Chapter 90

Chaos swallowed the whole Sunford. Thick smoke billowed into the sky. 

"Get everyone out before another building collapses!" Scout stood at the center of the chaos as he barked into his radio. "Move! Move! Get those kids out! Harris, take your group and clear the east wing! Martinez, you're on the west! Get whoever you can and get them to the buses!"

"On it, boss!" Harris turned to his team and Martinez was already running to the west wing.

Scout's eyes scanned the scene in pure horror. The fire was spreading faster than they could contain it and the explosions had already taken out part of the building. His main focus was clear: save as many kids as possible. He grabbed a student by the arm. "You! Get to the buses! Stop running and find the buses! Go!"

The boy's face was pale and his eyes wide with fear. "But-but my roommate's still inside-"

Scout cut him off furiously. "We'll get him. You need to get out now!" He pushed the boy toward the buses, then turned to his team. "Some of these buses are full! Send them out! We can't wait for everyone! Get the wounded on first!"

The students ran, some stumbling, some crying, and some sick kids laughed with humor even as the world burned around them.

"Well, I always knew Sunford would be the death of me," a Student's voice dripped with sarcasm as he limped toward the buses. "Guess the rumors were true, this place really is a suicide school."

"Shut up, man," his friend snapped, though a nervous laugh escaped him. "If I'm gonna die, I'd rather it not be in a school uniform. This is so uncool."

"At least we'll all go together. Group suicide, just like the brochures promised! Hurray!"

Scout ignored their macabre banter and his focus was razor-sharp on saving their stupid asses. "Keep them moving! We-!" 

BOOM! 

A second explosion happened which was louder and violent. The ground shook like an earthquake. An entire wing of the building crumbled before their eyes, the walls collapsing inward in a deafening roar. Flames roared higher, devouring everything and everyone. 

Scout's heart sank as he watched students disappear beneath the rubble and he was only able to hear their cries and screams. Those who had been farther back were thrown to the ground, some rolling across the pavement, others screaming as flames burned their skin.

"MEDICS!" Scout roared because he was losing his damn mind. Everything was a mess. "Get over here and help the wounded! NOW!" 

His team were in action and dragged the injured away from the flames. A boy with burns on his arms screamed as a medic tried to treat him while another lay on the ground, clutching his almost entire leg burned. 

Meanwhile, the evacuation continued. Students shoved and pushed, desperate to climb onto the buses. Because now, they have long forgotten their humor. 

"One at a time! One at a time!" a bus driver yelled. 

But amidst the chaos, a sharp cry broke as the boy fought back the guards. "I need to go back! Let me go!" 

It was Jaxton, his green eyes were wild with panic. He thrashed against the grip of a security guard. 

"Kid, you can't go back!" the guard shouted. "It's suicide! You'll die in there!" 

"LET ME GO!" Jaxton screamed and continued to struggle. He shoved with all his strength, his desperation giving him an almost unnatural force. The guard stumbled back and Jaxton broke free. 

"Jaxton, STOP!" his friends shouted after him. 

But Jaxton didn't stop or hesitate. "I'm not going without Ira!" He sprinted toward the inferno, his figure swallowed by the smoke and flames. 

▪️▪️▪️

The hallways were a nightmare come to life and running through them was River. He huffed with anguished gasps, his lungs burning almost as such as raging flames around him but he didn't stop and shoved past debris and panicked students. 

"Get out of the way!" he shouted hoarsely. He wasn't thinking about himself. All that mattered was one name that repeated endlessly in his mind. 

Sage. 

"Please, please be fine," he whispered under his breath, a prayer to anyone listening. "Ziggy, be okay." 

The dorm hallway was unrecognizable when he reached there. Smoke coiled in dense waves, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. Flames devoured everything in sight. His anxiety spiked and his heartbeat drummed in his ears. 

When he reached his dorm, the door was already warped from the heat, its edges glowing faintly red. River didn't waste any time and raised his foot to kick it with all his strength. 

