Back Once Again

Chapter Three

Baz

My body was tense, one arm clinging onto Snow, and the rest of my body dragging me forward. He and I were both aware of the eyes protruding from other's heads. I guess that will be something we'll learn to manage with.
"They're staring at us," Snow mumbled, trying to avert his head from multiple crowds in sight.
I snuck a glance at him before striding forward. "I know—just carry on. They'll eventually settle down."
Moments felt like hours as the two of us trotted up to the office. Snow seemed to pale a considerable amount upon being reminded of the memory. Giving him a squeeze of reassurance, I twisted the knob, opening the door.
There she sat. Black hair tightly pulled up in a neat bun; outfit removed of any blemishes. The definition of professionalism.
"Mother," I spoke aloud, giving a curt nod.
Raising her head, her eyes met mine with an unknown intensity. "Tyrannus. What a pleasure."
"Yes," I coughed awkwardly, readjusting my position to a stiff—yet confident—posture. My hand still managed to keep ahold of Snow's, analyzing the bumps and curves of his palm with my fingers.
"We need to commence a meeting," Snow suddenly asked of my mother, taking a solid step forward, lips parted to continue with the undivided persuasion. "We have some important news."
Eyes alike to slits of reflective glass, my mom edged back to her computer, rapidly pressing her fingers against the keyboard with eased motions. "There," she said, leaning away from the PC once she finished. "The meeting will start in five minutes."
"Thank you, Mother."
She lifted her lids, eyeing me with weariness. "I hope what you speak of is worth my time."

"Something's coming. We're just not sure what."
The council was quiet. Then, sloppily, I nodded to Snow's comment, deciding to lead off from where he silenced. "There's no other reason he'd obtain his magic once again unless it's to stop something disastrous."
I felt him shiver beside me, Snow's posture rough. He was to be played as a chess piece—not given a chance to carve his own path.
"So what you're saying is that another war is to happen?" My Mother was uneasy with the confession. Her fingers were anxiously tapping away at her other hand, playing the scene off with a collected expression on her face. If I didn't know her well, I would say she'd be angry at this outcome.
"We're not sure," I replied. "But that is a possible conclusion."
Murmurs were then struck and flown about the table in a matter of seconds after I spoke, words of concern and anxiety louder than other tones.
"Quiet!" my mother eventually shushed, holding up stern hands as the room fell quiet. When everything was silenced, she leaned forward, her eyes commencing a stand-off with mine. "What if it's like last time? Mr. Snow had caused the rage to happen. He started the war." She paused for effect. "How should I believe this time won't be the same?"
I saw Snow's eyebrows lace in anger, his eyes glaring down at my mother. His mouth opened, about to speak, when I then cut him off.
"That was not him, mother."
"That's not what others said when describing the Humdrum," she replied smoothly, leaning back from her tense posture, giving a small tilt of her head, waiting for my counter.
"That was a mere projection. It wasn't Snow."
Pausing a moment to think of a retort, my mother's eyes darted the room to analyze the others' reactions upon witnessing this heated conversation. Then, her lips parted to take breath, about to speak. That then got cut off by a earsplitting noise—one recognizable by most.
Suddenly, as if a switch flicked on, bells blared, my ears detecting the loud, concentrated ringing.
"Fire," snow mumbled, groping his hand under the table to meet mine.
"We have to escort everyone to the field," I heard my mother command. Her fingers pointed and gestured to the air, signaling what everyone should do. With stern nods, the rest of the committee executed the orders. Turning to glance back at me, my mother didn't give a profound reaction—just stared. She then turned, darting away.
"We need to get out of here," Snow then exclaimed once everyone left the office, whipping his head to face me, eyes distraught.
I shook my head. "No. We need to get as many people out of the building as possible."
"Baz—you'll burn if one flame touches you!"
"Let them."

Simon

My body was on autopilot, trudging through the hallways with a surprising speed caused by adrenaline. Baz's hand gripped mine tightly, yanking it every so often to pull me in a different direction, as we both scanned the hallways, searching for any students and teachers left.
"Snow—over here!" Baz's voice shouted over the alarms. I felt the warmth of his hand squeeze mine, as I got dragged to follow his footsteps.
It was coherent now. Faint, but traceable.
Help, is what it said.
Help, is what a girl said.
"Baz! The door-"
"I'm aware!" Mumbling a spell from practiced memory, the door suddenly flung open. My eyes squinted, trying to see through the clouds of smoke, coughing from the intake of it.
"Hello?" Baz called out, straining his eyes to search through the room.
I couldn't see a damn thing.
"Hello?" A voice weakly coughed in reply. Hearing Baz's footsteps trail away from me, I stood by the door, my body anxious as my eyes swept over the burning hallways.
The fire was closing in.
"Baz!" my shout escaped from me. "Hurry up!"
Another long moment passed, as my mind ticked, fingers clawing the wooden doorway with internal panic. It was getting harder to breathe. The smoke was puffing in streams; the flames seeming to grow in both size and strength.
"Baz!" I yelled out. Taking a step into the room, I began to search for him, putting one foot in front of the other with lethargic movements.
The world was getting dizzy.
The fire encased the entire room now. Flames climbed up on the walls, as smoke crept from the hallway, seeping into the room rather fast. Then settling my eyes on him, as I felt them glance to the limp body underneath him. Intaking a labored breath, I reached him, kneeling to the ground.
"She's gone," Baz gasped, his head tilting up to face the flames. His eyes watered upon taking in the sight, a reflective shield on the glossy texture giving me a dark, foreboding feeling.
"The fire's gonna get us."
Shaking my head, I let a wheeze from the trapped air escape my lips. "No. We'll make it through this." With sudden, vigorous motions, I then tackled him, laying on top of him.
"Snow—the hell-"
"You're not going to die," I cried. "I won't let you."
The heat was at its fullest now, as I felt the smoke and burning sensation glaze over my body. I just hugged Baz tighter, not letting a hair on his body touch the outside world.
He escaped me once.
He's not going to escape me again.
The feeling was almost euphoric. Tasteful. I felt it lick up and glide across my body in a burning ferocity that made my brain instantly fall to mush. Inside, my mind was distant—an emotionless structure placed to the pyre, ready for a burning.
I could hear the flames crackle against my skin, letting my body rest into a numb sensation.
Baz could hear the scream and shouts that escaped from my mouth.
"Simon—for fuck sakes let go!"
Sobs wrecked my body as I just held him closer, clenching my legs and arms in a constricted fashion against his.
I was not letting go.

A/N: Hello everyone! Please let me know if I should continue or not—I will accept any feedback or comments gratefully! Thanks! Bye!