Chapter 51

The Marvin Hotel

Petrelli Viadelli was perhaps a hidden gem in the culinary world. He grew up with cooking in his life, his mother and father co-owning a One-Michelin star restaurant. The atmosphere was perfect for Petrelli to learn everything he knew about cooking. However, before he could start working full-time for his parents, being paid as well, he was hired by the Marvin family. The offer he was given was far too good.

In the Marvin Hotel kitchen, Petrelli was barking orders to the various chefs for the following day's cold food. Petrelli liked the cold food to be prepared the previous night, so they had time for any and all hot food orders.

Usually the chef was a firm, strict but friendly man, but he had suffered a divorce recently and hadn't quite got over it. He refused part-time but often his mind wavered from the task at hand. It was as such that he wasn't paying attention that a bottle of oil slipped into his pocket. Each step he took shook the bottle, allowing an unseen trail of oil to create a trail wherever he went.

Checking on one of the newer chef's, Petrelli nodded his appreciation and placed a tea-towel far too close to the stove than he normally would. After checking up on all the concentrating chefs who were cutting, dicing, slicing and cooking he walked out into the dining room and took in a breath of clean air. Maybe not natural air, but nice clean air.

Petrelli suddenly heard a yelp and turned around to see a small blaze of fire trailing down the oil. Before he could react, the fire climbed up his leg and into the bottle in his pocket. The fire burst upwards, catching Petrelli's clothes on fire. The oil bubbled and splattered, sending globules of oil and fire onto the many plush furniture in the dining room. Soon the seats took fire, sending the first seeds of the fire into effect. The fire seemed to spread much quicker than it normally would, spreading like a fiery snake across the floors and curtains.

XXX

Lukas had gotten to the hotel at exactly midnight. Pushing open the doors he was greeted by an exuberant receptionist. Giving his name, the receptionist seemed to know exactly what he was here for, giving him a door and floor number. On his way up, Lukas noticed the heavy sound of a helicopter, as if it were really close by. The elevator doors opened and he headed towards the correct room.

Lukas opened the allotted door to find Richard writing busily on a desk. Richard looked up and grunted, gaining the attention of Lisa who was sitting in the corner reading a book.

"Aha, I knew you'd come." Lisa smiled to herself, standing up and patting Lukas on the shoulder.

"Yeah, well, you persuaded me." Lukas shrugged.

Lisa reached down into the bag Chloe had brought into the other room hours before. "I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you're not staying."

Shaking his head, Lukas received the tracker and walkie-talkie. "No point."

"I suppose." Lisa sighed and glanced towards the monitors. Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Hey, Richard, have you been looking at these monitors?"

"Not properly." Richard admitted, spinning around to Lisa. "Everyone's in the hotel though."

"Did you notice that Alexander and Jay appear to be sharing a bed?" Lisa couldn't help but smile.

"I'm really not interested in what they decide to do together." Richard grunted.

"Although now I think about it, Riley and Becca are sharing a bed too… so is Chloe and Jeremy. What the hell, is this a love hotel?"

"Everybody can do whatever they like."

"I hate that kind of view." Lisa pouted.

"Why?" Richard spun around again to look at Lisa.

"Well, Hitler did whatever he liked, right?"

Richard groaned. "Fine, everybody in this hotel can do what they like. Is that better?"

"Much." Lisa smiled again before turning to Lukas, who was still standing in the doorway. "You don't need my permission to leave, y'know."

Lukas half-shrugged. "Well… is that it. You just give me these and I… just leave?"

"Hmm… yes." Lisa looked slightly confused. "I mean, unless you want a coffee and conversation."

"No, no, I'm fine. I ought to get back to Dominika." Lukas gave another half-shrug before leaving.

Lisa took a few seconds before letting out a moan.

"What?" Richard asked, slightly irritated.

"I feel far too old. I mean, we got three couples doing god knows what." Lisa suddenly put a finger to her mouth. "Hm… maybe I'll go give Nick a fright of his life." She gave an almost school-girlish giggle and-

BOOM!

Lisa stumbled slightly at the massive noise, looking surprised. "What the…" Lisa quickly exited out the corridor, confused, and spotted Lukas sitting on the ground, staring at the elevator. Lisa also looked and saw that the doors were open but the lift wasn't there. Instead fire was peeling up the walls and licking outside the elevator doors. Judging by the hanging wires the boom was the elevator dropping. Surprised, but thinking quickly, Lisa went forward and grabbed Lukas' arm, hoisting him up. With Lukas up, Lisa took a risk and peered down the elevator shaft. She ducked back just in time as a plume of fire burst upwards, singing her eyebrows. "Right." Lisa spun around her heel, checking the staircase which seemed unharmed. "Lukas, go to the end of the corridor, wake up Chloe and Jeremy."

Without waiting for a reply, Lisa strode into the office room to see Richard already on his feet.

"What is it?" Richard asked.

