Chapter 47
47
CONNOR
I can see the fire even before we arrive at the scene.
Flames lick the sky, even above the trees of the distant forest that surrounds Crystal River. The small town is illuminated in a bright, deep red. If you somehow stumble across this site and have no clue as to what is happening, then you could easily believe you’ve been transported to the fiery home of the Devil.
One thing is for certain – it is one hell of an inferno.
And we are racing toward it at the highest speed.
Our fire engine zips around the winding roads that lead up to the mansion – roads that are so familiar to me, but which seem totally bent and disfigured amid the blaze engulfing that familiar structure up ahead.
It’s my home.
My childhood home.
And it’s somehow, impossibly, burning .
How has this happened? Who let it happen?
Who could do this?
It can’t be an accident. Surely, it can’t.
And now I’m sitting here in my capacity as a firefighter, coming to save it.
I can’t believe it. When I left this mansion, I never thought I’d be back here – especially not with emergency lights and fire and with me dressed in this uniform.
But here I am. And I have my job to do.
We speed through the open gates and into the compound itself. I can see it all so clearly now, and it’s far worse than I could even imagine... the main building is completely alight.
My mansion in flames...
I jump out of the fire engine in haste, ignoring any safety procedure that I should be following. This is too damn emotional for me. I need to do something . I don’t care about my own safety.
My boots hit the ground, and I am already running toward the hellhole.
I spot Waylen.
I see his security guards.
I see the staff members of the mansion milling around – some dressed in their work uniforms and others in casual nighttime wear. It’s evident the last thing on these people’s minds was the idea that this place would catch on fire anytime soon, let alone tonight . The staff of the mansion are simply standing around and watching the flames in utter disbelief.
Some are crying. Tears stream down their tired faces. Some are shaking their heads, shocked and confused at what has happened.
Surely this can’t be an accident, right?
This place was well-protected.
What the hell is going on here?
As I run, my eyes scan around the gathered witnesses. I don’t know if anyone’s hurt. I don’t know if everyone from the mansion is accounted for. We have so many staff members working at the place... guests...
I sprint to my father, but the men with guns reach me first.
“Back off,” they are saying to me, crowding around me and blocking the path to my father.
“Look at me,” I bellow at the assembled men, pissed off they aren’t doing anything about the fucking flames destroying my family home. “I’m a fucking Penmayne. Let me through to him.”
They retreat, and I continue to storm up to the man who raised me.
“Where’s Mother?” I ask him. It’s the first words out of my mouth. I have no time for bullshit or pleasantries. Not now.
I am angry. So deeply angry.
But I don’t know who I should be angry at.
What motherfucker has done this?
Waylen looks at me without surprise - he must’ve guessed the fire department would arrive. He must’ve presumed I would turn up with the team.
“She’s out of town on business,” he replies.
He stares at the fire, a phone in his hand. He’s been making calls, but even Waylen Penmayne - with all his money and power and contacts in the world - can’t stop the simple force of nature. That phone ain’t stopping a burning fire.
For once, Waylen Penmayne has met something he can’t control.
“Who’s done this?” I question my father.
“I’m trying to figure that out,” Waylen replies, looking down at his phone now.
His steadiness angers me. It’s like he is ignoring me.
“Is there anyone else in there?” I ask him. “Anyone on staff reported missing?”
Waylen sighs and looks around.
“This should be everyone,” he replies.
“Yeah?”
But then he suddenly turns to me. His eyes are wide. He’s uncharacteristically panicked.
He only has to say one word...
“ Ember .”
Fuck.
No.
“She’s in there?” I ask him.
Waylen’s eyes are quickly and desperately scanning the surrounding staff scattered on the Penmayne property.
“She’s not out here.”
She must’ve been a guest...
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I don’t say another word to him.
Instead, I start to run.
Right into the fire.
This is my nightmare come real.
Eric must’ve seen me because he starts calling after me. Calling my name in fear.
“ Connor !”
But it’s too late. I’m not going to listen to anyone.
I’m going to save Ember.