Chapter 5 The realization that Emmaline might no longer care sent a flicker of panic through Zachary, but he quickly shoved it aside. He refused to believe she could be indifferent to him. They were weeks away from their wedding-how could she not care? Surely, she was just too stubborn to apologize, clinging to her pride. In a way, he thought this might be for the best. It gave him a chance to teach her a lesson, to show her what she should and shouldn't do. Without another word, he grabbed Juanita's bags, cast one last glance at Emmaline, and left with the still-sobbing Juanita, not sparing a backward glance as the door slammed shut behind them. The silence that followed was deafening. Emmaline stood alone in the empty living room, her gaze falling to the raw, bloodied scrapes on her palms, then to the solitary study-abroad application on the table. Tears welled up, spilling over in heavy drops. She wasn't crying because they left. She was crying for the love she had guarded so carefully- now trampled into the dirt. When the tears ran dry, she wiped her face fiercely, her eyes hardening with resolve. She picked up her pen and re- sumed her list. This time, her future would be hers alone. That night, Emmaline stayed up late, sorting through her study plans until her eyes burned. Exhausted in both body and soul, she eventually drifted into a restless sleep. In the haze of half-sleep, she was jolted awake by piercing screams and chaotic footsteps outside. "Fire! Gas leak! Run!" "Get everyone out! Hurry!" The shouts snapped her fully awake. A gas leak was no small matter. She leapt from bed, grabbed a coat, and joined the panicked throng rushing out of the building. The hallway was a madhouse-children wailing, adults shouting, footsteps pounding in a frantic race to safety. In the darkness, people shoved and jostled, desperate to escape. Emma- line was swept along, struggling to keep her footing in the crush. Suddenly, someone slammed into her from behind. She stumbled, crashing to the ground with a sickening thud. Pain seared through her elbow and knees. Before she could scramble up, the crowd surged forward, trampling over her. Boots struck her back, legs, and arms-each blow like a hammer, driving the air from her lungs. "Stop! Please... help!" She gasped, curling to shield her head. The pain blurred her vision, her consciousness teetering on the edge of darkness. Through the gaps in the stampeding legs, she glimpsed a tall, familiar figure-Zachary, his shirt disheveled, clearly having just fled his own place. In his arms, he cradled Juanita, her face pale with terror, her arms clinging tightly around his neck. His eyes met Emmaline's, and for a moment, his steps faltered, his brow furrowing as if he might move toward her. But then Juanita let out a pained whimper. "Zack... my ankle... I think I twisted it... It hurts so much... Can you get me to the hospital?" Her voice trembled, fragile and pleading. Zachary froze. His gaze darted to Juanita's tearful face, then back to Emmaline, sprawled on the ground under the 0.0 % 10:01 Chapter 5 crushing crowd. A fleeting shadow of conflict crossed his eyes, but it vanished, swallowed by his concern for Juanita. His jaw tightened, and with a resolute turn, he clutched her closer and strode away, not sparing Emmaline another glance. Watching his silhouette disappear into the chaos, Emmaline felt her last shred of hope shatter. Despair washed over her, numbing even the physical pain. Darkness and desolation claimed her entirely. 87.3 % 10:01