Echoes of the Heart - 26. Chapter 26: Carter's life is in danger. Will Jeremy save him?

The room was quiet, save for the steady, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor and the occasional hiss of the oxygen machine. Carter sat on the edge of his father’s hospital bed, his fingers laced tightly around the older man’s hand. His thumb moved in small, repetitive strokes over the back of the hand, as if hoping to soothe his father even in his unconscious state. His own eyes were red and rimmed with exhaustion, heavy with unshed tears that blurred his vision.

It had been almost two days since his father had been admitted. Though he had woken up briefly a few times, each time had been marked by excruciating pain, forcing the doctors to sedate him again. Watching him like this—helpless, vulnerable—was breaking Carter apart, piece by piece.

He bowed his head, his grip tightening on his father’s hand.

‘If I hadn’t gone to see Matthew, maybe… maybe none of this would have happened.’

The thought gnawed at him, relentless and merciless. His shoulders shook as a single tear rolled down his cheek, followed by another. He hadn’t even processed what had happened to Matthew. Every time he thought of the gunshot ringing out, the image of Matthew crumpling to the ground, his breath hitched, and he had to force himself to stay present.

A gentle squeeze on his shoulder broke through the fog of his thoughts. He turned his head, startled, and found Jeremy standing behind him. His husband’s smile was soft and full of reassurance, but the concern in his eyes was impossible to miss.

“Carter,” Jeremy said, his voice low and soothing, “you look so tired. You need to get some rest.”

Carter tried to smile, but it barely registered. His lips trembled before falling back into their usual tight line.

“I can’t,” he whispered, shaking his head as he turned his gaze back to his father. “I don’t want to leave him.”

Jeremy sighed softly and knelt beside him, resting his hand over Carter’s where it gripped his father’s. His other hand reached up to cradle Carter’s cheek, forcing him to meet his gaze.

“Listen to me,” he said gently, “this isn’t your fault. None of it is. Not what happened to that man you went to see, not what happened to your father. You’ve been carrying so much, Carter, but you can’t blame yourself for things you couldn’t have controlled.”

Carter’s lips quivered, his eyes glistening as he shook his head again.

“Who else is to blame, Jeremy?” His voice cracked, raw with emotion. “Maybe if I hadn’t gone there, Matthew wouldn’t have been shot. Maybe if I had stayed here, I could’ve stopped this. And now… now I have nothing. No evidence, no answers. Just a trail of pain and—” His voice broke, and he choked back a sob. “I’ve wasted so much time, and the days you gave me are almost up. I failed, Jeremy. I failed.”

Jeremy’s heart ached at the sight of his husband breaking down like this. He tightened his grip on Carter’s hand, his thumb stroking soothingly over his knuckles.

“Carter, stop,” he said firmly, though his tone remained tender. “You haven’t failed. You’re doing everything you can. And I’m sorry I ever put a time limit on this. I shouldn’t have. That was unfair to you, and I hate that it’s made you feel this way. Please, for your sake, for your father’s sake, just take a moment to breathe. To rest. You can’t keep running on empty.”

Carter looked at him, his lips parting as if to protest, but no words came out. His chest heaved with shallow breaths, and the fight seemed to drain out of him.

“I’ll stay here,” Jeremy continued. “I’ll be by his side the entire time. I’ll call you the moment there’s any change. But you need to take care of yourself, Carter. You can’t help anyone if you’re running yourself into the ground.”

Before Carter could respond, the door to the room opened, and Eric stepped in quietly. His expression was somber but calm.

“Hey,” he said softly, glancing between the two of them. “Carter, why don’t you go to my place? It’s near here. You can freshen up, maybe get a little sleep. That way, you’re still close if anything happens.”

Carter hesitated, glancing at his father’s still form. The thought of leaving him felt unbearable, but he couldn’t deny the weariness pulling at every fiber of his being. His muscles ached, his head throbbed, and his heart felt like it was on the verge of collapse.

Jeremy reached up, brushing a stray tear from Carter’s cheek.

“Please,” he murmured. “For me. Just for a little while.”

Carter closed his eyes, inhaling a shaky breath before nodding slightly.

“Okay,” he whispered. “But I’ll be back soon.”

Jeremy smiled faintly, relief washing over his features.

