Chapter 56
CHARLOTTE
“Why are they doing this?” I asked, though no one in particular. The intentions I had expressed a few minutes ago had dampened the mood further, and the tension was rife, almost tangible.
I looked around, regretting my lack of tact. But given the circumstances, perhaps it was better for everyone to know the fate that awaited them. What surprised me was that no one moved from their positions or attempted to escape. I heard a few people sniffling and someone muttering what I assumed was a prayer. I turned to look at Thiago, who was still staring at the door as if expecting something different to happen at any moment.
“These are the people you’re expecting. Do they understand the gravity of the situation?” I asked, glancing around once more. If he wasn’t bluffing, it might bring hope to everyone in the room. After heightening the tension, I desperately wanted to alleviate it.
“I hope so, but they’ve taken too long to get here. I’m not so sure anymore,” he answered with a sigh.
“So, we’re sitting ducks?” I laughed mirthlessly.
“Have some faith, Charlotte,” he whispered, closing his eyes. I scoffed and turned away.
“What good would faith do now?” I said. A few seconds later, a loud sound thundered through the room. I slapped my palms against my ears as frightened screams filled the space when the door went off its hinges.
Men wearing bulletproof vests, wielding guns as if they were extensions of their arms, stepped into the room and looked around. One of them assured the crowd that they had come to get us out of the building, but we had to leave quickly. The others started helping people to their feet, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thiago being ushered out in a hurry. I wanted to say something, but a guard touched my arm, pulling my attention away from him.
“Ma’am, we need to leave,” he announced gently. I nodded and stood up; his companions had done a great job getting everyone in line so we could move faster. The kids were led out first, then the adults followed.
A few moments later, we had all exited the building, and a sigh of relief filled the air, but the men still had a sense of urgency about them. “We need to get everyone out of here! Now!” one of the men yelled, and his companions swung into action.
I stood rooted to the spot as the realization hit me: the building was going to blow up. “My things, my…” I muttered, starting to walk in the opposite direction. I pushed through the crowd until someone grabbed my arm. I turned to see a set of blue eyes staring back at me.
“Where are you going? The exit’s the other way, ma’am,” Sonia said.
I blinked twice as her face came into focus. I wasn’t sure if she had been in there with us or not, but I knew I had to get my things from the suite, or they would be destroyed in the fire. I had moved here with almost nothing and couldn’t afford to lose it. “I have to go…” I uttered, but she shook her head.
“This way,” she insisted, pointing in a different direction. “The place is going to blow, ma’am. We can’t have anyone
Dancing into the Heart of Mr
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go in. Come with me,” she said, and my eyes widened in panic at the thought of having absolutely nothing to call my
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I looked in the direction she was pointing and frowned. “That’s not the exit. I can’t leave my things,” I answered, She sighed and slowly pulled me out of the crowd to the sidewalk.
“I assure you, ma’am. Everything will be alright; all you have to do is leave with me. The men at the gates won’t let you in if you have anything left in that room when it.” She muttered, but a loud sound echoed throughout the compound, interrupting her.
The crowd broke into a frenzy, with everyone trying to run to the exit as police sirens blared in the distance. Sonia pulled me in the direction she had indicated before the explosion, and as we ran, I turned to look at the building as it crumbled to the ground. Dust particles made me sneeze, and my eyes watered as I looked away and let her lead me to safety. A few minutes later, we were standing in an empty lot, trying to catch our breath.
“We’re safe now,” Sonia said between huffs. I chuckled and ran my hands through my hair.
“I don’t know what I was thinking. If you didn’t come to save me, I’d be dead,” I replied, and she sighed.
“I think I understand it a little. Anyone would be stunned when they realize they were going to lose things that were precious to them,” she answered with a wistful smile. “But like I said, everything’s alright.”
“No, it’s not,” I responded with a chuckle. “Everything’s…” I trailed off as vehicles pulled into the lot and encircled us. “What is this?” I asked her, trying to mask my frightened tone.
She looked calm about the turn of events, which unnerved me even more. It started to feel like I had walked from a frying pan into a volcanic eruption. Whatever this was, I needed to get out of here as soon as possible. I turned around to look for ways to exit, but the cars had blocked those as well.
“Ms. Edwards,” she started to say in a tone I recognized but now loathed.
It was the same patronizing tone used at the reception. Whatever she wanted to sell, I was not buying it. But I decided to relax a little. If I was going to get out of whatever this was, I needed to understand the situation. “Whatever you’re about to tell me, it better be good,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.
