Chapter 231

Lucas's POV

I was back at the burning car. The look on Atticus's face said it all - he thought I was crazy to risk my life like this.

Sure, we weren't exactly buddies. But I had to come back-for Serena.

"Man, are you trying to get yourself killed?" he coughed out.

I didn't answer. The fire was getting worse by the second, and the heat inside the car was becoming unbearable. All my focus was on trying to budge this damn door that had him pinned.

"If you die playing hero for her, she'll never forget it," he said.

Between ragged breaths, I shot back. "This isn't about being remembered. I just can't let her go through that pain." I paused, then got straight to the point, "Look, no time to check for injuries. I'm going to force this door open, or we're both done for."

"Got it." Short and simple. We both knew our options had run out.

Brooks, the driver, seemed his injuries weren't too serious, and he wasn't pinned by the wreckage. I managed to pry the car seat open a bit, and after some struggling, he was able to free himself. From what I could see, he only had severe scrapes on his head and hands.

"Help me pull this door from the other side!" I ordered him.

"On it!" Brooks scrambled around to Atticus's door.

The flames were getting vicious. I saw Brooks's jacket catch fire. He slapped out the sparks and yelled, "We've got maybe a minute before this whole thing goes up!"

"Get a good grip on that frame and pull when I say!" I shouted. "We do this together!"

"Ready!" Brooks grabbed the frame, bracing himself.

I got into position, lining up my kick.

"Three, two, one - NOW!"

I watched Brooks strain against the metal as I slammed my foot into the door panel. The whole car shuddered, but that door wouldn't give - Atticus was still trapped.

"Keep pulling!" I yelled to Brooks. "Don't stop until I say!"

"You got it!"

I kept hammering that door with everything I had, kick after kick. The air was heavy with the stench of gasoline and burning fabric. Sweat trickled down my forehead, cutting through the blood stains. Between my pain and the suffocating heat, every part of me wanted to give up.

A dull explosion jolted me back to reality as the flames surged higher.

Was this how it would end?

Serena's POV

I stood frozen, the searing flames forcing me to shield my eyes.

The burning sedan rocked violently, but no one came out. My heart pounded against my ribs. God, please. Why weren't they getting out... why...

This was my fault. I was the one who begged Lucas to go back for Atticus. I was the one who made him risk everything to save someone else. If this was how it ended, I'd rather go down with him...

I lurched forward, the gas tank blew. The blast threw me backwards onto the ground, the heat wave slamming into me like a wall.

"LUCAS!" The scream tore from my throat.

Through the thick black smoke billowing into the night sky, my whole body shook. This couldn't be happening. Not like this...

I tried to push myself up, but my legs gave out. I hit the ground again, my palms scraping against the rough pavement. I had to get to Lucas, had to find him... I started crawling forward, my chest so tight I could barely draw breath through the smoke and panic.

Then I saw them through the flames - dark figures bursting through the wall of fire, staggering toward me. Their clothes were burning, but they were moving.

They were alive. Lucas was alive! The emotional rollercoaster left me breathless. Tears of joy streamed down my face as relief flooded through me - the pure happiness of having back what I thought I'd lost.

They made it about twenty feet before dropping and rolling, trying to smother the flames. Pure instinct took over - I threw myself on top of Lucas, using my body and what was left of my evening gown to beat out the fire that was eating away at his clothes.

When the last flame died, we lay there on the cold ground, gulping in the sharp winter air, the burning wreck still popping and crackling behind us.

Lucas struggled to his knees. He swayed but caught himself, then shrugged out of the remains of his charred suit jacket. Without a word, he wrapped it around my bare shoulders - I'd torn off my gown to help put out the flames, leaving me exposed in the freezing night air. His hands lingered for just a moment as he tucked the ruined jacket around me.

I couldn't take my eyes off his face. Though he'd made it out, the burns looked worse than the others. The right side of his face was already starting to blister. Seeing my tears, he managed a weak smile despite his exhaustion. The sight of him pushing himself like that made my heart ache even more. I couldn't hold back - I pulled him close, burying my face in his shoulder.

"I can't... I can't feel my legs..." Atticus's voice, barely a rasp in the darkness.