“That’s all I ask.”

As Carter stood, Jeremy stood with him, placing a supportive hand on his lower back.

“I can drop you off, make sure you reach there,” Jeremy offered, but Carter shook his head.

“No,” Carter said softly, his voice steadier now. “I… I need to be alone for a bit. Just to clear my head.”

Jeremy hesitated, clearly reluctant, but eventually he nodded.

“Alright. But call me if you need anything. Anything at all.”

Carter managed a small, grateful smile.

“I will.”

Jeremy leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to Carter’s forehead.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too,” Carter replied, his voice barely audible.

With that, Carter turned and left the room, Eric walking with him as far as the hospital entrance. The night air hit him like a wave, cool and crisp, but it did little to ease the heaviness in his chest. As he climbed into the car Eric had waiting, he couldn’t help but glance back at the hospital, his heart aching with every step that took him further away from his father.

***

The soft hum of the hairdryer filled the room, blending with the occasional sound of Carter’s bare feet shifting against the floor. He stood in front of the mirror, one hand holding the dryer, the other running through his damp hair as warm air cascaded over his head. His movements were methodical, almost robotic, but his mind was far from focused on the task at hand.

His reflection stared back at him, but Carter wasn’t really seeing it. His thoughts were tangled, circling around the image of his father in the hospital bed, Matthew’s lifeless body hitting the ground, and Laura’s venomous words ringing in his ears. Every moment felt like a missed opportunity, every decision weighed down by guilt. He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he pulled the dryer through another section of hair.

‘How did it all spiral so quickly?’ he thought, his gaze falling to the countertop in front of him.

The towel he had tossed on the couch earlier now lay in a crumpled heap. A pang of frustration gnawed at him—frustration with himself, with the situation, with the helplessness that seemed to cling to him like a shadow.

And then, the hum of the dryer abruptly stopped. The room plunged into darkness.

Carter blinked, momentarily disoriented as his eyes adjusted to the sudden absence of light. The silence that followed was almost deafening, amplifying the faint sounds of the house settling around him. He frowned, lowering the now-useless dryer to the countertop.

“What the…?” he muttered under his breath.

He reached out, fumbling for the lamp switch on the bedside table. Nothing. He tried another switch on the wall. Still nothing. A wave of unease prickled at the back of his neck, but he forced himself to remain calm.

“It’s probably just a power outage,” he said to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.

Setting the dryer down, he moved cautiously toward the door, his hands outstretched to avoid bumping into anything. The house was eerily silent, save for the faint sounds made by his feet as he moved slowly. He stepped into the hallway, the air feeling cooler somehow, and reached for the light switch on the wall. He flipped it up and down several times, but the darkness remained.

Carter’s brow furrowed as he glanced toward the living room at the end of the hall. A faint, almost imperceptible sound reached his ears—a soft shuffle, like something brushing against the floor. His heart skipped a beat.

“Hello?” he called out, his voice steady but low. The sound stopped.

He swallowed hard, his pulse quickening as he moved down the hallway, his steps slow and deliberate. The darkness seemed to stretch infinitely around him, the once-familiar layout of the house now feeling like an unfamiliar maze.

As he entered the living room, he paused, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

“Eric?” he tried again, his voice quieter this time. He had left Eric at the hospital—he was sure of it. So who—?

Another sound. This time, it was unmistakable—a faint, deliberate scuff of a shoe against the floor.

Carter turned sharply toward the direction of the noise, his breath catching in his throat.

“Who’s there?” he demanded, his voice rising slightly.

And then it happened.

Before he could react, a strong arm wrapped around his chest from behind, pulling him back with force. Carter gasped, his instinct kicking in as he struggled against the hold. He barely had time to register the hand clamping over his mouth, a cloth pressed firmly against his face.

His heart pounded wildly as he fought, twisting and jerking, but whoever it was had a grip like iron. The cloth had a strange, sickly-sweet smell that invaded his senses, making his head spin. He kicked out, his feet scrambling for purchase on the floor, but the strength in his limbs was fading fast.

“Mm-mm!” he tried to cry out, but his voice was muffled against the cloth. His vision blurred, the shadows around him melting into a dark haze.

The last thing he saw was the faint glint of something metallic in the corner of the room before his eyelids grew heavy. His body went limp, his mind slipping into a deep, disorienting void.

