Chapter 8 - The Burning Clinic
The intense heat radiating from the burning building melted the paint on the stolen pickup truck.
Elena screamed in absolute terror, throwing the passenger door open and running blindly toward the massive flames.
Adrian tackled her safely to the ground, shielding her face from an exploding glass window.
"You cannot go in there, the roof is collapsing!" Adrian shouted, holding her securely against the pavement.
"My babies are in there, Adrian, let me go!" Elena sobbed hysterically, fighting against his strong grip.
Adrian looked at the roaring inferno, his heart breaking completely as he realized the sheer impossibility of the situation.
He refused to accept defeat.
Adrian pulled his soaking wet tuxedo jacket over his head, kicked open the burning wooden door, and charged inside.
The thick, toxic black smoke instantly blinded him, making it incredibly difficult to find any breathable oxygen.
"Clara!" Adrian roared over the deafening sound of cracking timber and roaring fire.
He crawled aggressively across the scorching floor, searching the ruined examination rooms for any sign of life.
He finally reached the back storage closet, finding the heavy steel door jammed tightly by a fallen burning beam.
Adrian pushed the burning wood with his bare hands, completely ignoring the agonizing pain of his blistering skin.
He kicked the metal door open, revealing Clara huddled in the corner, clutching the unconscious baby tightly to her chest.
The old doctor was lying motionless on the floor, having sacrificed his own air supply to protect the children.
Adrian scooped both girls into his massive arms, wrapping his wet jacket entirely around their fragile bodies.
He blindly charged back through the fiery hallway, smashing through a burning wall just as the ceiling collapsed entirely.
They tumbled safely out into the cool, damp alleyway, crashing heavily onto the wet asphalt.
Elena rushed forward instantly, pulling her crying teenage daughter and silent baby into a desperate, crushing embrace.
Adrian quickly pulled the glowing blue vial from his vest, his hands shaking violently from the adrenaline and severe burns.
He carefully administered the life-saving drops into baby Mia’s pale, motionless mouth.
Ten agonizing seconds passed in complete, suffocating silence.
Then, baby Mia took a massive, gasping breath and began to cry loudly in her mother’s arms.
The family wept together on the dirty pavement, completely overwhelmed by the miracle of their survival.
Suddenly, the blinding red and blue lights of a dozen police cruisers completely flooded the narrow alleyway.
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Heavily armed SWAT officers swarmed the area, aiming their assault rifles directly at Adrian.
"Adrian Sterling, you are under arrest for domestic terrorism, arson, and the kidnapping of your own children!" the police captain shouted.
