Page 49 of Burning for the Truth

“We can still work through this. You don’t have to kill us. People will understand your pain spurred your actions. Just…put the gun down and we can get out of here together. You can tell your story,” I tell him cautiously.

He looks at me like he might go along with it for a moment, but then something flashes in his eyes, and he points the gun at me. “No. I came here to end this. Everyone thinks I’m a killer anyway, whether I meant to kill anyone or not, and now that you know the truth, there sure isn’t a chance in hell of you being with me or even being my friend anymore.”

I put my hands up. “What about Jake? He’s your cousin. He loves you, Michael. He always comes running when you need him. What about him?” His brows furrow in concentration as if he forgot Jake. “And I forgive you, Michael. I do. We can start over and try to be friends.”

A tear slides down his face. “But you won’t ever give me a chance, will you?” He laughs sadly.

I shake my head. “No, I’m sorry. I won’t lie to you and say I will. I can forgive you for Drew because I don’t think you meant to kill anyone in that fire, but I can’t give you my heart. It isn’t mine to give.”

He stares at me with regret, gun still trained on me. “I love Dean. He doesn’t even know I do. We have more history than you know. It’s not black and white. It’s painful, but it’s real.”

He drops his head. “I’m sorry. None of this should’ve happened.”

Just then, something explodes, and we both drop. “We don’t have much time to get out, Michael. Please don’t let anyone else die. Help me get us all out,” I plead with him.

He shakes his head again. “I have nothing waiting for me but prison. I’d rather die.”

I lunge for him, trying to get my gun back. We struggle and fight for it. “Stop!” he shouts. “Just let me go.”

“No!” I shout back. Another explosion rocks the room next to us as the fire spreads, making him drop the gun after it accidentally fires. The blast sent us into the metal doorframe behind us which leads to the locker room and showers. I search for my gun, but it’s nowhere in sight. Michal is lying on his back. I turn back for Serena still in the center if the room as the flames close in.

She’s struggling to breathe as I pull the tape off her face. “Don’t suck in a bunch of air, Serena.” She nods as I get her free of her restraints.

Once she’s free, I tell her what we’re going to do. “We’re going to go out through the bathroom windows. Stay close to me.”

We make our way back to where Michael is still lying on the floor. I drop to his side and search for a pulse. He still has one. The blast probably knocked him out. I glance at Serena. “Help me drag him into the showers. We can turn on the water and keep it running until they can knock down the fire enough to get him out.” She nods and we both pull him until we’re in the showers. The smoke isn’t bad in here yet. I turn on all the showerheads and wet as many towels as I can to lay around him as a barrier.

We wet a couple hand towels for ourselves and I break out one of the windows in the back of the room with my hand also wrapped in a towel to try and protect it. These windows let light in, but they’re frosted so no one can see inside.

Once I have the glass cleared out for the most part, I tell Serena before helping her out, “Tell them where we are.”

“Briella, you can’t stay in here,” she pleads with me and glances at my arms. “You’re bleeding.” I look at my arm and notice the blood.

“I can’t leave him, either; besides, it looks like a flesh wound. Must’ve happened when my gun went off. I don’t even feel it.”

She nods as a tear drops and she climbs out the window. I check him again and he’s stirring slightly. I go over to him. “Michael, I’m going for help. I’m not leaving you, okay?”

He nods and coughs a little as he tries to raise his head, but he seems too disoriented to move. “I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

I huff at him incredulously. “I told you, your first impression was right. I care. And I’m a stubborn person. I know you’ve done some terrible things, but we can sort it out when we’re not in a burning building.”

He nods. I hand him a wet washcloth. “Stay low and try to keep your mouth and nose covered. I’m going to tell them exactly where you are, so it won’t be long.”

He grabs my hand before I can stand. “I’m sorry.”

I nod and climb out the window feeling pieces of glass scrape against my skin as I slide through. This pain has nothing on the pain I had in my heart at the thought of losing Dean forever.

After the sound of a second explosion, I glance at Chief Holden, and he shakes his head. I start for the building anyway and I feel Alex and Slade pull me back. “Let me go! She’s in there!” I shout at them.

Chief Holden comes to stand in front of me. “I can’t let you run in there right now and you know it! This is more than likely a recovery, not a rescue! And I’ll be damned if I lose another firefighter on my watch!”

I struggle to free myself. The thought of losing Briella that way guts me to the bone. I jerk off my SCBA and scream her name. “Briella! Briella!”

They still try to stop me, but suddenly I see a figure running from the back of the building toward us. It’s Serena. Chief Holden is beside us in an instant as she collapses in his arms and sobs, “She’s still in there with him.” Chief Trudeau runs to her quickly as well, hearing the last sentence as he reaches them and his face pales to an unnatural color.

“Who?” I shout, but she stares at me and I know Briella is with our suspect.

I take off running before anyone can stop me and yell her name again. “Briella!”

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