The living room fell silent once more, the only sound the faint rustle of fabric as his unconscious form was dragged away into the consuming darkness.

***

Carter’s head throbbed violently as consciousness slowly began to seep back into him. The pounding was unbearable, each beat like a hammer striking his skull. He groaned softly, his voice hoarse and cracked. His hand instinctively moved to his head, trying to massage away the sharp pain, but something was wrong.

His hand didn’t reach his head.

The realization came slowly at first, his sluggish brain struggling to process the restriction. He tried again, but his arm barely moved, halted by something unyielding. His other hand, his legs—none of them responded freely. Panic stirred faintly within him, pushing against the fog of unconsciousness as his eyes fluttered open.

The world around him was a blur, spinning slightly as his vision adjusted to the dim light. There was a strange, pungent smell in the air, something metallic mixed with damp wood and dust. Carter blinked hard, trying to clear his vision, and as the spinning slowed, the shadows around him sharpened into faint shapes.

Boxes. Planks. A cracked concrete floor.

He was in some sort of abandoned building.

As his vision cleared further, he looked down and froze, his breath catching in his throat. He wasn’t sitting or lying down. He was suspended in the air, wrapped tightly in a thick, coarse net. The fibers dug into his skin, biting against his clothes. His arms were pinned to his sides, his legs tangled in the woven material, leaving him utterly immobilized.

Fear surged through him like a tidal wave, his heart hammering against his ribcage as he instinctively struggled against the net. The coarse rope scraped against his skin, and the suspension made the net sway slightly with every movement. The feeling of weightlessness coupled with confinement sent adrenaline flooding through his veins.

“Help!” he screamed, his voice echoing off the walls of the empty building. “Someone help me!”

The net creaked under his weight, swaying slightly again. His breathing grew ragged, each breath shorter and shallower than the last. He tugged harder against the restraints, but the net was too strong, too tightly woven to give him even an inch of freedom.

As he thrashed in desperation, a sound froze him in place.

Whistling.

A low, casual tune cut through the silence, the kind of sound that sent chills crawling up his spine. Carter’s head snapped toward the source of the noise, his breath hitching as he strained his eyes against the dim light. Footsteps followed the whistling, deliberate and unhurried, the sound of boots clicking against the concrete floor.

And then, he saw him.

A tall man emerged from the shadows, his silhouette sharp and imposing against the faint light filtering through a broken window. He was broad-shouldered, wearing a dark leather jacket that clung to his frame, paired with heavy boots and black gloves. His face was rugged, with a crooked nose that looked like it had been broken one too many times, and a scar ran from the corner of his right eye down to his cheek. His dark hair was slicked back, and a twisted grin played on his lips as he approached.

Carter’s breath caught in his throat, his entire body trembling as the man stopped a few feet away, looking up at him with an expression of dark amusement.

“Well, well,” the man said, his voice deep and gravelly. “Look who’s finally awake. Thought I’d have to finish you off while you were still out cold.” He chuckled darkly, tilting his head. “But this is better. I like it when they’re awake. More fun that way.”

Carter’s mouth trembled as he fought to form words.

“W-who… who are you?” he stammered, his voice barely audible.

The man’s grin widened.

“Who I am doesn’t matter,” he said, his tone casual but laced with menace. “What matters is you. You’ve got someone really pissed off, and now she wants you gone.”

“She?” Carter’s brow furrowed despite the fear coursing through him. “I don’t have beef with anyone, especially a woman. You’ve got the wrong person.”

The man barked a laugh, the sound echoing eerily.

“Wrong person?” he repeated, shaking his head. “Oh, no. I don’t make mistakes, sweetheart. And you? You’re not exactly a face anyone can forget. No, you ruined someone’s family, and now you’re gonna pay for it—with your blood.”

The words hit Carter like a punch to the gut. His mind raced, trying to piece together what the man was talking about. And then it clicked.

“Laura,” he whispered, the name slipping out before he could stop it.

The man’s grin faltered slightly, but his eyes gleamed with something dangerous.

“I don’t name names,” he said, his voice dropping lower, more threatening.

Carter’s chest tightened, his breaths coming in short gasps. His worst fear had just been confirmed. Laura was behind this. This wasn’t just a threat—it was a declaration.

