Lucia stared at me as though I had slapped her. Her mouth opened slightly, disbelief flickering across her face. "How... how can you be like this? I thought you loved Harvey! He gave you everything, he loved you! And... this is how you repay him? With complete indifference? You're unbelievable."
I looked at her calmly, my voice devoid of emotion. "So? Are you going in or not? What's the hold-up? You have the card. Or are you scared too?"
Lucia let out a cold snort, grabbed the access card and snapped, "What's there to be afraid of? I'll go! I'm not a heartless monster like you!"
Her bravado faltered as she turned toward the blazing factory. Her shoulders stiffened and she swallowed hard as the sheer heat rolled over her, nearly forcing her back.
A group of bystanders moved to help her. "Here—soak this cloth in water," one man said, rushing forward with a bucket. "Wrap it around your face."
Another person handed her a soaked jacket. "This will help protect you from the flames."
Pale and breathing unevenly, Lucia forced herself to cover her mouth and nose with the damp cloth. Her trembling hand fumbled for the access card, swiping it quickly through the reader. Then, she punched in the security code on the keypad.
With a sharp click, the lock gave way and Lucia thrust the door open. A wave of searing heat blasted outward, but with a determined cry, she plunged inside.
At that moment, the fire truck screeched to a halt. The firefighters leapt into action with practiced precision. Thick hoses uncoiled like serpents and water gushed out in powerful arcs.
The firefighters, clad in heavy gear, moved swiftly and with purpose. Two of them disappeared into the factory, while others continued battling the fire.
When the two firefighters led the Harvey and Lucia out of the factory, the crowd burst into cheers. Even those who had been filming and livestreaming let out shouts of joy, their phones trembling in their hands as they documented the moment.
I stood apart from the chaos, my arms crossed as I watched. My eyes followed Harvey as he stumbled forward, supported by Lucia, who gritted her teeth with effort.