NovelGoldChapter 31 Citrine waved frantically at Sawyer, her voice desperate. "Dad! Help us!" Sawyer heard her and turned in their direction, about to rush over-when, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Jeanette on the other side of the room.
He stopped short.
In that instant, Citrine's heart shot into her throat.
The fire had grown too fierce-there was only tto save one of them.
Sawyer's gaze lingered on Citrine, and in that look, she saw all of his inner turmoil laid bare. But the moment passed; his decision hardened, and he turned away, running straight toward Jeanette.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtCitrine knew, with a cold certainty, that she had been abandoned again.
As Sawyer carried Jeanette through the flames to safety, Citrine gave up any hope that he would turn back for her.
The fire roared, closing in. There was no tto feel hurt-she barely had tto think at all.
Alicia, cradled in her arms, was choking on the thick smoke, her eyes squeezed shut, her small body going limp. Citrine forced herself to stay calm. Just when she thought they were both doomed, she caught sight of a window in the far corner. An idea flickered to life.
Risking the searing heat, she darted back into the bedroom, grabbed a blanket, soaked it in water, and threw it over her shoulders. Then she hurried back to Alicia's side.
"Alicia, hold on," she urged, shaking her friend gently.
"I can't... Citrine, I'm so tired. I think I'm going to die." Alicia's voice was barely a whisper; she refused to move another step.
"Don't say that. We're getting out of here. I promise," Citrine said, kneeling down and lifting Alicia onto her back. Step by shaky step, the slight, determined girl carried her friend toward the window.
They were almost there when a deafening crash sounded behind them-an explosion sent a shockwave through the room.
Citrine's face went pale. Instinctively, she twisted around, shielding Alicia.
Another blast-this one even closer. Blood trickled from Citrine's ears, and suddenly, the world was silent.
Writhing on the floor, clutching her head in agony, she somehow forced herself up, wrapped Alicia in the damp blanket, and, with every ounce of strength left in her, pushed her friend through the open window. Then Citrine climbed after her and tumbled into the smoky night.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSomeone must have called for help, because soon after, an ambulance arrived and whisked them away.
When Citrine finally woke again, she was in a hospital bed-alone. Not a single familiar face sat at her bedside. The doctor cin, eyes full of pity, but his words were merciless. "Sweetheart, I'm afraid your hearing may never cback." She'd already suspected as much. But hearing it out loud, the grief crashed over her, and she wept alone in that sterile room for an entire day.
Sawyer cthe next morning.
He looked terrible.
But he didn't ask how she'd escaped, or if she was hurt. The first words out of his mouth were cold and sharp: "Why did you do it?" Citrine blinked, lost. "Do what?" He said nothing just glared at her, then struck her hard across the face.
His hand landed right over her left ear. It throbbed, then faded-intola terrible, utter silence. She couldn't hear a thing from that side. "How could you be so cruel?" Sawyer spat. "Do you hate your sister that much? Did you want her to burn?"
The physical pain, layered on top of the heartbreak, pushed Citrine over om the edge. She screamed at Sawyer, sobbing, It wasn't me! It was her! She tried to kill me- she wantedto die in there!" In that moment, she lost all control.
But no matter how she pleaded afterward, no matter how she tried to explain, no one believed her. Not a single soul.
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