"Fire." Lisa replied before pointing to the screen. "Go get Riley and Becca. I'll get the boys and Nick." Once again without waiting for a reply Lisa left and strode for Nick's room. With a slight nod to herself she saw Lukas jogging to the end of the corridor. Lisa followed for a moment before slamming her palm onto Nick's door. "Hey! Nick, get your ass up!"

The door opened almost immediately, with a half-dressed Nick who looked awake. "I heard that boom, what is it?"

"Why don't you look for yourself?" Lisa leant back to allow Nick a view of the elevator shaft. The fire had escaped now, catching some more of the corridor on fire.

Nick hissed a curse before noticing something. "Hey, the floors heating up."

"Oh, that's not good." Lisa pulled Nick out into the corridor. "Go, get to the staircase, get down, and don't wait up."

Pausing for a moment, Nick nodded, sprinting down the corridor in just trousers. Lisa breathed a slight sigh of relief before heading for Alex and Jay's room. Worried that the door was locked, she was pleased when she kicked open the door and found little resistance. She quickly took in the half-naked duo before a bad feeling went over her neck.

"What…?" Alex started but Lisa had lunged into the room and grabbed Alex first, sending him out of the doorway first. Lisa grabbed Jay and saw that he was heavily thinking, looking worried. "Now is not the time Blackstock!" Lisa growled when the floor underneath her feet began to grow extremely hot, even in her shoes. "Get out!" Lisa pulled Jay off the bed and pushed him out of the doorway just as the bed seemed to explode. Apparently a generator or something under the room had burst, sending the floor capsizing and the walls shaking. If Lisa hadn't gotten to the two, they would almost certainly be dead. Lisa was relieved, in a way.

"Go!" Lisa all but shouted to the two, pointing down the now fiery corridor. "Duck down, don't touch the walls, and get down the stairs." The two complied. Lisa looked further down the corridor and saw Richard wrestling with Riley and Becca's door. "What's wrong?"

"It's locked." Richard replied, gritting his teeth. He bashed the door with his shoulder, to no use. "Riley! Becca!" He shouted through the door.

"I can't find the key!" Came the slightly muffled Riley's voice.

"Oh, for…" Richard's curse was silenced by another blast. This time the floor in the corridor between Lisa and Richard collapsed.

Lisa took a few seconds to decide before yelling to Richard, "Come on, get your ass over here! We can't let any more people die than need to!"

Richard slammed his shoulder into the door one more time, to no avail. With a quick shake of the head, he turned to run towards the hole. Thankfully it wasn't too big and he was able to make the jump without too much hassle.

Her eyes looking down the corridor and the smoke, which was now forming on the roof, Lisa saw that Lukas had gotten Chloe and Jeremy. "You guys, get yourselves over here, now!"

The three nodded, jogging towards the hole. They suddenly stopped as more of the floor collapsed.

"Shit!" Lisa cursed, her eyes measuring the hole. "You can still make it!"

"You first." Chloe breathed to Jeremy.

"I'm not leaving you."

"I'll be right behind you, you numb skull, jump!"

Jeremy nodded, taking a running start and pumping his legs. Despite not being the fittest person his thin frame allowed him to land on the other side with inches to spare. Stumbling forward, Lisa pushed him back to see to Chloe. Fire was flaring in the corridor underneath the hole. "Come on, Chloe."

Chloe took a deep breath, taking the jump herself. Her feet hit the edge but she started to slip backwards. She let out a short shriek but Lisa had already grabbed her arm. Heaving Chloe up, Lisa grunted, "Got you," Before telling Lukas to jump and follow directly. Chloe pushed the other three still loitering towards the stairs. "Come on! Nick's next, I need to make sure he's fine." Lisa ran behind, descending the stairs. She came to a sudden stop, noticing Nick was standing, waiting for them. "What in the name of God do you think you're doing here? I told you to run!"

"I wanted to make sure everyone got out." Nick said sternly.

"Stop thinking about others and think about yourself for once!" Lisa turned around to see Lukas running. "Come on!"

Lukas went to reply went the ceiling suddenly capsized, sending flaming timber into his path. Lukas managed to back away just in time.

"You all right?!"

"I'm fine." Lukas confirmed.

"There should be a fire escape, use that! I'll meet you at the bottom!" Lisa yelled over the roaring fire. She started coughing, the smoke started to affect her. "Go!" She turned just in time to see the ceiling above Nick straining. "I told you to go!" She practically roared, sprinting forward and tackling into Nick just in time as the ceiling collapsed. "Jesus, go, go!" Pushing Nick in front of her, Lisa disappeared down the stairs.

XXX

Lukas had decided that the best plan was to head upstairs. Obviously the fire was above as well, but it couldn't be all the way above. Then he could get to the roof. Coughing because of the smoke, Lukas started to sprint up the stairs.

