Inside the blazing mansion, the heat was unbearable. Naomi wrapped Elijah in a damp cloth she grabbed from a nearby laundry basket, hoping it would provide some protection from the smoke. Her heart raced, not just from fear, but from determination. She had spent many years in this house, and she knew its layout intimately.
Navigating the thick, acrid smoke, Naomi made her way up the grand staircase, her eyes stinging and her lungs burning with each breath. She shielded Elijah’s face as best as she could, whispering comforting words to him, although her voice was hoarse. “Stay strong, my boy. We’ll find Alex.”
The corridor that led to Alexander’s room seemed longer than ever, filled with billowing smoke and the oppressive heat of the fire. Naomi forced herself onward, her thoughts focused only on reaching Alexander. She called out his name, her voice echoing through the crackle of the flames and the groaning of the timber as it threatened to give way.
