He couldn''t afford to panic. The fire department was at least fifteen minutes away, even at their fastest.


    With a ze this fierce, fifteen minutes was too long-Eve and Ms. Josephine wouldn''t survive.


    Charles didn''t hesitate. He pounded on the first-floor neighbor''s door.


    As soon as they opened, he exined the fire upstairs, urging them to alert building management and help evacuate everyone. He borrowed their bathroom, turned on the shower, and drenched himself in cold water from head to toe.


    Soaking wet, Charles tore up the stairs to Evelyn''s floor.


    The heat intensified with every step; by the time he reached thending, his skin prickled with the searing burn.


    If it felt this unbearable outside, what was it like for Ms. Josephine and Eve inside? His heart clenched with dread.


    He grabbed the hall''s emergency fire equipment, yanked out a small extinguisher, and sted the mes at the door until the fire subsided.


    The extinguisher, now empty, became his battering ram. The door, already weakened by the fire, gave way with a crash.


    Charles dropped the extinguisher, shrugged off his sopping coat, and held it over his head as a shield. Without hesitation, he plunged into the inferno.


    "Eve! Ms. Josephine!"


    Smoke billowed, thick and choking. mes leapt everywhere.


    Even drenched, the heat devoured him as soon as he stepped inside.


    Fighting the pain, Charles sprinted to the bathroom, soaked himself again, and then charged into the master bedroom.


    Ms. Josephine was in there-her health wasn''t good.


    He shoved the door open.


    Ms. Josephine, like Evelyn, was trapped in the corner, half-conscious from smoke inhtion.


    Charles wrapped his coat around her, gritting against the burning pain as he carried her out.


    He handed her off to a property manager who had just arrived.


    "Mr. Jenkins, the fire department is only a few minutes away—"


    It was Charles who''d convinced Maple Grove to switch managementpanies; everyone here knew him.


    Seeing him risk his life to go back inside, the staff tried to stop him.


    "It''s too dangerous! The fire is out of control!"


    "Get everyone to the hospital. Now!" Charles ordered, then raced back into the mes.


    He repeated the process-soaking himself thoroughly-before dashing into the guest room.


    Evelyn was already copsed on the floor, barely breathing.


    "Eve!" Charles''s heart jolted as he rushed to her side, wrapping her in his coat.


    He scooped her up, holding her tightly.


    "Don''t be afraid. I won''t let anything happen to you."


    The fire had already dried the water from his body, his skin blistering from the heat.


    Every step was agony, but Charles held Evelyn firmly and pushed toward the door.


    Just as they neared the exit, the entryway cab toppled, crashing down toward them.


    A few strides from safety.


    Charles lifted his arm at thest


    second, bracing the falling cab


    swil


    shield Evelyn in his arms.  SW


    His skin burned, painncing through his arm.


    His face turned ashen.


    With all he inhaled rescuing Josephine and Evelyn, Charles''s strength was fading fast. As he struggled to hold the cab back, he saw Brooks appear in the doorway.


    Brooks didn''t hesitate-he charged in.


    At thest possible moment, as arms buckled, he pushed


    out of his embrace angels


    toward Brooks. Content betongs to


    Evelyn tumbled into Brooks''s arms.


    The cab crashed down on Charles, pinning him beneath it.


    "Charles!" Brooks called out, wanting to help, but Evelyn was limp in his arms.


    With only a heartbeat''s pause, Brooks scooped up Evelyn and dashed out of the zing apartment.