First floor, second floor, third floor…

Lukas was correct in that the fire wasn't too far above them, but it was spreading. It seemed he was practically running away from the fire as he sprinted up and up. His lungs were burning because of the smoke, his legs burning because of the effort involved sprinting up stairs.

Fourth floor, Fifth Floor…

I can't do it.

At that thought, Lukas collapsed on the carpeted ground, coughing and retching.

I cannot do it. I can't… at least I'll meet you again dad… mum… at least we can be together again…

"What in the name of hell d'ya think you're doing lying down?"

Lukas opened his eyes again, not believing that voice of all things was here. "What kind of damn angel are you?"

"A real one."

"Ah, fuck you. Let me die in peace. I don't need to see your face. An apparition like you? Death is… fuckin' sick…" Lukas felt the smoke invading him, making him groggy.

"Well, you know what I say to that? Get the hell over it."

Lukas watched as a figure appeared out of the smoke. He barely had time to register the faces of drama t-shirt before falling unconscious.

XXX

As a matter of fact, Riley hadn't lost the room key. It wasn't even locked. He and Becca had fumbled with the door but then the ceiling collapsed, sending beams of timber and concrete blocking the way. They were far too high up to jump.

"Riley, what do we do?" Becca asked, her eyes wide, scared.

Riley walked towards her, grabbing her waist and setting her on the bed. "Y'know, I got three sisters…" Riley started, coughing.

"What?" Becca was confused. Why was Riley telling her now in all places?

"I got three sisters, and I love them, god I love them. My father stayed behind in Cuba, so I had to be the man of the family, y'know. I had to care for my sisters, I had to. I went to find work and I needed it." Riley was speaking fast, smiling as tears fell down his eyes unwillingly. It was then that Becca realised they weren't getting out and that Riley was speaking so they didn't have to stay in silence.

"I had a family." Becca put in, coughing again. She spoke slower than Riley. "I always wanted to tell you why I was homeless. I… I… I had this brain tumour. I needed an operation. At that time, the thing I needed most was comfort, was my family."

"What happened?" Riley asked, choking on the smoke which was gathering on the roof. The door had started to blacken as well.

"They… left…" Becca sniffed. "When I was alone they abandoned me. I don't know why, but I never saw them again. I lost my job, my friends… my home…" Becca found tears running down her face as well. She raised her wrist, showing Riley the hospital bracelet. "I never… I never could get rid of this…"

Riley nodded silently, bringing his arms around Becca and hugging her tightly to his chest. "I am so damn glad I met you, Becca."

"You saved me, Riley… you saved me. Not only from death that time, but you saved me from loneliness. You helped me when I needed help. I... I think I love you."

"I know I love you." Riley responded, pressing Becca's head into his chest. "I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you."

"You saved me from my suffering, Riley. From everything." Becca was almost shouting over the roaring fire which was no doubt surrounding them. "I am so happy I'm with you now. I am so happy that we can go out together."

"Maybe we'll meet Dylan." Riley chuckled, eyes streaming. "We'll meet him and we'll arrange a great big party. The very best. With party streamers and alcohol."

"…and soup…" Becca continued. "Dylan loves his soup. I wonder if I can get him a new pair of sneakers…?"

"I'm sure you'll be able too. I'm damn sure of that." Riley suddenly stood up, holding Becca head between his hands. "Becca, tell me you're most happiest thought. Tell me what it is."

"It must've been meeting you, Riley." Becca shouted over the fire. "As I said, I love-" Becca was cut off as Riley wrenched her head sideways

Becca died instantly.

It was surprisingly easy. Then again, Becca was thin and small. Lukas had seen it down before, in the movies, in the books. A quick snap… and that was that.

Becca slumped in Riley's arms. "I couldn't let you suffer…" Riley choked on tears and smoke. "I promised I wouldn't let you suffer. I promised it." Riley put Becca gently on the floor, placing her arms over his chest. "You deserved so much more, Becca. I wish we were never on this damn list. I wish you didn't have to suffer what you suffered." Riley straightened up and took a deep breath, deliberating inhaling the fumes.

He continued to force himself to breath, his lungs burning as the acrid smoke was sucked into his throat. Finally Riley collapsed unconscious, one hand touching Becca's cheek. The fire first sucked at his leg, trailing up his already scarred arms from bad cooking, before engulfing both Riley and Becca in a fiery heaven.

A/N: Thanks to Gabe's-Girl-Forever and Bookreader2010 for your reviews!

So, with this rather dramatic chapter, marks the milestone I was aiming for and I am really, really happy to announce that I've up and become the first Final Destination author to breach 100,000 words. (Bragging rights to me, woo!)

By no means does this mean it's nearly over. We still have two (albeit shorter) Acts to go. Speaking of Acts, Act 2 will have it's epilogue next chapter (The first Act is indeed the longest, and I said some would be shorted, so… yeah)

Thank's to you all, and let's continue killing off much-loved characters, shall we?

'Till next time!