"Come on!" he growled, slamming his foot against it again. The door splintered on the second kick, flying open to release a fresh wave of smoke that hit him. River staggered, coughing violently as the acrid air filled his lungs and stung his eyes. 

He pulled his shirt up over his nose and mouth, shielding himself as best as he could, but the heat was suffocating. The room was in ruins, furniture charred and collapsing, fire creeping along the walls. 

"Ziggy?!" Panic surged in his chest as his eyes darted around the room. 

Then he saw him. 

Sage lay crumpled on the floor near the bed, motionless, his body limp and pale. His lips were parted slightly, his shirt pulled over his face as if he'd tried to shield himself, but the lack of movement sent a cold stab of fear through River's chest. 

"No, no, no-" River choked out, rushing to his side. Dropping to his knees, he grabbed Sage's shoulders and shook him gently. "Sage! Wake up! Ziggy, baby!" 

But Sage didn't stir. His face was flushed from the heat and he seemed to be barely breathing. 

River's hands trembled as he cradled Sage's head, brushing ash from his cheeks. "You idiot! Why didn't you run like everyone else? Why didn't you get out too?!" 

The smoke was getting thicker and River knew they didn't have much time. Ignoring the searing pain in his own lungs, he slipped his arms under Sage's body and lifted him. 

The weight of Sage in his arms felt unbearably fragile which was a cruel reminder of how close he'd come to losing him. Holding him tightly, River stumbled toward the door. 

"Just hold on, Ziggy," River murmured while his vision blurred and his body screaming for oxygen. 

▪️▪️▪️

Meanwhile, Lia's heart pounded violently in his chest as he ran through the destruction, searching for Alpha.

But before he could find Alpha, rough hands seized him from behind. He struggled, kicking and throwing punches, but there were too many. A cruelly familiar voice made his blood boil. 

"Well, well. Look what we have here," Antonio clicked his tongue. 

Lia froze as he turned his glare onto the man. His body trembled with rage and he saw red. He wanted to kill Antonio where he stood. But Antonio only smirked. 

"If you want to see Alpha one last time before you die. Surrender yourself now." 

Lia's heart thundered and his breath caught in his throat. So, they really got to Alpha. 

That realization sent ice down his spine. His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms so hard they nearly bled. He wanted to fight, wanted to rip Antonio apart, but Alpha...he can't risk it. 

Without another word, Lia dropped his resistance. 

Antonio's smirk widened. "Good boy. Now follow us. 

Lia silently followed them. No one could tell from his calm expression about the storms happening inside him. The scent of blood only increased the further he followed Antonio and his men. 

And when he finally saw Alpha and the condition he was in, Lia's whole body shuddered. His heart slammed against his ribs, his entire body freezing at the sight before him. 

Alpha was clutched by Antonio's men, he was barely conscious and his face battered and bloodied. His lower lip was split open, a deep gash running along his temple. His wrists were restrained behind his back and blood dripped from his mouth as if he had been spitting it out for hours. 

Lia's stomach twisted painfully. His fingers twitched, itching to reach Alpha but before he could even move, he was yanked away. 

"Let me go! I'll fucking rip you to pieces!" Lia struggled violently but the grip on him only tightened. 

"What's the rush? You'll meet the same fate as him soon anyways," Then, from behind the group of men, a figure emerged. 

Wagnar. 

Lia's breath came short, his heart was still hammering, but it wasn't out of fear of Wagnar. No, his fear was only for Alpha. 

Wagnar slowly walked towards him with an evil smile curling on his lips. He clasped his hands behind his back, eyeing Lia as if he were an exotic creature in a cage. 

"So...finally," Wagnar mused, tilting his head slightly to look at Lia. "The human who single-handedly brought destruction upon my entire empire. It feels really good to meet you again. I hope you feel the same way as I do." 

Lia barely heard him. His eyes remained locked onto Alpha's limp body, his heart pounding so violently that it hurt. 

