The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 552

He couldn't afford to panic. The fire department was at least fifteen minutes away, even at their fastest.

With a blaze this fierce, fifteen minutes was too long-Eve and Ms. Josephine wouldn't survive.

Charles didn't hesitate. He pounded on the first-floor neighbor's door.

As soon as they opened, he explained the fire upstairs, urging them to alert building management and help evacuate everyone. He borrowed their bathroom, turned on the shower, and drenched himself in cold water from head to toe.

Soaking wet, Charles tore up the stairs to Evelyn's floor.

The heat intensified with every step; by the time he reached the landing, his skin prickled with the searing burn.

If it felt this unbearable outside, what was it like for Ms. Josephine and Eve inside? His heart clenched with dread.

He grabbed the hall's emergency fire equipment, yanked out a small extinguisher, and blasted the flames at the door until the fire subsided.

The extinguisher, now empty, became his battering ram. The door, already weakened by the fire, gave way with a crash.

Charles dropped the extinguisher, shrugged off his sopping coat, and held it over his head as a shield. Without hesitation, he plunged into the inferno.

"Eve! Ms. Josephine!"

Smoke billowed, thick and choking. Flames leapt everywhere.

him

soaked himself again,

Josephine was in there-her

shoved the door

trapped in the corner, half-conscious from

against the

handed her off to a property manager who

fire department is only a few

Charles who'd convinced Maple Grove to switch management companies;

risk his life to go back inside, the staff tried to

fire

to the hospital. Now!" Charles ordered, then raced

repeated the process-soaking himself thoroughly-before dashing into

was already collapsed on the

rushed to her side, wrapping her in his

her up,

afraid. I won't let anything happen

the water from his body, his skin blistering from the

held Evelyn firmly

they neared the exit, the entryway cabinet toppled, crashing down toward

few strides from

his arm at the