It's been ten minutes since I rounded that last corner, and I've barely made any progress. With each move I take, I leave more of myself behind. Blood is streaming from my wounds at a constant rate, and I fear I no longer have the strength to carry on, or even to remain optimistic.
I thrust my right hand foreward, but it fails to support me. I flop down onto the burning floor, and I stay there. I don't move, and I don't care anymore. I need to rest. I know that it will be fatal, but I can no longer motivate myself to move. So, here I remain, waiting for the fire to eventually consume me along with whatever is left of the building.
I can't believe it's finally come to this... Dying, alone, in a burning building, with no friends or family around. Not that I'd expect them to be here anyway. I would certainly hope not anyway. I hope Lucas got out of the building, and that he'd have enough sense to stay out. He's got a life ahead of him, anyway. And what did I have in store for myself? Not much, if anything at all. So my death will have no real impact on the future. Not the cheeriest thought in the world, but the truth never is. And I think that's as close to the truth as anything gets.
As I wait to black out, something grabs my arm. My vision, being as blurry as it is, keeps me from seeing who, or what, it is. I can only assume it's a human, who, on his own way out, saw fit to help me. Well, whatever will happen next, I won't be finding out. Blackness is creeping around the edges of my vision, and finally enabling me to have peace.
"..."
"He's unconcious." Lucas said, relieved that his friend was still alive.
Eve looked at Clint's tattered body. "It looks like he had one hell of a time, too."
"Yeah. I wonder-" An explosion interrupted him, and flames spewed from a door behind them. "Quick!" Lucas ordered. "Grab his other arm! We need to get out of here, now!"
Eve did as she was told in silence. She placed her hand on Clint's left forearm, and, with Lucas, pulled him off of the floor. They supported his limp form on their shoulders and started walking foreward. Another explosion, to close for comfort, encouraged them to start running. BUt the explosions didn't stop there. They continued to erupt behind them, creating a flaming wall that chased them throughout the building. Although it wasn't especially hard to outrun it, eventually they came to an intersection, forcing a tough decision on their part. The might-be rescuers looked down each corridor.
"Which way!?" Eve asked.
"Uhh." Lucas looked down each corridor. "Uhhh..." Lucas tried to think, but the pressure of making a speed decision like this kept him from thinking straight.
Crap! Why did they have to make this building so twisting? Why not make these things easy to navigate? Either way, time was running out, and he couldn't waste it thinking on such things.
"Lucas!" Eve screamed. "Which way!?"
"That way." He said, pointing to the one he thought was more likely. But right before they passed through it, Lucas pulled back and changed his mind, nearly causing Eve to lose her grip on Clint. He pointed to another corridor.
"This way."
Eve glared at him, but followed obediently. A few steps later, they heard the ceiling fall behind them. Lucas hazarded a look behind, and saw that the corridor he had originally chosen was now blocked with piles of rubble. The explosions, however, were still following close behind.
Now if only we can make it out...
"..."
As pumice and ash continued to fall and swirl about the air, Nobeer appeared to be the perfect visage of bravery standing amidst the deadly dust. At least, that's what he believed. Everybody else believed he was an idiot for standing so close to the colosseum as it was rent asunder. But he really didn't care. He felt that he needed to display courage in order to instill the same feelings in his new rookie officer. Speaking of whom, here he comes.
"Sir!" the officer saluted Nobeer. "Everyone, except for three young teenagers, have made it out of the building."
Nobeer turned towards the new recruit, and narrowed his eyes. "How do you know it's three young teenagers?" he inquired.
"Two of them, a young man and the other a girl, got passed me and ran back in. They claimed to be looking for a friend of theirs. I can only assume that their friend is a teenager as well."
Nobeer's face, already with a stern look, twisted into a scowl. "Did the two that ran in look like they could've been in love?"
The officer turned red, uncomfortable at having been asked such a question. "I, uh, don't know. I guess they could have."
Nobeer nodded. "They may have lied about their friend. If they ran in for a lover's suicide, I'll hold you responsible."
"Wait, what!?"
"Dismissed!" The officer did as he was told and ran off. That last part had been a little harsh, but the rookie had to be tought that things were not always what they seemed. Especially in situations like this.
Feeling slightly curious about the three trapped inside, Nobeer advanced towards the colosseum's entrance, and peered inside. Hot air and flames belched outward, forcing him away. Nobeer stood to the side of the door, slightly dazed, with a feeling of enlightenment. The enlightenment of staying away from the door.
As he stood there, pressed against the buildings exterior, flames flew from the door again, only this time, three figures flew out as well. They had leapt through the door right as it burst into flames, and landed two feet from it. The girl he had never seen before, but Nobeer instantly recognized Lucas. The person they were carrying, being more injured than any of them, remained unrecognizable.
Nobeer wanted to say something to them, but they were already running from the building towards the medical team that was rushing to meet them. Barking at them for being stupid would only slow them down. He wasn't sure of what he would say anyway.