Chapter 5

The smell of blood and smoke filled the air. My head throbbed. My body felt heavy, pinned to the stretcher as red lights flashed around me. I could hear people shouting—nurses, paramedics—voices blending into chaos.

“Two victims—female, both critical!”

“Move! She’s losing blood!”

I tried to speak, but my throat burned. The last thing I remembered was the screech of tires, Tessa’s scream, and then the world spinning into darkness.

“Tessa…” I croaked weakly, but no sound came out.

The hospital lights blinded me as they rushed us inside. I caught snippets of conversation—words that didn’t make sense at first.

“Prepare for surgery.”

“No, wait.”

“Doctor, she needs blood!”

“Stop. Mr. Smith ordered that no procedure be done without his consent.”

The words cut through the haze like knives.

“What?” someone argued. “She’ll die!”

“Those are orders,” the doctor said coldly. “He pays for the hospital’s sponsorship. We don’t go against that.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. Thomas. Even here—he was controlling this too.

“Then what about the older woman?” a nurse asked, panicked. “She’s not responding!”

“Leave her,” came the same voice. “No ICU available. We’re closing the case… or better bring them to another hospital and tell we’re full, but no operation now as per Mr. Smith.”

Tessa’s name tore through my mind like lightning.

“No…” I whispered, trying to move, my vision fading into black and red. “Please… help her…”

No one heard. Or maybe they did—and didn’t care. And then—nothing. Silence swallowed me whole.

When I opened my eyes again, everything was quiet. The air smelled faintly of medicine and salt, and sunlight spilled through pale curtains. I wasn’t in that same hospital anymore.

A familiar voice spoke softly beside me. “Shh… you’re safe now.”

I turned my head weakly—and my heart stilled.

“Denver…” I whispered.

He smiled faintly, his eyes shadowed with fatigue. “Yeah. It’s me.”

My throat ached. “What… happened? Where’s Tessa?”

His jaw clenched. He looked away for a moment before answering. “She didn’t make it, Shane. I’m sorry. She… she died before we reached the next hospital.”

I stared at him, frozen. “What?”

He nodded slowly. “The hospital you were first taken to—Thomas had it under his control. He paid them not to treat you or anyone so he can let you die. When I found out, I transferred you to our facility. But by the time the ambulance arrived… it was too late for Tessa.”

Tears burned my eyes. “So she died… because of him.”

Denver’s expression darkened. “Because of him—and his greed. And he’ll regret killing his mother once he finds out soon.”

Denver reached for my hand. “You don’t have to cry alone anymore. You’re safe now. I’ll protect you this time. I swear it.”

I didn’t speak. I just nodded weakly.

He sighed softly. “Rest, Shane. We’ll talk later.”

The next morning, Denver drove me back to the house to gather my things. The mansion that once felt warm now stood like a hollow shell. Every corner screamed betrayal.

I walked through the halls slowly, my fingertips brushing against the walls, remembering how Thomas used to guide me through them when I couldn’t see. Every touch back then had been a lie.

Denver watched silently as I packed. My fake wedding photo lay on the desk—Thomas smiling, Carrie beside me as my supposed maid of honor. I smashed the frame without hesitation.

“You sure you want to do this alone?” Denver asked quietly.

“Yes,” I said flatly. “This isn’t a home anymore. It’s a cage.”

He nodded, stepping back, letting me breathe.

For a moment, I stood still—then a strange calm washed over me. I turned to him with a faint, bitter smile.

“Denver,” I said softly, “do you have a lighter?”

He blinked. “Only this.” He pulled a small matchbox from his pocket and handed it to me with a questioning look.

“Enough,” I whispered.

I walked toward the living room—the place where Thomas had once kissed Carrie in front of my blind eyes, the place where I lost everything that made me human.

This was where our love began. This was where it would end.

My fingers trembled as I struck the match. A tiny flame danced in the air, fragile but hungry.

“This is for every lie you ever told me, Thomas,” I murmured, tossing it into the curtains.

The fire caught instantly. Flames spread across the furniture, devouring the walls that had trapped me for years. The smell of smoke filled my lungs, but I didn’t flinch.

Denver shouted from behind me, “Shane! Are you insane?”

I turned to him, smiling through tears. “No. I’m free.”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me out just as the windows exploded behind us. The roar of fire echoed like vengeance in my ears.

Outside, the flames climbed higher, turning the house into a burning silhouette against the sky.

“Farewell,” I whispered, watching everything I once loved turn to ash.

Denver called a helicopter waiting nearby. The engine roared to life, the blades slicing the smoky air.

As we ascended, my hair whipped across my face, the fire below shrinking into a distant glow.

“Where do you want to go?” Denver asked over the noise.

“Anywhere far,” I said softly. “Anywhere he can never find me again.”

He nodded, gripping the controls tighter.

Below us, the mansion—my prison—crumbled into flames.

And somewhere on the road, far too late, Thomas was racing back home, unaware that by the time he arrived, there would be nothing left to save.

On the ground and in the sky, two straight lines moved in opposite directions—never meant to cross again.