Chapter 3

"Alex, what are you waiting for? Go and save my grandson! If anything happens to Benny, can you even live with that?"

Sally's shrill voice yanked me out of my thoughts. I turned to her, face blank.

I said, "Why not? I don't owe you anything."

Something about the raw, bloodshot intensity in my eyes, cold, hard, and downright feral, must have hit her, because Sally actually flinched.

"How can you say that? That's a life we're talking about!" someone said.

"Yeah, saving someone is urgent. Stop wasting time and just go!" another chimed in.

I shot the speaker a look dripping with contempt.

"Oh, it's urgent? Then YOU go," I said,

They immediately dropped their gaze.

I turned to the other guy who'd opened his mouth.

"If you're such a hero, why don't you go do it?" I asked.

That person ducked his head and shut up real quick.

See? They only talked. The moment I asked them to actually do something, they folded.

But my life mattered, too.

I swept my gaze across the crowd. One by one, they looked away. No one dared meet my eyes.

They were pathetic.

Sally shifted uncomfortably now.

Truth was, she'd already begged this bunch before I showed up. Not one of them lifted a finger.

But me? I had a reputation—the nice guy, the neighborhood doormat. So the second I arrived, she latched on.

"Alex... please. Help me save my grandson. He's just a kid," Sally pleaded.

I smirked. "He's your grandson. If you won't save him, why should I?"

Sally looked ashamed. "I-I'm old. My body can't handle it. Please, just save Benny. Our family will repay you."

I almost laughed out loud.

Repay me?

Pretty sure she meant ruin me.

I said, "Old? You're at the community center for line dancing every single night. You seem plenty spry to me."

Sally's face twisted with shame and fury. "Are you going to help or not?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'll save 'Benny.'"

Sally started to snap, but listening to my words, she blinked. "R-Really?"

I didn't answer. I just turned and ran straight into the fire.

I wasn't going to save her Benny. I was going to save mine.

*****

The elevator was toast.

I sprinted up nine flights of stairs, heart pounding, lungs burning.

Flames crawled up the walls. Heat slapped me in the face. I didn't flinch.

I covered my mouth and pushed through.

Hands shaking, I pulled out my keys and unlocked the door.

"Benny. Benny!" I shouted his name into the room, hoping he'd answer.

But there was no response.

I frantically searched every corner of the apartment.

Bathroom. Empty.

Kitchen. Clear.

Balcony. Nothing.

Each room twisted the knot in my gut tighter.

Fear started creeping in.

What if I was too late?

Then I found him curled up in the corner of the bedroom.

He was a golden ball of fur, trembling.

Fire licked at the edges of the room. Smoke stung my eyes.

"It's okay, boy. Daddy's here," I called out softly.

Benny's head snapped up. His eyes, wide, scared, hopeful, locked onto mine.

A whimper escaped him. My heart cracked.

I couldn't imagine how terrified he must've been in my previous life.

He tried to run to me. He pushed himself up, tail thumping a frantic beat; but the flames held him back.

"Stay there. Wait for me."

I didn't hesitate. I charged through the fire.

Just then, a burning beam crashed down from the ceiling straight toward Benny.

Adrenaline surging, I lunged, catching it mid-fall with my bare hands.

Pain seared through my skin, but I didn't care.

"Good boy. I've got you." I murmured.

I crouched down and gently stroked Benny.

Benny whined when he saw my burned hand.

He licked it gently, like he was trying to heal me with his love.

"I'm okay," I whispered, stroking his head. "Let's go."

I scooped him into my arms and bolted.

Maybe it was adrenaline. Maybe fate. But the fire didn't spread as fast as I feared.

Honestly, if I wanted to, I could probably make it in time to save Sally's grandson.

But I didn't. I only hesitated for a split second before dropping the idea.

That family turned my life into a nightmare once. I'd have to be insane to save them again.