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@j-a-penrose Eeek! I’m in a lot of suspense already because of your random hints about secret guildmaster plans. xD

Well, this was fun! I shortened what I could, but it ended up going over 500 words, so I hope you don’t mind.

Sides heaving, I clenched the door frame to steady myself. My breathing echoed in my ears, loud enough to hear over the rumble of the generator in the next room. The same numbers that were on the screen of that machine blinked on my watch, steadily ticking down.

Six minutes two seconds.

Six minutes one second.

Six minutes.

Time. We needed more time! Why had Jeremy insisted on doing this now? Couldn’t we have found another chance? A chance that was less risky?

I slumped against the door as my hand slid down towards my pocket, my fingers wrapping around the cold, hard object contained there. No, it wasn’t Jeremy’s fault the timer was running out. He had accounted for every minute of his plan. He just hadn’t accounted for mine.

A sharp voice sliced through my thoughts and I staggered into the room, blinking and pressing a fist to my forehead. A heavy figure whipped past me, grabbing at my arm. “What are you doing? We don’t have time to stand around!” With each word, my head throbbed and the numbers flashed white before my eyes—still counting down.

Jeremy dove for the file cabinet and shoved the key into the lock, twisting it open with a flick of his wrist. Coughing, I stumbled to my knees and crawled towards him. Wisps of smoke stole into the room, swarming my vision.

Memories of flashing orange invaded my mind, pushing away the blurred image of Jeremy digging through the file cabinet. Memories of sirens drowned out the sound of his voice as he asked me for help. Memories of heat mixing with cold and the gut-wrenching tremor of childish fear drove away every awareness I had of my surroundings, and I was lost—utterly lost—in my past.

Fire, swarming me like an angry mob. Explosions, shaking the ground around me like dozens of tiny earthquakes. A cry, pleading like wounded puppy… for me. For the help I didn’t give.

No, no, no. I clutched my head in my hands, forcing myself back to reality. I wouldn’t let it happen. Not again. We had to get out. I had to stop him. He wouldn’t get away with it this time.

My collar snapped against my neck, choking me. I clutched at my throat and cried out as Jeremy dragged me towards the door. He shouted something, but my brain failed to process the words.

A thick wad of documents was clenched in his fist.

I wrenched myself free and dashed ahead of him, my boots skidding on the marble floor. A lump swelled in my throat. If only we could reach the door before—

My watch beeped.

The doors slammed shut.

The sound echoed through the dark room, then faded into silence.

“No,” I breathed. I hadn’t meant it to end this way. Jeremy staggered up beside me, wide eyed and panting. The documents quivered in his hand as he held them out to me. “Please,” he stammered. “It’s all over. Take these and keep them safe. Please.”

I pressed my lips together, forcing myself to steady my ragged gasps. I was dimly aware that I had withdrawn my hand from my pocket, and that the cold, hard object was now pinched between my fingers. A lighter.

Before I could allow myself to think, I thrust it forward. Flames licked at the edge of the papers. “No.” Tears sprang to my eyes as Jeremy’s gasp rang in my ears. “I’m sorry.” It had to be done. My heart ached as I reached for a button on my watch and the room faded around me. The last thing I saw was his eyes, and in them were both the reflection of the flames and the reflection of my own single, burning thought.

Why?