Reiner - Flames

“Excuse me! Zanita…” I yelled loudly.

I didn’t hear a reply though.

“Anybody out there? Is something burning?!” I tried again.

Still, there was no reply. Suddenly, I felt that something was wrong. It’s too quiet and the smell of something burning was getting stronger. The dress I had on was slightly on the tight side and I started wriggling out of it so that I could change back to my original outfit. However, something caught my eye that changed my plans immediately.

I gasped as I saw smoke coming in through the cracks in the dressing room door. There’s a fire?!

This can’t be happening. Now that I can see smoke, the smell of something or everything burning got stronger than ever. Was the boutique really on fire? Where is everyone else?

Truth be told, I had absolutely no idea what to do in an event of a fire. I’m supposed to get low and avoid breathing in the smoke, is that right? It wasn’t like I had any water to pour on myself. Was that even right? Regardless, I have a bunch of fabric, so I used that to cover my nose and mouth for now.

I dialed the emergency number to report the fire and the line connected soon after.

“There’s a fire. I’m stuck inside at…Zanita’s boutique…yes…” I began talking rapidly once the line connected to the operator on the other end of the line.

There was so much smoke coming into the changing room now and it stung at my eyes. I tried my best not to breathe it in, but it was difficult. Opening the door now is probably not a good choice. If there’s smoke coming in, then there’s obviously fire on the other side of the door. I used the dress to try and plug the hole underneath the door but that didn’t help for long. It’s getting so hot inside…

Why is there a fire now of all times?! Where is everyone else?!

Zak…where are you?

I should have listened to Lucien. I should have gotten a bodyguard. Why the hell didn’t I listen?

There was so much smoke, and my eyes started to water. I sat down in the corner of the small changing room and prayed that help would arrive soon. My throat hurts and I’ve been coughing non-

stop for a while now. My eyes felt like they were burning.

I’m so scared. Am I going to die here?

Reiner…where are you? Please help me…

…

“A fire broke out at an upscale boutique earlier today. The source of the fire has yet to be identified.

Socialite, Natalia Rosenhall, the only daughter of Lucien Rosenhall was unfortunately caught up in the fire. The firemen arrived at the scene shortly after the fire was reported and managed to rescue Miss Natalia, who is currently receiving treatment in the hospital. So far representatives of the Rosenhall family have refused to comment on the incident; however, a press conference will be held at a later date regarding the incident…” a beautiful news reporter reported on the television screen.

All news outlets were reporting this news of a shocking fire that started in the middle of the city. The news drew the attention of many people because of the identity of the only victim involved in the fire. It was a miracle that no one else got hurt or caught up in it. On the flip side, it was too unfortunate that Natalia was caught up in it. Either that or…

Reiner watched the news intently as he felt his blood boiling with anger. His initial reaction was that of pure shock; however, he was used to receiving shocking news and had a methodological way of dealing with it. The cause of the fire had not been identified which means that it hasn’t been concluded that it was an accident. However, the news reporters were already hinting that it was.

Everything about it smelled fishy. The press is being controlled and are no longer neutral, if they ever really were to begin with. Reiner narrowed his blue eyes as he got up from the sofa. An unfortunate accident or not, he’d decided that he was going to find out.

As if on cue, his phone started vibrating, signaling that he has received a message.

The message was simple.

‘A802’ followed by coordinates. Reiner looked up the coordinates immediately.

A hospital…so this must be the hospital room. The only time Zak would ever contact me is if Natalia is involved. We never talked or communicated about anything else.

Without turning off the television, Reiner was already heading out the door. The only thing that he needed with him was his fake passport.

…

**Two days later**

“Why is she still unconscious?” Lucien asked the doctor impatiently.

“Calm down, will you?” Edward said. He knew that pressuring the doctors wasn’t going to help Natalia’s case. He knew that the doctors were doing everything they could for her recovery.

“Calm? Natalia has been unconscious for two days and you’re asking me to calm down?” Lucien said incredulously.

Edward watched as his brother started interrogating the doctors about Natalia’s conditions and the next steps that they had planned to improve her condition. It was very rare for Lucien to lose his cool and control completely like this, but Edward could understand his brother well. After all, he felt like he was about to lose his mind as well.

“Any updates?” Edward whispered when Zak came into the room and stood very close to him.

“Let’s take it outside,” Zak whispered before turning on his heels and walking out the room.

Edward didn’t waste anytime following Zak outside. The two men had been investigating the incident while Lucien was tasked with the boring task of dealing with the press and other related parties such as the board of directors of the company. The one who had to lead the press conference that was to take place tomorrow would also be Lucien.

“It’s arson,” Zak stated, coming straight to the point the moment that they were outside.

--To be continued…