Desperate, panicked as pieces of the ceiling start to slam down around be, revealing flames behind, I haul myself to my feet. Determined to give it one last shot, I grab Bridgette by her shoulders again and pull, putting my whole weight into it –
Suddenly, I feel something at my back. I gasp and then cough viciously against the smoke in my lungs. I turn, then, to see Victor behind me, looking furious. I open my mouth to speak but he beats me to it.
“Evelyn, go –“ he yells, his face dark with soot, with panic.
“No!” I yell, hauling on Bridgette’s limp form.
“I’ll get her!” he says, adding his strong hands to mine.
“I’m not leaving her here!” I yell up at him and, seeing the determination on my face, he snarls and then turns his attention back to Bridgette. We both take an arm and the
