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.

drenched, the heat devoured him as soon as

soaked himself again, and then charged into

Josephine was in

the

in the corner, half-conscious

coat around her, gritting against the burning pain as he

to a

the fire department is only a

convinced Maple Grove to switch

back inside, the staff tried

dangerous! The fire

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

thoroughly-before dashing into

collapsed on the

he rushed to her

scooped her up,

I won't let anything

fire had already dried the water from his

agony, but Charles held Evelyn firmly and pushed

the

strides

lifted his arm at