Holiday

Chapter Sixteen: Darkness

Emily

"Hi, what can I can for you?" I happily asked the customer who was walking towards my booth. 

It was Monday, and I had a whole day shift today because our exams have finished last week and now our school is on a semester break. Since the bakery is being renovated, we decided to move the work and business outside of the bakery. We had multiple booths for baked treats, two of them which are the counters. We were just across the street from the reconditioning of the place so customers would know that we were still open and that we were coming back as soon the place gets finished up. 

Technically, I'm not just a waitress right now, I'm kind of a cashier because of the small space. I was surprised that there are still a lot of people who go to buy their bread and goods here regardless of the lack of space. The baking and cooking are conducted in a small kitchen beside the renovation, so Derek, being the head, runs back and forth across the street to bring the finished products for us to sell. 

As of now, Katya, Derek, me, and two other bakers are here managing the shop. 

"Hello dear, is your wheat bread available?" a woman around the age of 30 asked me, warmly. I smiled. "I'm sorry ma'am but we're currently-" I was cut off by Derek who was running with a trolly full of baked goods in his hands. "We just currently restocked, miss," he exclaimed, finally arriving. The woman laughed, "I'll take two loaves please," she told me. I nodded, smiling at her. "Coming right up," I grabbed them and placed them in a bag. Punching them into the cash register, I pulled out the receipt and stapled it on the bag. 

"Here you go, ma'am. Have a nice day, and come back soon," I said to her, receiving a sweet smile from her. "Have a nice day," Derek said in a high pitched voice, teasing me. I glared at him. "Do not start," I sneered at him. He smirked while placing the food on shelves. "Wow, what a quick change. Now that's what you call acting," he said. 

Rolling my eyes, I just ignored him. Ever since I stood up to him, he kind of lessened his coldness towards me, which is good I guess. But instead of being rude, he was now just straight up annoying. He would tease me or just ask me to do things for him in the kitchen when before, he would literally just ignore me like I wasn't even there. I guess it's an improvement but there is really not a day that goes by that he has not hit a nerve. 

"Alright, that's enough you two," Katya instructed us, hiding her laugh. "Get back to work, Emily. Derek, I need a word," she said. "Someones in trouble," I mumbled, making sure that Derek heard. He hit me on the back of my head, making me turn to him with an angered face. "I said enough," Katya sighed. 

I'm not gonna lie, I sometimes annoy him back and surprisingly he doesn't get mad when in the past he would get pissed so quickly. So maybe this is just us trying to find a common ground and ignore our anger towards each other. Or we just really like to get under each other's skin. Either way, we're working on our work-love-hate relationship. As a result, the disrespect towards me has toned down a bit. It's still there because obviously, some people are just stupid but at least it's not that bad as it was once before. A few customers have come and go and Katya is still talking to Derek. I wonder what that's all about. Must be something serious and important. Or he really is in trouble. Oh my god did I just manifest that? 

"Hello, sir, what can I do for you today?" I asked the man in front of me. He smiled back but quickly frowned in a panic looking behind me. "Maybe you could stop that first," he said pointing. I turned around and saw that the kitchen we were using was on fire. 

"Oh my god," I muttered in fear. "Katya, Derek," I called out, staring at the flaming building, in shock. I saw them from the corner of my eye, turn to me, and look at what I was looking at. "Shit, Marc and Tom are there!" Derek exclaimed running towards the kitchen. "Wait, Derek no!" Katya yelled at him but he continued to enter the place on fire. 

"Derek!" I screamed, running after him. "No, Emily stop! Don't go in there!" Katya tried to stop me. "They need help, Katya!" I told her and ignored her attempt to grab my arm and quickly ran into the smoke. 

Call me crazy, but when a person is in trouble and needed other people's help, I'm gonna help out. My mother has taught me that I should always stick up to those who are frail. Yes, she and my dad may be mad at me right now, but I will never let go of the things that they have taught me throughout the years they have raised me. I still share the same beliefs that they have and I am not going to neglect and dishonor that. 

I covered my nose and mouth with my arm, squinted my eyes while inspecting the area. "Derek! Marc, Tom! Where are you guys?" I called out, hoping to find them. I called out once again, slowly walking around, looking for them. "Derek! Marc! Tom!" I screamed out. The place was so full of thick smoke and so hot from the heat of the flames. Coughing a few times, I scanned the place again, calling a few times. I then heard a muffled voice from my far right. "Derek?" I shouted as I went to the voice. "Emily?" the voice wailed in pain. I quickly walked toward him. Finally, I saw Marc on the ground, weak and struggling to breathe. I helped him up and immediately brought him out to the people watching from afar. I saw Katya run towards us. 

"Marc, are you okay?" she asked as he coughed. "Tom. He panicked which caused us to separate," he informed us. I ran back as soon as he said that. "Emily, don't go back in there!" Katya screamed at me.

Entering the place once again, I called out for Derek and Tom. They have been here for a long time, I'm getting super worried about them. Especially for Tom, he's been in the smoke longer than Derek. "Help! Someone!" I heard Derek's voice from afar. "Hello? Derek, Tom! It's Emily!" I screeched. "In here!" he called out through the deafening noise the flames are creating. Finding where the voice, I spotted him trying to drag an unconscious Tom out of the destroyed place. 

I helped him carry Tom towards where we entered. I coughed a few times, starting to feel the effects of my long exposure to the smoke and fire. Realizing that Derek was slowly becoming weak, I went in between the two boys and guided them. The sweat on my face and body is dripping but I didn't care about that. What I cared about was the safety of these two fragile guys I was helping. I didn't care if people see this as a fake heroism act, I didn't care if they think if I'm crazy, I didn't care about the reaction from other people. Hell, I didn't care if this is how I die. All I want is for them to live and be happy. My dad has always told me that even though the happiness of one's self is important, the people around us also deserve happiness and as one with the community and society, we should help, guide, and appreciate them for who they are, regardless of the consequences that life is going to throw at us for it. He also told me that I should always care and love every single person in the world, even if he or she is a horrible person. 

And I am not letting people die just because I wasn't able to help them when I know that I could save them. 

Once I saw the exit, we picked up the pace as we heard the sirens from outside. When we were about two meters away, I noticed that the ceiling above us is about to fall. My vision started to blur while I cough due to the fact that breathing is becoming impossible for me. The burning area is now spinning and I was shaking, slowly being consumed by the darkness. My tears have begun to fall on my cheek thinking that this might actually be it. Looking up to see the falling piece of ceiling, with all my strength, I pushed Derek and Tom away towards the exit at the same time the roof fell in between us. 

"Emily!" I heard Derek screamed with multiple people talk and shout in the background. The sound of the sirens, voices, and even the running water to put out the fire have started to fade as I closed my eyes.