Chapter 313

Stella Johnson clutched Charles Hart’s arm, half-dragging him through the panicked crowd. His weight was nearly too much for her shaky frame. The stench of blood mixed with the heat radiating off him—it was gut-wrenching. “Take the emergency stairs,” Charles muttered, voice barely above a whisper. “Elevators are a no-go.” Stella flinched a little. The mention of elevators brought back memories—awkward, intense ones—with Charles. That time in the elevator with him... not exactly pleasant, but the mood had definitely been… suggestive. Still, this wasn’t the time for distractions. Big fire. Big trouble. She grit her teeth and hauled him toward the stairwell. As soon as she pushed open the fire door, thick smoke slammed into her face. Flames were already creeping up from below, eating up the steps fast. “Crap!” She yanked the door shut. “It’s burning downstairs!” Charles leaned against the wall, dead pale. Blood still seeped down his leg, and with the meds and that freaky virus both hittin