smoke grew thicker, choking their lungs and blurring their vision.
But Saskia pushed forward, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination. She knew the risks, knew what they were up against. But for Jack, for the chance to save him and stop Cordero, she was willing to face any danger.
Somewhere ahead, through the haze of smoke and flames, she heard the faint sounds of a struggle. Her heart leaped in her chest. "Jack!" she shouted, her voice hoarse. "Jack, where are you?"
The only answer was the roar of flames and the creak of the collapsing building around them. But Saskia pressed on, Sofia right by her side. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.
And they would not stop until they found Jack.
The scene shifts back to the fiery, smoke-filled room where Jack and Cordero's battle rages on. The sound of swords clashing fills the air, echoing above the crackling of flames.
Jack's movements are fueled by a mix of anger and fear, his eyes locked onto Cordero with a fierce determination. Despite the burning heat and thick smoke swirling around them, he presses forward, refusing to back down.
Cordero, however, is relentless. His strikes are swift and powerful, and he seems almost untouched by the battle, his stamina unyielding. As Jack advances, Cordero sidesteps and counters, slicing at Jack with precision.
Jack grunts in pain as Cordero's blade cuts into his arm, and he stumbles back, clutching the wound. The heat and smoke are getting to him, sapping his strength with each passing moment.
"You're weak, Jack," Cordero taunts, his voice steady and calm despite the chaos around them. "You always were. Just like the rest of them."
Jack's breathing is ragged, his muscles burning from exertion. He tries to raise his sword again, but his hands are trembling. Sweat drips down his face, mixing with blood from a cut above his eyebrow.
His vision blurs, and he feels his strength waning. Cordero takes advantage of his hesitation, striking again. This time, the blow lands on Jack's side, and he cries out in pain, stumbling backward.
Jack's grip falters, and his sword clatters to the ground. He falls to one knee, clutching his side as blood seeps through his fingers. His mind races, the room spinning around him as he struggles to stay conscious.
He knows he's losing—he can feel it in his bones. But he can't give up, not now, not with so much at stake.
Cordero, sensing victory, advances with a cruel smile. "This is where it ends, Jack," he sneers, raising his sword for the final blow. "You should have known better than to challenge me."
But before he can strike, a fierce, angry yell pierces through the chaos—a woman's voice, filled with fury. "Cordero!"
Cordero's head snaps to the side just in time to see Sofia charging toward him, Jack's fallen sword in her hands. Her face is a mask of determination and rage, her eyes blazing with a fire that matches the inferno around them.
Before Cordero can react, Sofia drives the sword into his back with all her strength. The blade pierces through his body, emerging from the other side with a sickening crunch.
Cordero's eyes widen in shock and pain, his mouth opening in a silent scream. He drops his sword, his hands instinctively reaching for the blade now protruding from his chest. Blood pours from the wound, soaking his clothes as he staggers, his strength suddenly gone.
Sofia twists the sword, her face inches from his, her voice a low, venomous whisper. "This is for all the lives you've destroyed."
Cordero gasps, his legs buckling beneath him. He falls to his knees, a look of disbelief on his face. As his life slips away, his gaze locks onto Jack, a mix of hatred and regret flickering in his eyes. Then, with a final shuddering breath, he collapses to the ground, the light fading from his eyes.
Saskia, who had been watching in horror, suddenly snaps into action. She rushes to Jack's side, dropping to her knees beside him. Her hands are shaking as she reaches out, caressing his face. "Jack," she whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Stay with me. Please, stay with me."
Jack's eyes flutter open, and he looks up at her, his breathing shallow and labored. He manages a weak smile, his hand reaching up to cover hers. "Saskia," he murmurs, his voice barely audible over the crackling flames. "You...you came back."
Saskia nods, her grip tightening on his hand. "I couldn't leave you," she says, her voice breaking. "I couldn't let you face this alone."
Jack's smile fades, and he winces in pain, his eyes drifting shut. "I'm sorry," he whispers. "For everything..."
"No," Saskia says firmly, her hand moving to cradle his head. "You have nothing to apologize for. We're going to get you out of here, okay? Just stay with me, Jack. Please."
Sofia moves beside them, her own expression softened now, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and urgency. "We have to move, now," she says, glancing around as the fire continues to spread, the smoke thickening. "This whole place is going to come down any minute."
