Smoke still burned in Selene’s lungs, each breath sharp as glass.
She bent low behind a scorched chunk of concrete, arms wrapped around the girl, holding her like she might vanish if she blinked.
Her body ached with bruises she hadn’t named, muscles screaming beneath torn fabric, but she didn’t let go.
Behind her, Darius was helping Vincent up.
Both of them were coated in dust and ash, eyes empty, mouths silent, the kind of silence that only comes when you’ve brushed against death and made it out breathing.
Selene looked at the girl. “Can you walk?”
The girl gave a small nod, her face streaked with soot and silence.
She didn’t cried.
Hadn’t made a single sound since the blast, not even when Selene threw herself over her, shielding her from the fire.
Darius limped closer, blood tr
