Page 81 of Devil's Queen

“Here! Go straight from the door!”

Tinley and a man I don’t recognize break through the wall of smoke first.

“Help me get this off him.”

They rush over to us, her hands trembling as she tries to move the debris that has trapped Rex. Together, we work frantically, fueled by desperation and determination. The smoke continues to choke us, making it harder to breathe, but we refuse to let it deter us.

Finally, with one final push, we manage to free Rex from the wreckage. He coughs and sputters, his chest heaving as he struggles to regain his breath. I wrap my arms around him tightly, tears streaming down my face.

“You’re safe now,” I whisper into his ear. “We’re going to get out of here.”

The man grabs Rex’s other arm, helping him stand while Tinley takes hold of mine. We navigate through the smoke-filled room, our steps slow and cautious. Each second feels like an eternity as we inch closer to the exit.

Suddenly, a loud crash shakes the entire building.

The ceiling above us begins to crumble, showering us with debris. We quicken our pace, adrenaline coursing through our veins.

As we burst out of the burning clubhouse, gasping for fresh air, we are met with a scene of chaos. Firefighters and paramedics rush around, their voices blending in a symphony of urgency. The blaze rages behind us, engulfing the clubhouse in an inferno of destruction.

Rex slumps against me, weak from the ordeal. I guide him toward the waiting ambulance, my heart still pounding. The paramedics whisk him away, promising to do everything they can to stabilize him.

I stand outside the ambulance, my eyes scanning the crowd for my sisters. Tinley appears first, her face etched with concern. She rushes toward me, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. “Thank God you’re both okay,” she whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Mama?”

“Stable. They took her in the first ambulance. Marissa went with her.”

Harlow joins us moments later, her expression a mix of relief and worry. “How is he?” she asks, her voice trembling.

“I don’t know,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. “They’re doing everything they can for him.”

“Mom!” Beaux’s voice rings out. He and Birdie charge for me. Their small bodies shake with sobs as they cling to me, their fear and relief merging into one overwhelming emotion. I hold them tight, my heart breaking for the pain they have endured but also swelling with gratitude that we are all alive and together.

A man in a leather cut approaches us.

“You, Remington?”

“Yes,” I answer.

“Got a van ready for you and your family. We can give you a ride to the hospital.”

“Go,” Harlow urges me. “We’ll stay here and keep an eye on it.”

The man leads us to the van waiting on the edge of the parking lot. He helps the kids in first, and as I start to step inside, I look back at the burning wreckage of the clubhouse. The flames consume everything in their path, devouring memories and dreams. It’s a devastating sight, but amidst the destruction is the relief that my father’s legacy here is gone, burned to ashes and dust.

REX

Bright lights flood my vision.The scurry of feet around me. The sound of orders being barked. Names of medications that I can’t even begin to know how to pronounce are being yelled over me until the world fades to black, dragging me down into a peaceful, dark world where my pain is gone.

I float, bobbing and weaving through the inky expanse until a trickle of light pops up over the horizon. I watch as the light gets closer and closer until the blackness fades to a white, overwhelming light.

“Rex?” Rem’s voice calls to me.

My eyes flutter open, adjusting to the blinding whiteness that surrounds me. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I turn my head toward the sound of Rem’s voice.

“Can you hear me?”

I try to respond, but my voice feels distant and foreign as if it’s echoing from a faraway place. I slowly open my eyes, squinting against the blinding brightness. My surroundings come into focus, revealing the sterile white walls of a hospital room.

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