Alpha appeared extremely weak. Alpha, who had once been the most terrifying force in Sunford, was now nothing but a broken mess. 

A sharp chuckle pulled Lia's attention back to Wagnar. 

"You're pretty special to me, do you know that? You're unlike I have ever seen or met. You're so unique that you almost made me regret my decision of ever investing in Alpha. I should have tried my luck with you instead," Wagnar continued with a deep but malicious voice. "Not just anyone could do what you've done. You should be proud of yourself. Because of you, everything I earned is turned to dust." 

Lia tilted his head too, his lips curling into a provoking smirk. "Let me make your day more interesting. If today's my last day then I'll make sure to turn this day into everyone's last day. Including you and your men," his dark smile grew wider. "I don't give a damn if I die, but I'll make sure I take every last one of you with me." 

Antonio clicked his tongue in irritation, an old habit of his. "Still running your mouth I see." 

But Wagnar merely chuckled, watching Lia like he was some fascinating experiment. "You talk big but I'd love to see you try." 

Lia opened his mouth and was ready to snap back, when a low, raspy voice interrupted them. 

"I'll go with you," Alpha spoke through his blooded lips. He barely lifted his head but his swollen eyes dangerously fixed on Wagnar like he was his main target. "Just stop all of this. Call your men back and-" 

"Shut the fuck up or I'll kill you myself!" Lia snapped towards Alpha. 

Their eyes met for a brief moment but many emotions were exchanged in that small time. Alpha's expression was a silent plea for Lia to understand the intensity of the situation while Lia only glared at him in refusal. 

"Oh my! This is so amusing," Wagnar let out a slow and mocking laugh while shaking his head. "I never imagined that I would lose everything because of love. How ridiculous. I took care of everything. I built an empire. I kept Alpha hidden from the world. But it never occurred to me that I should've also hidden him from love. That was my only mistake." His cold eyes flickered to Lia. "I should have made sure no one like you ever got close enough to take him away from me and ruin my plans." 

Wagnar lifted his hand and ordered. "Just kill them both before I further lose my mind. I want them dead before this whole school is destroyed. I'll personally bury these two under the ruins of Sunford. A school that was established because of them and that will also be demolished because of them." 

In an instant, guns clicked into place, all pointed at Lia. 

"NO! You bastard, I said I'll go with you and do whatever you say, just let Lia go!" Alpha's breath hitched and his entire body went rigid with fear. His heart pounded violently as his eyes darted to the surrounding men in wrath. 

Lia chuckled out of nowhere, turning everyone's attention towards him. His eyes were dark and unhinged as he looked deep in Alpha's scared and worried eyes. "So now you remember me after pretending all this time?" 

Alpha didn't answer and felt ashamed for lying. It wasn't that he thought Lia couldn't fight for both of them. But he was also aware that Lia wasn't a weapon like him. Lia wasn't built to take bullets, and wasn't trained to survive inhuman injuries. One wrong move, one stray bullet, and Lia would be gone. 

Alpha ignored his question and his dead eyes turned to Wagnar instead. "You need me alive. But if you kill him-" 

Before he could finish, Antonio suddenly stepped forward, blocking Lia from the gunmen. A slow smirk spread across his face as he grabbed Lia's jaw roughly. "Before we kill him...Can I have my fun?" Lia didn't flinch and only stared boredly. Antonio's own stare was burning with old resentment. "I have unfinished business with you." 

That unfinished business was his missing eye, which was permanently damaged by Lia. 

Without warning, Antonio slammed his fist into Lia's stomach. Lia coughed and a sharp gasp escaped him as the pain shot through his ribs. Blood dripped from his lips, but he only chuckled, dark and hoarse. 

"That's all you got?" 

Antonio growled, grabbing his hair and yanking his head back before smashing his gun against Lia's cheek. 