“Please,” Carter began, his voice shaking. “You don’t have to do this. Whatever she’s paying you, I can give you more. Just—just let me go. I haven’t done anything to her.”

The man raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face again.

“Nice try, kid,” he said, pulling a blade from his jacket pocket and flicking it open. The sharp, metallic sound made Carter flinch. “But this isn’t about money. This is about sending a message. And you? You’re the message.”

Carter’s body froze, cold fear gripping him as the man stepped closer. The light glinted off the blade, and Carter could feel the net sway slightly as the man grabbed one of the ropes.

“Let’s see if you scream as loud as she said you would,” the man muttered, his grin widening once more.

Carter’s heart raced, and he struggled against the net again, his mind screaming for a way out.

Carter squeezed his eyes shut, his heart hammering so violently it felt as if it would break free from his chest. He could feel the cold edge of the blade grazing his skin, every nerve in his body on edge. This was it. He was going to die. His breaths came in shallow gasps, tears streaking down his face as he braced himself for the sharp, searing pain that would mark the end.

But it didn’t come.

Instead, the man erupted into a fit of laughter, loud and deep, the sound bouncing off the walls of the desolate building. Carter’s eyes flew open, his vision blurred by tears, and he stared at the man in disbelief. The blade was still in his hand, but now it was pointed downward, its menace replaced by cruel amusement.

“Relax, kid,” the man said, wiping a tear from his eye as his laughter subsided. “I was just kidding. Did you really think I’d go for the knife? Come on, where’s the fun in that?”

Carter didn’t answer. His lips trembled, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. His body was shaking uncontrollably. He had never felt terror like this before—not like this.

The man leaned closer, his grin turning darker.

“Nah,” he continued, “killing you with a knife would be too easy. Too… quick. And my boss? She wants a message. Something loud. Something fiery. She wants you to feel it, even while you’re burning in hell.”

Carter’s throat felt dry, his voice barely a whisper as he choked out, “Please…” His desperation dripped from every syllable. “Please, just let me go. I’ll do anything. Just—don’t do this.”

The man’s grin widened, his teeth glinting in the faint light. He straightened, tucking the knife back into his jacket as he shrugged.

“A deal’s a deal, kid,” he said coldly. “And I don’t back out of my deals. You messed with the wrong people.”

With that, he turned and walked to the far corner of the room. Carter strained his neck, trying to see what the man was doing, and when he returned, Carter’s stomach dropped.

The man was carrying a large red canister.

Gasoline.

The metallic scent hit Carter’s nose even before the man unscrewed the cap. That pungent, acrid smell of gasoline made his already-racing heart lurch.

“No, no, no,” Carter whispered, his voice trembling as he began to thrash against the net. “Please! Don’t do this! Please, I’m begging you!”

But the man didn’t even flinch. He began pouring the gasoline onto the floor, his movements slow and deliberate, letting the liquid scatter and pool around the room. The sound of it splattering on the concrete sent shivers down Carter’s spine.

“Begging already?” the man taunted, his tone dripping with mockery. “You’re not even in the fire yet, kid.” He chuckled darkly, moving closer to where Carter was suspended.

Carter sobbed, his voice cracking as he pleaded. “Please, I’ll do anything! Just let me go! You don’t have to do this!”

The man stopped just beneath Carter, tilting the canister as the gasoline splashed onto the floor directly below him. He looked up, his grin never wavering.

“Oh, but I do,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “See, my boss? She’s got a thing for theatrics. And what better way to send a message than this?”

He pointed to the thick rope holding the net in place.

“Once that rope burns through,” he said, his grin widening further, “you’ll drop right into the fire. Poetic, isn’t it? You’ll go up in flames, and by the time they find you, there’ll be nothing left but ash.”

Carter’s chest heaved as he struggled to breathe, panic tightening its grip around him.

“Please, no! You don’t have to do this!” he cried, his voice raw with desperation.

The man just laughed harder, shaking his head as he emptied the last of the gasoline onto the floor. He stood up straight, tossing the empty canister aside, and dusted off his hands.

“You know,” he said, taking a step back, “it’s a shame, really. You seem like a nice enough guy. But hey, business is business.”