Jack lay on the ground, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His body trembled with pain, the virus and his injuries taking a toll on him.
Saskia knelt beside him, her face streaked with tears, whispering fervent prayers. "Please, God, save him," she begged, her voice breaking with desperation. "Don't take him away from me."
The fire crackled around them, flames licking at the walls as the room filled with smoke. Sofia stood over Cordero's lifeless body, her eyes burning with fury.
She stared down at his corpse, her face a mix of anger and a grim satisfaction. Cordero, even in death, seemed almost serene, his face frozen in a faint smile. His last words echoed in Sofia's mind: "I was a handsome man after all." She scoffed at his vanity, unable to believe that his final thoughts were of himself.
Without a second thought, Sofia reached down, grabbed Cordero's coat, and used her sword to cut off a piece of the fabric.
She fashioned it into a makeshift mask, tying it around her nose and mouth to protect herself from the smoke that filled the air. She looked over at Saskia, who was still by Jack's side, her face etched with grief and fear.
"Saskia," Sofia called out, her voice muffled by the fabric. "We have to go. Now."
Saskia shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I can't leave him," she sobbed, her hands clutching Jack's as if holding onto him could keep him with her. "I can't... I can't lose him."
Jack's hand trembled as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his knife. His voice was weak, barely more than a whisper. "Saskia," he rasped, "there's no saving me. The virus... the fire... it's too late." He placed the knife in her hand, his eyes meeting hers with a look of acceptance. "You have to end this," he said softly. "End my suffering... please."
Saskia's hand shook as she held the knife, her eyes wide with horror. "No," she cried, shaking her head. "I can't... I won't. I love you, Jack."
Jack's grip tightened on her hand, guiding it closer to his chest. "Please, I never want to see the knife again. It was my anger." he whispered, his voice pained. "The poison will kill me slowly... don't let me suffer. You have to do this."
Tears streamed down Saskia's face as she choked back a sob. Her heart was breaking, every fiber of her being screaming against what she knew she had to do. She glanced at Sofia, who watched with a solemn expression, then back at Jack. "I love you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry."
Jack managed a faint smile, his eyes softening. "I love you too," he whispered. "Thank you... for everything."
With trembling hands, Saskia clutched the knife, her tears falling onto Jack's face. She closed her eyes, whispering a prayer for forgiveness, and with a quick, decisive motion, she plunged the knife into his chest.
Jack gasped, his body tensing for a moment before relaxing, his eyes closing as the pain left his face. His chest rose and fell one last time, then stilled. He was gone.
Saskia let out a strangled cry, collapsing onto Jack's body, her shoulders shaking with sobs. She kissed his cold lips, her heart shattering. "I'm so sorry," she whispered against his skin. "I'm so, so sorry."
Sofia watched, her face expressionless but her eyes filled with something that might have been empathy. She knew the pain of loss all too well, and as she watched Saskia's grief, something shifted within her.
Saskia's sobs grew quieter, her breath hitching as she looked at the knife still in her hand. She turned it toward herself, her face a mask of determination and despair. "I can't live without him," she whispered, her voice steady despite the tears. "I won't."
Before Sofia could react, Saskia plunged the knife into her own chest, a soft gasp escaping her lips as the blade pierced her heart. She fell forward, her body coming to rest beside Jack's, her hand finding his in death just as it had in life.
Sofia's eyes widened in shock, the horror of what she had just witnessed sinking in.
She stared at the lifeless bodies of Jack and Saskia, the flames casting flickering shadows over their entwined hands. The reality of the situation hit her like a punch to the gut, and she felt a wave of nausea rise within her.
With a deep breath, Sofia steeled herself, grabbing Jack's knife from the floor. The fire was closing in, the smoke growing thicker, and she knew she had to get out. She turned away from the tragic scene, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions she couldn't even begin to sort through.
She ran through the burning hallways, dodging falling debris and choking on the acrid smoke. As she neared an exit, she took one last look back, her mind filled with the haunting images of Jack and Saskia's final moments.
Then, with a grim resolve, she turned and sprinted out into the night, leaving the flames—and the memories—behind her. The war was not over, and she knew she had to survive. For herself, for those who had fallen, and for the fight that still lay ahead.