MAD

~ Chapter 20 ~

Zach was roaming the city streets, walking aimlessly, completely lost in thought.

People looked at him weirdly, some tried to approach him, get an autograph or a photograph, but he was far too lost to pay attention to any of them.

Somehow, either by a stroke of fate or moved by his own subconscious, Zach ended up by Maddeline's discotheque.

As soon as he stopped walking, screams, cries and sirens broke through his trance.

Confused, but mostly concerned, Zach pulled the first person he recognized by the arm so he could interrogate the man.

"What the fuck is happening here?" He asked the security guard.

"I'm not sure yet. Just know that something exploded inside." The man answered.

"Was Maddeline inside?" Zach felt the panic rising in his chest, his pupils dilated and his heart was racing faster than ever.

The look on the guard's face was enough answer for him.

One second he was still in shock, staring at the man, and the other he was running inside the building like his life depended on it, which in a way, it did.

"Maddeline!" He yelled, looking for her through the smoke. "Maddeline, where the fuck are you?" He yelled louder, walking deeper into the room, dragging his feet carefully so he wouldn't stumble on the fallen objects.

As the seconds passed and there was no sign of Maddeline, the panic he was feeling previously increased. Letting himself fall to his knees, he started to crawl, looking for her on the floor, and that is where he found her minutes later, laying on the floor, uncouncious and bleeding from a cut above her eyebrow.

Between all the desperation and commotion, he felt an enormous relief just by seeing her and knowing she was alive and would be just fine.

Quickly and efficiently, Zach pulled Maddeline's body close to his and carried her all the way out of the building, holding her close as if she were the most precious thing in the universe.

As soon as he was visible to the firefighters, one of them directed him to an empty ambulance where Maddeline was promptly examined.

"Sir, are you okay?" The firefighter that had helped him asked.

"I'm okay, thank you. Just take care of her, please." Zach mumbled back, not wavering his stare from Maddeline's body on the ambulance.

"But, sir, you're bleeding." The man insisted, trying to pull him to the side so someone could take care of his wounds.

"I said I'm fine." Zach growled as he pulled his arm free from the firefighter's grip. "I'll get it looked at once I know she's safe and sound in a hospital bed." He gritted through clenched teeth as he climbed in the back of the ambulance.

"I'm sorry sir, but you can only accompany her if you are direct family, you have to step down so we can proceed."

"Oh, for fuck sake, she's my fiancée, can't you see the fucking ring hanging from her neck?" Zach exploded. "So get us to the fucking hospital before I knock you out and drive this damned thing thing myself.

His temper got the best of himself and the driver decided, for his own safety, to not argue anymore and made his way to the drivers seat and started their journey to the closest hospital.

Despite all the fear and all the crazy thoughts running through his mind, Zach couldn't help but feel a sliver of happiness knowing that after everything Maddeline still wore her engagement ring.