He turned and began walking toward the exit. Carter’s screams echoed behind him, raw and filled with terror.

“Please! Don’t do this! Please!”

The man paused at the doorway, glancing over his shoulder with a wicked smirk. “You might wanna start praying, kid. Not that it’ll help.”

He struck a match.

The tiny flame danced in the dim light, its flickering glow reflected in the man’s dark eyes. He held it for a moment, as if savoring the sight of Carter’s fear, and then he casually tossed it behind him.

The flame hit the gasoline-soaked floor, and in an instant, the room ignited.

Fire roared to life, spreading rapidly across the ground and up the walls. The heat was immediate and intense, the air thickening with smoke. Carter screamed, the net swaying slightly as the flames grew closer and closer.

The man’s laughter echoed through the chaos as he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Carter suspended above the inferno.

Carter thrashed and twisted in the net, his arms flailing as he tried to push himself up or loosen the ropes. The heat below him intensified, licking at his legs and face with unbearable force. Sweat poured from his brow, and his breath came in short, panicked gasps. The flames crackled hungrily, creeping closer to the base of the net.

“No, no, no!” he cried, his voice breaking as he continued to struggle.

The net swayed wildly with his movements, but the tight knots held firm, refusing to give him any leeway. His eyes darted frantically to the rope above him, the fibers beginning to darken and curl as the fire climbed higher.

“Jeremy!” he screamed, his voice raw and desperate, echoing over the roar of the flames. “Jeremy, help me!”

But there was no answer, only the relentless sound of fire consuming everything in its path. Carter’s strength waned, his limbs trembling as exhaustion took over. The net stilled as he collapsed back into it, his chest heaving with sobs. Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the sweat that soaked his skin.

He stared at the rope, now smoldering, small embers falling to the floor below like tiny stars. The realization hit him like a tidal wave—he wasn’t going to make it. He closed his eyes, his lips trembling as he whispered a prayer in his heart.

‘Please, let Jeremy be okay. Let this end quickly.’

Suddenly, a deafening noise split through the chaos, a loud crash that made Carter flinch and squeeze his eyes shut in fear. The sound reverberated through the room, and for a moment, he braced himself for the net to snap and send him hurtling into the inferno below.

But instead of falling, he heard something else—his name.

“Carter!”

His eyes shot open, and he turned his head toward the entrance. Through the thick haze of smoke, he saw a figure standing there. Jeremy. His husband. His lifeline.

Jeremy’s eyes widened in pure horror as he took in the sight before him: Carter, suspended in a net above roaring flames, the rope holding him barely intact and burning fast. His body froze for a split second, his heart plummeting to the pit of his stomach. It was as if the air had been stolen from his lungs, and all he could feel was an overwhelming, gut-wrenching fear.

“Carter!” he screamed again, his voice breaking with desperation.

“Jeremy!” Carter cried back, his hands gripping the net tightly. “Help me! Please!”

Jeremy’s mind raced, his chest tightening with panic. He scanned the room quickly, searching for a way through the flames.

“Hold on! Just hold on!” he shouted, his voice laced with both fear and determination.

He grabbed a plank of wood lying nearby and threw it onto the burning floor, creating a temporary path. The flames licked at its edges, but it held long enough for him to find another object—an old metal sheet. He slammed it down, clearing a narrow, precarious trail toward Carter.

Carter watched through tear-blurred eyes, his heart pounding as Jeremy navigated the fiery maze. The flames licked at Jeremy’s legs, and he winced as embers singed his skin, but he pressed on, his focus unwavering.

When Jeremy reached the base of the rope, his breath caught in his throat. The fibers were almost completely burned through, a single strand holding the net aloft. He didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the rope with both hands, ignoring the searing pain as the heat burned into his palms.

“Carter, I’ve got you!” he yelled, his voice strained as he gripped the rope tightly, pulling it upward to prevent it from snapping entirely. His legs trembled as the flames licked at his boots, the heat scorching through the fabric.

“Jeremy, it’s burning you!” Carter cried, his voice breaking as he watched his husband’s hands blistering. “Stop! You’re going to hurt yourself!”

“I don’t care!” Jeremy shouted back, his voice raw with emotion. “I’m not letting you fall! Just—just hold on!”

