Chapter 268
(Myra’s POV)
After guiding her to a calming state, Wendy’s hands, which were literally shaking a few seconds ago, appeared to have settled down. Her breathing was steady as well.
“Wendy, do you feel a bit better now?” Yelena asked as my sister gave her a nod. We both released a sigh of relief.
Then we noticed that thick and dark smoke had started coming out of the fifth floor. As it was spreading inside the mall, it instantly filled the air with an acrid and pungent smell. It was intense and stifling. This only escalated the chaos even more. Those who were trying to stay calm were now in full panic mode.
Wendy was getting uneasy again, and the crowd was going wild, so Yelena urged us, “Let’s make a run for it. Before the fire starts spreading even more p>
We all turned around to go where the emergency staircases were.
I gazed one last time towards the fifth floor, which had caught fire, and then to the people who were still trapped in here. ’Hopefully, no one gets hurt.’ I prayed, and as I was about to withdraw my gaze, my eyes landed on someone. Someone I wasn’t expecting to see here at all. What I saw made my breath hitch and left me completely frozen.
My mouth was left agape, I forgot how to breathe, and my mind spiraled with countless questions as I stood rooted in my spot, like a deer caught in the headlights. “How… how could this be? Am I seeing things now p>
I tracked the person to check if what I witnessed was just my mind playing tricks on me like earlier, where I thought I saw Elio Everests, or was it really, for real.
But to my great horror, there he was, sprinting and darting, bolting through the frenzied throng. Even in such a densely populated, overly charged up swarm of people, I could still recognize him in an instant.
My pupils widened, ’Alaric Everests. He is in Esteria? But how~ What is he doing here?’ My mind was hammered by one question after another as I saw him disappear on the fifth floor.
’Nooooo~ Myra Miracle, you need to get a hold of yourself You don’t need to give a damn about what he is here for. You don’t need to care about anything else. You just need to get out of this place safely and not let him see you. You, need to leave this place as soon as possible.’ I was still dazed and deep into my thoughts when Yelena tugged at my arm, “Myra, what are you still standing here for? Come on. We need to get out of here. The crowd is getting out of control,” her voice dripping with worry.
I woke up from my reverie and murmured, my voice low yet decisive, “Yes You are right. We need to leave this place and get out of here, fast p>
Saying this, I turned around and started making way for the emergency exit, our steps hurried. Yelena was holding Wendy’s hand. As everyone was trying to escape and using the same escape route, a lot of shoving and jostling was happening.
But somehow, we managed to get through all of them. Yelena entered the staircase area, followed by Wendy. I kept glancing back, trying to make sure that no one was watching me, and then, with a last and final peek, I walked away.
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(Author’s POV)
After most of the rescue work, Alaric’s face was all charred with soot and full of sweat beads. The fire brigade had arrived by this time, so he could afford to take a moment to breathe. Inside the theatres, the heat was so intense, and the pungent smoke had entered his lungs.
He leaned on the railing to ease his nerves as well as observe the situation on the other floors. Though some people were not cooperating even in such turbulent times, the security staff, rescue team, and his brothers were doing their best to empty out the vicinity of the mall. Half of it was already done.
Dion and the rescue team were helping the children out of the mall. Elio was taking care of the situation on the second floor, where there were a couple of gaming arcades and escape room like attractions. Brave, while rescuing, was also keeping an eye on that everything was being done orderly.
After making sure that all his brothers were safe, Alaric was about to turn around, but before that, his eyes darted casually towards the third floor, where most of the luxurious outlets were. He was about to withdraw his gaze, but something totally unexpected caught his eye as his eyes contracted and then dilated, then it turned a shade or two darker.
He saw a familiar looking person entering the emergency exit. Alex, his wolf, bellowed inside him, “I think I saw our mate. It is our mate, Myra p>
Unconsciously and without even a care in the world or of the current situation, Alaric made a run for it to chase her. His steps were frantic and urgent as he dashed in the same direction.
The staircase was almost blocked, packed, as people were rushing there. So, he had to take the other route, but unfortunately, it was also densely crowded. Alex was getting agitated by the second. He was about to take over Alaric as the latter was barely able to suppress him.
’Let go, Al. We finally found our mate. I am not going to let anything keep us apart from her,’ his voice was gravelly as he was fighting Alaric to get out.
But Alaric couldn’t let Alex loose. At least not in front of so many humans. If Alex took over him, it would erupt into another round of chaos. And this time, it would be wilder and much more tumultuous.
Alaric tried to reason with him, ’We don’t even know whether it was really her or someone who just looked like her. Are you going to risk our entire race’s identity for something uncertain? Are you that unreasonable p>
Honestly, Alaric was only able to glimpse the side profile of the person for a nanosecond. As for her unique scent, no matter how powerful he was as a werewolf, or even with his Lycan identity or his special ability, he couldn’t trace a thing in such a disastrous situation.
As for whether it was really Myra Miracle or just a false alarm, he could confirm it after getting out of this place.
Alex urged him, ’Fine, but can’t you mind link Brave or Dion or Elio. They are on the lower floors. They can go and search for her,’ he suggested, frustration quite evident in his tone.
’NO, I will not do that,’ Alaric shot down his wolf’s words once again. ’Without confirmation, I can’t just distract them right now p>
’ALARIC EVERESTS, I swear if that girl turns out to be our mate and she eludes and hides again. You will have to pay for the consequences and prepare for my wrath,’ Alex boldly warned Alaric. But he was also well aware that, on a vampire clan’s territory, in front of so many humans and a few low breed vampires, if he transformed into his original form, the consequences would be dire.
He grunted with irritation but didn’t say a word after that.
Meanwhile, the girls somehow managed to extricate themselves from the turmoil and out of the building. But in the process, with all the tugging and pushing on the staircase, Myra’s right arm was wounded.
Yelena asked, “Are you alright, Myra p>
Myra nodded, her mind still stuck on Alaric’s sprinting figure, so much so that she didn’t even realize that her arm had gotten injured.
Wendy noticed it and inquired, her voice shaky. She was still processing the incident that had happened, “Sis you h~ hand~ Your arm. It is bleeding p>
On hearing Wendy’s words, both Myra and Yelena shifted their attention to Myra’s arm.
“Ohhh my gosh, there are paramedics here. Let’s get you to the hospital,” Yelena said and started rushing Myra in the direction where the ambulance was.
Myra was reluctant as she refused, “No need, it’s just a superficial wound. It doesn’t even hurt. Let’s not make a fuss about something so small. The ambulance, people who are really affected need it more. Let’s just go back home p>
“But~ Yelena and Wendy were about to protest, but Myra shut them down. “I want to go home.” Her voice was filled with exhaustion. “Mom and Dad must be worried p>
Right now, her injury wasn’t important as much as her escape from this place. She had already chalked it all down. If Alaric was in Esteria, there was a high chance that the person she saw earlier in the car was really Elio. And if they both were here, then other Everests must also be in the city.
’I should have listened to Fabian’s advice,’ Myra thought.
“The car is in the parking lot, basement three she sighed. “Let me look for a cab p>
But when Yelena checked on the app, there was a long waiting list. It would at least take an hour.
With no choice left, she closed her eyes and pressed her lips together as she made a call. Her voice came out low and meek, “Hello, can you come to pick us up p>
To Be Continued……..