Flames that burnt

Laughter.

Soft, unguarded, free.

Shruti could still hear it—Dhruv's deep chuckle vibrating against her skin as she curled up beside him on the balcony, the cool night air brushing against their faces. The city below was alive, but up here, it was just them, wrapped in each other's warmth.

"You're shivering," he had murmured, pulling her closer, wrapping his arms around her as if shielding her from the cold.

"I'm not," she had lied, pressing her face against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Mm-hmm," he hummed, unconvinced. His fingers traced lazy circles on her back. "Liar."

She had smiled, not bothering to deny it. Moments like these felt infinite, as if nothing in the world could touch them. As if they had all the time in the world.

If only that had been true.

A sharp crack split the air.

Shruti's eyelids fluttered. The warmth of Dhruv's embrace faded, replaced by something suffocating. Her skin felt damp—not from night air, but from heat. An acrid scent filled her lungs, making her cough.

Smoke.

Her body tensed. Slowly, reality bled through the haze. She wasn't on a balcony. She wasn't safe.

She was still in hell.

And now, it was burning.

The room around her flickered orange, shadows twisting as flames devoured everything. The air was thick with heat, heavy with destruction. The bed beneath her groaned as the fire licked at the edges.

She had to move.

With a gasp, she yanked at her arm. The shackle was burning hot against her wrist, searing her skin, but pain didn't matter anymore. She had to get out before the fire did the job her captors hadn't finished.

Her blood-slicked fingers struggled with the chains, twisting, pulling. The heat grew unbearable, her skin screaming in protest, but she didn't stop.

Snap.

She fell to the floor, her knees crashing against the cold tile. Pain shot through her, but she barely registered it. She staggered upright, coughing violently, her vision spinning.

The door.

She turned, stumbling toward it, but the sight that met her crushed her chest.

Blocked.

The fire had spread fast, thick plumes of smoke curling along the walls, swallowing every exit. The only way out was through that door—if she could get through it.

Shruti threw herself against it.

Nothing.

Again.

The wood barely budged.

No, no, no—

Panic clawed at her throat. Her hands shook as she slammed her fists against the door. "HELP!" Her voice was hoarse, lost in the roaring flames. "SOMEBODY—"

She didn't know who she was calling for. Dev was gone. Dhruv—

She didn't have time to think.

She reeled back and kicked. Hard. Her body screamed at the effort, her burns making every movement agony, but she didn't stop.

Another kick.

And another.

The wood cracked. A splintering sound echoed, and for a second, hope sparked inside her.

Then—

Voices.

Not from outside.

From behind her.

"She's trying to get out!"

Shruti froze, her stomach turning to ice despite the unbearable heat.

Footsteps pounded against the floor, moving fast. She turned her head, breath catching. Through the smoke, she saw the silhouettes. Dark figures, moving toward her.

No.

No, no, no—

She slammed into the door again, her heart hammering. The voices grew closer. She could hear them cursing, the sharp clatter of metal, the rush of movement as they reached for her.

The door wouldn't hold much longer.

One last chance.

With every ounce of strength left in her, she lunged, ramming her entire body into the door.

Crack.

It burst open.

Shruti stumbled forward, barely catching herself before she hit the ground. Behind her, angry shouts rang out, but she didn't look back.

She ran.

Her legs were weak, her lungs screamed for air, but she ran. Through the corridors, past flickering lights, past the smell of burning chemicals and death.

The heat chased her, fire creeping along the walls. She didn't know where she was going—all she knew was that she had to keep moving.

"STOP HER!"

The voice was too close.

Her pulse roared in her ears. A shadow lunged at her from the side. She twisted, barely dodging, but the movement sent her crashing into a cart, sending metal trays clattering.

"Get back here, you—"

Shruti didn't let them finish. She bolted, half-blinded by smoke, barely feeling the burns that tore at her skin.

A doorway ahead.

She didn't hesitate.

She threw herself through it—

And suddenly, she was outside.

The cold night air slapped her, shocking, painful. Her knees buckled, but she caught herself on trembling arms.

Behind her, chaos. The building was an inferno, screams and curses tangled in the roar of the fire.

Shruti didn't stop.

Didn't breathe.

She ran.

And this time, no one stopped her.