He glanced around desperately, his eyes landing on a metal beam nearby. An idea sparked, and Jeremy shifted the rope into one hand, ignoring the searing pain as he used his free hand to loop the rope around the beam. His movements were frantic but precise, and after a moment, the rope was temporarily secured.

“I’m going to find a way to cut you down!” Jeremy yelled, looking up at Carter. “But you need to brace yourself, okay? I’ll catch you!”

Carter nodded, his face pale with fear but filled with trust. Jeremy glanced around for anything to cut Carter down with until he saw a small metal that looked sharp and climbed the beam, the flames growing dangerously close. He worked quickly, slicing through the netting with trembling hands.

As the net gave way, Carter let out a scream, and Jeremy lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Carter and pulling him into a tight embrace. They fell to the ground together, away from the worst of the flames.

Jeremy shielded Carter with his body, his breath coming in ragged gasps as the fire roared around them.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”

Carter clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably as the adrenaline coursed through his veins.

“Jeremy… I thought… I thought I was going to die,” he choked out.

“Not on my watch,” Jeremy murmured, pressing a kiss to Carter’s soot-streaked forehead. “Never.”

Jeremy tightened his grip on Carter's arm, his voice firm yet gentle.

"We have to get out of here," he urged, his eyes darting around the burning room.

Carter nodded, his legs shaky beneath him as Jeremy pulled him up. They clung to each other, leaning on their combined strength, as they began navigating through the chaos. The fire roared around them, consuming everything in its path. Beams creaked ominously, and sparks rained down like fiery snowflakes.

“Stay close to me!” Jeremy shouted over the deafening crackle of flames.

Carter didn’t need to be told twice; he clung to Jeremy’s arm, his heart pounding. Every step was a gamble, with burning debris falling unpredictably. They dodged a collapsing beam, jumped over a pile of smoldering rubble, and raced toward the exit, the air thick with smoke that burned their lungs.

Suddenly, without warning, Jeremy shoved Carter hard.

"Go!" he yelled.

Carter stumbled forward, landing hard on the floor. The impact left him disoriented for a moment, but the sound behind him snapped him back to reality—a crackling, deafening roar. He spun around just in time to see a massive pile of burning debris collapse, cutting him off from Jeremy.

“Jeremy!” Carter screamed, his voice raw with desperation.

He scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide and frantic as he spotted Jeremy behind the fiery barricade. His husband stood there, his face illuminated by the flames, his eyes locked on Carter with a look of pure love and determination.

Carter’s heart shattered at the sight.

“Jeremy, no!” he cried, tears streaming down his soot-covered cheeks. “We need to move these! We need to get you out!” His voice cracked, desperation overtaking him.

Jeremy shook his head, his own eyes glistening with tears.

“Carter, you need to go! It’s too dangerous! You have to save yourself!”

“No!” Carter shouted, his fists pounding against the ground as sobs wracked his body. “I’m not leaving without you! I can’t!”

Jeremy’s voice softened, even as the flames raged around him.

“You have to. I’ll find another way out, I promise. But you need to go now.”

Carter’s tears fell harder, his entire body trembling.

“I can’t do this without you. Jeremy, please… please don’t leave me.”

Jeremy pressed his palm to his chest, his lips trembling as he spoke the words Carter would never forget.

“I love you, Carter. I love you more than anything in this world. Now go. Live. For me.”

Carter’s knees buckled as he screamed, “I love you too! I love you so much! Please come back to me, Jeremy!”

“I will,” Jeremy said, his voice cracking. “I promise.”

With a final, agonizing look, Jeremy motioned toward the exit.

“Go!”

Carter hesitated for a heartbeat, his soul tearing apart as he turned and ran. He pushed himself as hard as he could, every step feeling heavier than the last. He burst out of the building just as a thunderous explosion shook the ground beneath him, the force of it throwing him forward.

He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air out of his lungs. Dazed, he rolled onto his back and stared at the burning building. The flames consumed everything, their orange glow lighting up the night sky like a sinister beacon.

“Jeremy!” Carter screamed, his voice hoarse and broken as he crawled toward the inferno. His body shook uncontrollably, his tears blurring his vision as his cries filled the air. “Jeremy, please! Answer me!”

But there was nothing—no sound, no movement, no sign of Jeremy.

