“Sherilyn?”
Edgar’s heart leapt, the pain in his arm momentarily forgotten. “You’re awake? It’s me, Edgar!”
“Ed…gar…”
“Yes, it’s me!”
Silence followed before Sherilyn began to sob quietly, resting on his back. “Ed…gar…”
Yes, it was Edgar, his voice unmistakable!
Sherilyn’s consciousness was foggy, murmuring incoherently in a barely audible hum.
“Save me… please save me…”
Hearing her cry, Edgar froze. Sherilyn must be terrified, and it was his fault. He should have escorted her home the moment he found her.
But he had walked away, watching helplessly as she was taken.
Regret filled Edgar’s heart as he spoke with even greater tenderness. “Sherilyn, I’m so sorry I’m late. I’m here now… to save you.”
But then, the figure on his back went silent again.
“Sherilyn?”
Suddenly, voices could be heard in the distance.
“Someone’s over here!”
Edgar looked up to see firefighters, and among them was Charles.
Charles, surprised, exclaimed, “Mr. Ferguson?”
What was he doing here?
Then, his gaze fell on Edgar’s back, his expression darkening at the sight of Sherilyn.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Charles reached out, “Quick! Mr. Ferguson, come with us!” “Get them out of here!”
…
Outside.
A Bentley screeched to a halt, and Gilbert, without waiting for the car to fully stop, burst out of the door.
“Mr. Gilbert!” Allen greeted him immediately.
Gilbert, grim-faced, asked without preamble, his voice tinged with anxiety, “Where’s Sherilyn?” “We’ve found her!”
Allen had just received a call from Charles, saying he was bringing her out.
“Found her?” A flicker of hope shone in Gilbert’s dark eyes, almost too good to be true.
The agony of the journey here was indescribable.
“Yes!” Allen gestured, “Mr. Gilbert, Charles is on his way!”
He pointed towards a fire
department ladder truck, its details blurred in the dim night light, where figures could be seem
2ed together.
Sherilyn was among them?
Finally, it seemed like fortune was smiling on him. Sherilyn was found! Sherilyn was safe!
Gilbert’s breath hitched as he took a few steps forward, positioning himself beneath the ladder truck, ready to catch Sherilyn the moment she descended.
However, as the ladder truck slowly came down, Gilbert’s expression darkened bit by bit.
Why was Edgar here?
And… the person on his back, was that Sherilyn?
Gilbert shot Charles a questioning glance, and with a reluctant nod, Charles confirmed his fears.
It was Sherilyn!
Sherilyn was saved because of Edgar?
As the ladder truck stopped, Gilbert stepped forward, his gaze finally clearing as he saw Sherilyn lying on Edgar’s back.
Her small, delicate frame, her little face flushed and smudged with soot from the smoke.
Eyes closed, her long lashes resting on her cheeks, lifeless.
A sharp pang hit Gilbert’s heart. He was too late… far too late!
Despite rushing over as soon as he got the news, the journey had been fraught with delays.
Gilbert reached out towards Sherilyn, desperate to see her, “Sherilyn…”
But his hand grasped at air.
Edgar, with Sherilyn on his back, stepped aside. “Gilbert.”
Edgar met Gilbert’s gaze, his eyes cold and resolute, a silent refusal evident “We don’t know the extent of Sherilyn’s injuries. It’s best not to move her unnecessarily, don’t you think?”