Blaze

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

I bounded down a corridor of burning crates. They were filled with drugs. I could feel my balance failing, gases were leaking into my system.

I spotted a group of men rounding a corner, they didn't even see me before they exploded into flames. Continuing down the corridor, I heard a crash as a structure collapsed.

"Help me, you imbecile!"

It was Selena. She had half her body trapped under burning crates. Her perfect hair was now singed and frayed. She was screaming at the lawyer, who was kicking aside burning rubble to get to her.

There was a yell from behind me, then another wall of crates collapsed. I put my arms up above my head in a defensive stance and felt the delicate wood shatter over me. I pushed my way out and saw Carlos trying to bring down another layer of crates.

I flung a ball of fire at him, but he ducked and it hit the bundle of crates behind him. Spinning around, he disappeared into a smaller corridor. I checked behind me before chasing. Selena's high-heel-wearing foot was sticking out of the rubble, she was dead as a doornail. Henry had pulled a disappearing act, but I couldn't care less for him.

I broke out into a run, chasing after Carlos. Down the smaller corridor, another employee's door had been thrown open. I leapt out of the door, covering the distance of the steps with a single jump. Men littered the ground outside, running into the rain with their blazing bodies. I spotted Carlos' bright-red hair in the darkness of the night.

I wasn't going to let him get away.

*****

Carlos gave a good chase, pulling a beeline to a compound where trucks of all shapes and sizes had been parked. He maneuvered his way through a maze of trucks, navigating as if he had a map of the place. I followed the sound of his footsteps and breathing.

He swerved around a truck, and I followed. It was just like the games of tag we used to in truck yards near our middle school. It was around that time that I lost him as a friend, when we met the Rooks. They were a good two or three years our seniors, and they dominated the middle school. Carlos aspired to be like them, but I steered clear. It wasn't long before he was inducted into the Rooks.

I still remember the transition. One day we were friends, and the next I saw the chess piece on Carlos' wrist, and we were friends no longer.

When I lost sight of him, I'd find him again by listening. But my senses were getting muffled, an effect of the drug fumes. I couldn't hear him anymore, and I didn't see him anywhere.

I ran around in circles as my senses slowly faded. It was hopeless.

I'd thought I'd lost him for good when I heard the clang of a metal bolt sliding. A moment later a hinge on one of the trucks squealed, there was yelling and screaming. I picked out Emily's and Greg's voices.

When I found them, Carlos had one arm around Emily's neck, half-strangling her. His other hand was sliding the bolt of the truck doors shut. There was banging on the doors from the inside. Greg was yelling his lungs out.

Carlos backed away from me with Emily under his hold. She scratched at his arm, unable to scream, trying to escape. Carlos barely noticed as the nails bit into his flesh, leaking blood. His pupils were mere pinpricks on the white expanse of his eyes. He was desperate.

"Stay away from me, Macmillan." he warned, pulling a switchblade from his jeans pocket.

He put it up to Emily's neck, and she began struggling even more.

"Stop moving, or I'll slit your throat."

She stopped, keeping her eyes fixed on the blade at her neck. Carlos was going for a small building, located near the edge of the bay. The compound was located right next to Thames, and a small operations building had been placed conveniently next to the water.

I needed to burn Carlos, but I couldn't focus enough to do it. The fumes from just now had clouded my mind. I had to wait for an opportunity.

"Please, Carlos, don't do this." I tried to pull the most friendly voice I had.

"No, you've costed me too much. Dromgold will kill me for this." he swallowed, "We could've been friends, you know."

"We still can."

He shook his head slowly, "It's too late."

"It's never too late."

He eased up. At that moment, I regained enough balance to lunge forward. I grabbed hold of his knife hand and tug violently. He dropped the knife, but kicked my away, pushing Emily into the wall. She hit her head, then fell like a rock. I hoped she was okay.

He backed up into the wall of the building. The rain continued to pelt us. My limbs felt weak, a combination of drug fumes and rain drops had done that. My fingers twitched from the adrenaline that kept me going, just barely.

Carlos realized something, his eyes widening slightly. "It bothers you doesn't it? The rain? Well that would make sense."

He might've been a thug who relied on his muscles more than his head, but he was sharp. Beside him was a metallic red cube which housed a fire hose. He slammed his elbow into the glass pulling the hose from it.

I tried to grab him, but I moved too slow. The water jetted from the muzzle as he pulled back the lever. It hit my square in the chest, and I fell back, trying to block it out. It was no use. I fell to my knees, keeping myself up with my arms for support.

"Ha! A tough guy who's scared of water! Can you believe it?"

He took a step forward, picking up his knife whilst still hosing me to the ground. I could almost sense the smirk of triumph on his face. This was it. I'd failed.