Carter’s body gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

“No, no, no!” he cried, his fists pounding the dirt. “Jeremy!”

After what felt like forever, the sirens blared in the distance, growing louder. But Carter didn’t care. All he could see, all he could feel, was the searing pain in his chest. It was as if his heart had been ripped out and thrown into the flames.

He dropped to his knees, his entire body wracked with despair. His screams turned into quiet, broken sobs as he stared at the inferno that had swallowed the love of his life. His trembling hands clutched at his chest as though trying to hold himself together, but it was futile. The pain was too much.

The firefighters rushed past him, shouting orders and spraying water at the raging fire. Paramedics tried to approach Carter, but he waved them off, his gaze fixed on the flames, praying, begging for a miracle.

“Jeremy…” he whispered, his voice barely audible. The world around him blurred as the agony consumed him. “Please come back to me…”

***

Laura sat comfortably in the living room, swirling the deep crimson wine in her glass with a smug smile. Her phone was pressed to her ear, her polished nails tapping rhythmically against the stem of the glass.

“Thank you very much,” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “I can’t wait to hear the wonderful news.” She chuckled softly, pausing to take a small sip of her wine. “Don’t worry, someone will send you the money as soon as possible. You’ve done your part. I’ll take care of the rest.”

With a click, she ended the call, her lips curling into a wicked grin. She leaned back in her chair, lifting her glass in a mock toast to the empty room.

“Goodbye, Carter,” she said under her breath, the venom in her voice palpable. “Good riddance to bad rubbish.”

She laughed, the sound dark and triumphant, echoing around the room. But her moment of victory was abruptly cut short by a loud, urgent knock at the door. Laura’s laugh faltered, her brow furrowing.

“What the hell…” she muttered, her smile fading. The knock came again, louder this time, almost frantic.

Groaning, she stood up, placing the glass on the coffee table with a clink.

“Alright, alright, I’m coming! God, who knocks like that?” she grumbled as she walked toward the door, her heels clicking against the floor.

The knocking continued, each thud more insistent than the last. Laura’s frustration grew, her patience fraying. She reached the door and yanked it open with a furious swing, her voice sharp as a blade.

“Why are you knocking like you’ve lost your mind? Do you…”

The words caught in her throat as icy chills raced down her spine. Her heart thudded violently in her chest, climbing to her throat and choking her. Standing in the doorway was Carter.

He looked like death itself had spat him back out. His face was pale beneath streaks of soot and ash, his clothes torn and singed, clinging to his smoke-drenched skin. His hands trembled at his sides, his knuckles bruised and bloodied. His hair was a wild, matted mess, blackened by smoke and sweat. But it was his eyes—red and swollen from tears—that struck her the most. They looked hollow, haunted, and empty.

Laura’s face drained of color as she staggered back a step, her lips parting but no words coming out. Her heart slammed in her chest as though trying to escape. She swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper.

“How… how are you here?”

Her voice trembled as she shook her head, trying to make sense of the impossible.

“What… what are you doing here?”

Carter didn’t answer. He just stood there, unmoving, his gaze locked on something far beyond her, his face streaked with dried tears. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until Laura’s panicked thoughts were interrupted by another voice.

“Mom.”

She turned her head sharply to find Jeff standing beside Carter, his face pale and his lips trembling. He avoided her eyes, his voice heavy with emotion.

“There was… there was an accident. At an abandoned warehouse.”

Her heart skipped a beat as her gaze darted between Carter and Jeff. Panic surged in her chest as her voice cracked.

“What… what accident? What are you talking about?”

Jeff’s jaw tightened as he forced the words out.

“Jeremy was stuck inside. He didn’t make it.”

The room seemed to spin around her. Her knees buckled, and she reached out for the doorframe to steady herself.

“No… no, that’s not possible,” she whispered, shaking her head violently. “That can’t be true. That’s not true!”

But Jeff’s expression didn’t falter, and Carter’s silence—his tears—told her everything. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps, her chest tightening painfully.

She staggered backward, her hand flying to her mouth as her eyes filled with tears.

“Jeremy…” she whispered, her voice breaking. Her vision blurred as the reality of Jeff’s words settled over her like a crushing weight.

What had she done?

To be continued…