Chapter 19

Ariel and Sean quickly disappeared into the fire, leaving Keith behind. Despite being covered in soot, they looked like a match made in heaven. Dazedly, Keith was reminded of that kidnapping yet again. Back then, he also escaped the kidnappers' hideout with Ariel in a similar way, the two of them holding onto each other for support. They used to be partners who went through thick and thin together, but now they were separated by a wall of fire. When he was lost in his thoughts, scorching heat surrounded him. Keith stayed rooted to the spot. It felt like his feet had been glued to the floor. He couldn't bring himself to move. His chest felt heavy. He couldn't breathe. He never thought that seeing the person he loved choose someone else without hesitation would be so painful. Now, he finally felt the pain Ariel went through in the past. A sense of helplessness washed over him. Suddenly, the bookshelf behind him creaked and started to fall over. He couldn't avoid it in time. His leg