The Nanny

•40•

* a month later*

I don't want the children growing up apart from each other." He pestered whilst grabbing random packets of cheese from the shelf before throwing them in the trolly.

"Edam not fucking cheddar, you don't listen." Emi hissed before chucking the packets back at him. "I thought we were taking it slow, you haven't even taken me on a date yet, but you want me to go house shopping with you."

"That sounds like a good first date." He replied lowly, his lip twitching upwards when he heard her laugh.

"Do we need anything else?" Emi questioned as she scanned over the shopping list, Luciano shook his head quickly in response.

A shrill ringtone sounded from Luciano's blazer pocket. He moved quickly accepting the call and holding it to his ear.

Frantic pants sounded down the phone before a panicked and hoarse voice spoke.

"Luciano?" The voice questioned urgently.

Luciano's hand shot out grabbing Emi's forearm bringing them to a halt in the middle of the Tesco.

"What's wrong?" He asked quietly turning away from Emi as she searched the shelves to avoid her panicking.

"Called- Emi- Fire- child" were the only words Luciano could decipher through the broken words spoken. Luciano grunted checking to see if his reception was the problem.

Luciano pried Emi's hands off the handle of the trolley before beginning to drag her out of the store. "What are you-" Emi asked before going silent at the look of his face.

"The children are out right?" Luciano asked worry lacing his voice. "The children?" Emi repeated her anxiety growing at the tone of his voice as she watched him shove his phone into his pocket.

Luciano drove quicker than he ever had before and this time Emi didn't tell him to slow down or stop. His lack of explanation triggered an unbearable amount of fear to build up within.

"Why won't you just tell me what happened?" Emi pleaded her voice wavering as she held back tears, her eyes flickered from his face to the road.

"Luciano don't ignore me." She asserted her voice growing angry.

"SHUT UP I'm trying to fucking concentrate." He spat growing angered by her distracting voice. Fear and anger obscured his vision leaving him oblivious to the hurt and disrespect he had unleashed.

He revelled in the silence that settled around them.

It didn't take long for the the painful silence to be shattered by a gasp and then a cry of anguish. Luciano's head snapped to the side aware of his harsh words, his words were ready to comfort her.

But when he looked at her she didn't look at him.

Instead she looked forwards tears gathering and gliding down her face an orange reflection reflecting off their glossy surface.

Her hands remained frozen in the air inches away from cradling her face.

For a moment he forgot how to breathe when his eyes followed her line of sight.

Flames roared and danced as if mocking the mere humans that looked its way.

Engulfed.

Destroyed.

The sound of sirens commanded his attention. His feet quickly hitting the breaks as he heard Emi's hands fumble for the handle.

"Wait." He shouted as Emi wasted no time rushing out of the car and breaking into a sprint towards the building.

It was as if she was possessed. She didn't waste any time as she sprinted towards were she could see Hadiya. Her eyes fluttered back and forth quickly as she searched for three children.

Her heart pained a little less when she heard them crying as they sat on the floor near Hadiya.

"WHAT HAPPENED." Emi's voice boomed as she ran across the street to them.

4 pairs of eyes snapped upwards watching the crazed woman run towards them. A panicked man following closely behind.

Relief. She felt relief.

She spread her arms cradling the three crying children whose trembled in her arms. She took in their sooty faces and red eyes.

The boys cries had reduced to sniffles as they relished in the comfort she had to offer.

Luna remained in tears. She cried. Cries of pain.

"Where?" Emi asked calmly as she scanned Luna'a body.

"Her hand." Hadiya said quietly as she pointed to Luna's blistered hand.

Emi wasted no time scooping Luna up and turning to run to the firemen. She was stopped in her tracks by an out of breath Luciano.

"I'll take her." He insisted as he reached for Luna. Emi handed Luna over to him watching them walk off.

Emi had time to think as her heart slowed down and her adrenaline wore off.

"How?" She whispered as she watched the firemen tend to Luna. She span around facing her now burning bakery. Reduced to ashes.

"How?" She said louder her voice cracking and trembling.

Her body shook as sobs wracked her body. Emi sunk to the ground slowly as exhaustion creeped in. She knelt on the grimy pavement watching the firefighters shout and start up hoses.

Everything was a blur. Her tears distorted her vision. Colours merged and separated as a large pain shot through her heart.

"How?"