Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

His laughter was piercing, the flames licking at his skin, sapping what little energy he had left. Flipping that switch had drained him completely. His eyes were wide open, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth, blood filling his vision as well. "Boom!"

"Boom!"

The explosions kept coming.

Brielle thought she was dreaming, back at the orphanage on that dreadful night, surrounded by fire, the acrid smell of charred wood in the air. And that brave little girl who had saved her but perished in the flames.

She had buried that memory deep, but tonight it clawed its way back with a vengeance. She was struggling to breathe.

Opening her eyes, she could see nothing but thick smoke.

"Cough cough cough."

She scrambled to her feet, feeling dizzy from the smoke she'd inhaled. The room lights were barely visible through the heavy, dark smoke that seemed to cut her off from everything.

She stumbled to the door and yanked it open, only to be met with a wall of flames. Old memories came flooding back, and she stepped back, the voice of that little girl echoing in her head. So hot.

The heat was unbearable.

Brielle didn't dare venture out; she clutched her belly, fear gripping her as she moved towards the window. But outside was a disaster zone, explosions still echoing, timbers teetering precariously. Was she going to die?

Would she never see Max again?

The smoke was so thick, her vision began to blur and waver.

"Brielle!"

"Brielle!"

She heard someone calling her name, but her eyelids were so heavy, she couldn't keep them open. What about the baby? Was the baby going to be lost too?

She couldn't bear the thought.

"Brielle, wake up."

At that familiar voice, Brielle mustered all her strength to open her eyes.

"Max," she murmured, thinking she was witnessing the last flickers of life.

Max looked pale, as if he were injured.

"I'll get you out of here."

"How did you... cough cough... find me?"

Max held her close, his clothes damp from rushing into the fiery chaos.

"Brielle, listen to me, Patrick's car is not far from the estate. Once we get out, we head straight for the hospital."

She felt so dizzy. Her vision was blurry as she nestled into his embrace, drawing comfort from his presence. "Where did you go, Max?"

Her tears began to flow as she buried her face in his chest.

Max felt a pang in his heart and hugged her tighter. "I'm sorry."

The smoke was getting worse. Max cradled her, dodging falling debris as the explosions continued and the structure threatened to collapse. Brielle, shielded in his arms, feel the heat outside, but she knew they were in grave danger. The sounds of the fire consuming everything, the snapping of beams filled her ears.

She had a premonition that they wouldn't make it out. But she wasn't afraid; she only regretted the unborn child. Tears streamed down her

Whether from grief or smoke

irritation, she couldn't tell.

"Crash!"

Suddenly, there was a deafening noise as a section of the ceiling beams collapsed. Brielle flinched,

but then she felt herself falling out of Max's arms. He was holding up a burning timber with one arm his face twisted in pain.

"Max."

Just then, Andrew's figure appeared. Wrapped in a soaking wet blanket, he gasped at the sight of the two amidst the flames.

"Max! Brielle!"

He hurried over, but upon seeing Max propping up the beam, his face went white. He moved to help but stopped at Max's command, "Take her and go!"

Andrew froze, incredulous. But he knew the beam wouldn't hold much longer. Any wrong move, and it would come down faster.

What to do, what to do.

Andrew's mind seemed to stop until Brielle's piercing voice snapped him back to reality.

"I won't leave! I won't, Max, sob sob sob"

Andrew was jolted into action, covering Brielle with the wet blanket and moving to pull Max away. Max's arm was already burned; he knew he couldn't hold on much longer. "Andrew, take her out," he said calmly, refusing to look at Brielle.

Andrew didn't respond, silently moving to assist, but Max's icy gaze stopped him. Cold and detached.

"If it were you trapped here, would you want me to take Aubree away?"

Andrew was petrified.

"Take her, or we all die."

Clenching his jaw, Andrew stood up, picked up Brielle, and made to leave. But Brielle struggled fiercely.

"I won't leave! I'm staying here!"

She fell from Andrew's arms and crawled desperately back to Max. Her belly ached, and she felt a liquid trickling down her legs amidst the pain.