AMANDORA - ONE-SHOT FICTION

Fiction 9

Fiction 9: DIE WITH A SMILE

Dedicated to Aira:>

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The sound of a deafening explosion echoed across the mansion, sending shockwaves through the whole Palacios' Estate. Staff members scrambled in confusion as debris rained down from the ceiling, and thick smoke began to fill the air.

Galvan instinctively covered his nose, his heart pounding as he shouted for the maids who were paralyzed by fear.

"Magsilabas na kayo! Dali!" his voice strained, he coughed violently, the acrid smoke suffocating him.

"Sir! Sir! Tara na po!" Cairo exclaimed, grabbing Galvan's arm to guide him through the chaos. Just as they reached the door, Galvan stumbled, causing Cairo to struggle under his weight.

"Tulong!" Cairo shouted, and in an instant, Amando appeared, ready to lend a hand.

They managed to pull Galvan free from the collapsing mansion. Outside, Mercy's cries echoed, her sobs piercing the air as she searched for Francis and Sam. Despite her arguments and misunderstanding with Ruth, she found comfort in her presence, who stepped forward to console her amidst the chaos.

The staff stood helplessly, tears streaming down their faces as they watched the magnificent Palacios mansion engulfed to the deadly fire.

"S-si Aurora..." Galvan gasped between coughs, collapsing onto the cold cement of the estate.

A haunting silence enveloped them for a moment, broken only by the rapid thumping of his heart. Amando turned back slowly towards the mansion—the very place he had dedicated his life to serving.

His heartbeat echoed in his ears, drowning out the frantic calls for him to comeback.

"Sir, huwag na po! Masyado ng delikado!" Cairo screamed, along with the other staff, as they desperately tried to stop him from going back inside the collapsing mansion.

"Sir, bumalik ho kayo dito!" other staff members shouted, their voices laced with urgency and concern.

"Sir Amando!"

But Amando's resolve was unwavering. He had to find Aurora. Every second counted as he took determined steps toward the inferno, the fire licking hungrily at the walls, smoke billowing like angry serpents.

"Aurora!" his voice rang out, swallowed by the roar of the flames, but he pressed on, searching for any sign of her.

Suddenly, amidst the smoke and fire, he glimpsed a figure inside the mansion, a flicker of hope igniting within him— hoping it was her, Aurora.

Then, he heard Samantha's frantic shouts.

"Jericho! Francis! Bilisan niyo!"

"Nasaan si Aurora?!" Amando yelled, his heart pounding with worry.

"Sir, hindi po namin siya nakita." Jericho replied, panic in his eyes.

Without a second thought, Amando went back inside the mansion, pushing through the haze, ignoring the shouts Jericho and Francis. All he could think of was finding Aurora.

With every step into the darkness, he fought against the despair that threatened to swallow him whole. The mansion might collapse at any moment, but he couldn't abandon the only person who mattered most to him.

"Aurora!" he called out again, his voice shaking as the flames roared louder, demanding her attention.

The world around him started to fade until he heard a noise from the distance. Sinundan niya ang ingay na iyon hanggang sa makita niyang hinang-hina na si Aurora habang pinipilit nitong maglakad habang walang tigil sa pag-ubo. Aurora felt a rush of emotions as her eyes locked onto Amando's.