Lia's vision blurred for a second. His head snapped to the side, more blood splattering onto the floor. Antonio laughed slowly, pressing the cold barrel of his gun under Lia's chin. "Not so tough now?" 

Lia spat blood onto Antonio's boots, his smirk never fading. "Dirty!" Antonio's jaw clenched in disgust. He raised his gun again, but then everything stopped. No blow was struck at Lia again. 

CRACK! 

Antonio's smile froze on his face and his body jerked unnaturally. A sickening sound followed at his neck. 

Lia slowly lifted his eyes and when his vision cleared just enough to see Antonio's head tilted at a grotesque angle. 

Then, with a loud thud, his body crumpled lifelessly to the ground. 

Lia blinked. What the- 

Then he saw him. Alpha stood there, his chest heaving, his entire body trembling, but his eyes...they seemed to go crazy. 

There was no hesitation, no regret, only the insatiable need to destroy anything that touched what was his. 

Everything and everyone went silent. 

The men who had been aiming at Lia backed away instantly in fear. 

Lia exhaled sharply, wiping the blood from his lips. His smirk returned, but this time, it was filled with pride. 

He turned his gaze to Wagnar, who, for the first time, wasn't smiling ever since he started his attack on Sunford. 

Lia raised a brow and stepped beside Alpha. 

"Let me ask you a question now. Whose weapon is he?" He tilted his head playfully. 

"Yours...or mine?"

Wagnar couldn't find his voice anymore. 

Oops.

▪️▪️▪️

"Ira! IRA! Where are you?!" 

A loud crash echoed behind him and Jaxton turned just in time to see a wall collapsing. He tried to move but he wasn't fast enough. The debris slammed into him, pinning his arm beneath the weight. Pain shot through his body, and he cried out, but he forced himself to push through it. With a grunt, he freed his arm, wincing as blood dripped from the wound. 

But he didn't have time to think about the pain. He had to find Ira. He ran to the last spot he saw Ira. 

"Ira! Answer me, damn it! Where the fuck are you?"

Finally, from beneath a pile of rubble in a dark corner, a weak voice called out to him. "J-Jaxton...?"

Jaxton's heart leapt. "Ira!" He rushed to the pile of debris, his hands trembling as he frantically threw aside chunks of concrete and broken furniture. His injured arm screamed in protest, but he ignored it.

When he finally cleared enough of the rubble, he saw Ira's face, dirty and streaked with tears. "Jaxton...I thought...I thought I was going to die..."

"You won't," Jaxton exhaled shakily and crouched beside him, brushing dirt from Ira's face with his good hand. "I'm getting you out of here."

"Jaxton," Ira clung to him desperately, his fingers digging into Jaxton's shirt. "My legs feel weak...I can't stand," he whimpered.

"Then hold onto me," Ira barely had time to react before Jaxton hoisted him up, arms securely around his waist. Ira wrapped his arms around Jaxton's neck, burying his face against his shoulder as Jaxton picked him up. 

Jaxton turned toward the exit, ready to run until a massive crash happened behind them. The walls gave out and sealed the only way out.

Jaxton's breath caught as his stomach dropped in horror. His grip on Ira tightened as he stared at the blocked exit. 

Ira's body trembled against him, his sobs muffled in Jaxton's shirt. "How...how do we get out now? What if we die here, Jaxton?"

Jaxton swallowed hard, his throat dry. He didn't have an answer.

"Jaxsy..." Ira clung to him while sobbing like a child. He rubbed his dirty face against Jaxton's neck. "W-Why did you come looking for me? Now you're stuck here too! You shouldn't have-"

"Stop talking, idiot!" He cupped Ira's face in his hands, forcing him to meet his gaze. "My life isn't worth anything without you. Either we are getting out of here together or we are dying together."

Ira's tears fell harder, but he didn't argue. Instead, he buried his face in Jaxton's shoulder. "I love you, Jaxsy." 

Jaxton's heart thundered against his chest and he pressed a kiss to Ira's forehead. "I love you too."