Chapter 5

Nora reached out to help Tracy to her feet, but Tracy refused to stand.

Her dignity was already in ruins. The least she could do was spare Nora from further suffering.

Tracy looked up, tears streaming down her face, and whispered, "Ms. Quinn, can you forgive me?"

She had spent her entire life maintaining her composure, and now she couldn't bear the stares of the people passing through the corridor.

Lucas stepped forward instinctively. He had never intended to push Tracy this far.

He grabbed Tracy's arm and yanked her to her feet.

Something uncomfortable flickered across his face, and he snapped, "You're just playing the victim because you think your age gives you the right. Fine, you win. I'm done fighting you two. Nora doesn't have to go to the morgue."

Nora exhaled in relief and quickly guided Tracy back to the hospital room.

Tracy held onto her and broke down sobbing.

That evening, Nora urged Tracy to go home and rest, but Tracy wouldn't leave.

Nora ended up booking the single room next door so Tracy could sleep there while she stayed up to watch over Mason.

To her surprise, Lucas shifted awkwardly and muttered, "Mason ended up like this partly because of me. Go get some sleep. I'll take the night shift."

Nora didn't trust him alone with Mason, so they both stayed.

She drifted in and out of sleep until the sharp sting of smoke jolted her awake.

Her heart slammed against her chest as she shook Lucas, who had fallen asleep slumped over beside her. "Lucas, wake up! There's a fire!"

Lucas' eyes snapped open. Nora looked at Mason on the hospital bed, then thought of Tracy in the next room, and panic tore through her.

This time, Lucas spoke first. "I'll carry Mason. You go get Tracy."

Nora ran to the next room and brought Tracy out.

They met Lucas in the hallway, and the four of them pushed through the thick smoke toward the stairwell.

A faint voice echoed from somewhere below. "Help! Lucas, where are you? Somebody, please help me!"

Lucas froze mid-step. Nora looked at him, her expression deadly serious. "You are not leaving my father behind again. I'll go find her, and I will bring her back to you. I promise."

Lucas set Mason down without hesitation. "No. I'm not taking that risk."

"Lucas!" Nora grabbed for his arm, but he was already gone.

She swallowed the ache in her chest and drew a deep breath. She turned to Tracy and said, "I'll carry Dad."

With Tracy's help, Nora managed to hoist Mason's unconscious body onto her back.

By then, Lucas had already scooped up Claire and headed out.

Nora shuffled toward the stairwell, each step heavier than the last. Lucas paused beside her and said, "Hold on. I'll get Claire out first and come right back for you."

Nora shouted after him, "Take my mom with you!"

Lucas nodded. He grabbed Tracy by the arm and pulled her along, even as she tried to stay behind.

The smoke in the stairwell thickened with every passing second. Nora could barely breathe, and her legs threatened to give out beneath her. Sheer willpower was the only thing keeping her upright.

She thought she was going to die here.

Then a sliver of light broke through the haze.

Lucas had come back. Relief hit her like a wave, and she cried out, "Lucas!"

He lifted Mason off her back and guided her the rest of the way out.

Nora gasped for fresh air as the fear and relief hit her all at once.

She was grateful for Lucas. Tracy, Mason, and she had made it out of the fire alive, and that alone felt like a miracle.

Nora looked around and asked, "Where's my mom?"

Lucas pointed toward a corner, his voice dropping low. "She took a fall on the way down."

Nora scrambled to her feet and ran over.

Her heart sank the moment she saw Tracy.

Tracy was slumped against the wall, and blood from the back of her head had streaked down the surface in a wide, dark stain.

Nora threw herself at Tracy's side and choked out, "Mom." She looked around frantically and cried, "Doctor! Where's a doctor?"

She spotted a nurse in a white coat and rushed toward her. "Someone's badly hurt over here. Please, get a doctor. Now."

The nurse hesitated and said, "Ms. Quinn sprained her ankle, and Mr. Jameson ordered every available doctor to treat her."

Nora searched the halls like a woman possessed, but there was no one to be found.

She broke down when she returned to Tracy's side and sobbed, "I'm so useless, Mom. I can't find a single doctor."

Tracy gripped her hand with what little strength she had left and whispered, "I saw Claire started the fire. She pushed me."

Before she could finish, Tracy's hand went limp and fell to her side.