Part 28 (1/2)

”Do what you think's right. For Kesha.”

Riley started shaking then. Because he knew what was right for Kesha. He'd seen what lengths Mattius would go to in order to protect her.

Despite his sins-despite his evils-he was fighting for her.

He cared about her.

He let go of a deep breath and walked towards Mattius, Kesha in his arms.

The closer he got, the more Mattius lifted that match, threatening to drop it, the more uncertain Mattius looked.

And soon enough, they were just inches from one another, Riley looking into Mattius' eyes, Mattius looking back into his.

”Take her,” Riley said, his voice breaking. He could barely look at Kesha anymore.

Mattius opened his mouth. Then he closed it again, like he couldn't actually comprehend what was happening.

Riley held Kesha out. ”Take her. Keep her safe. I'll know if you don't. I promise to G.o.d; I'll know if you don't.”

Mattius went to put the match out. Then he stopped. He stopped, right before putting it out.

”Let's see how serious you are about that,” he said.

He dropped the match.

”No!”

The doorway went up in flames.

Mattius stepped back, then. He stepped out into the corridor, as fire stretched up the wooden sides of the door, heat spreading into this room.

”Throw her,” Mattius said.

Riley looked at the flames stretching all around. He didn't have long to make a decision. If he didn't act fast, he'd burn in here. They all would.

There was still a gap to get Kesha through.

”Throw her!” Mattius said. ”If you're serious about saving her, save her!”

It was at that moment that Riley did what he knew he had to do. The hardest decision he'd ever had to make.

He looked down at Kesha, his eyes filling with tears.

”I'm sorry.”

He kissed her head.

Saw Chlo and Jordanna watching him with uncertainty and disappointment all over again.

Then he threw her towards Mattius.

He watched her pa.s.s through the doorway. He saw her move by the flames. And for an awful moment, he thought she wasn't going to make it; that the throw wasn't enough.

Then she landed in Mattius' arms.

He looked at Kesha. Then he looked up at Riley.

”Now you'll know how it feels,” he said, his voice quivery. ”Now you'll know how it really feels. To burn.”

”Mattius!”

But it was too late.

Mattius was gone.

Kesha was gone.

He didn't know what to do, as the flames stretched around the doorway, as they crept up the walls. The smoke was thickening. Soon, this whole room would be engulfed, and they had nowhere to go.

”Riley,” Amy said.

”We need to find a way out of here.”

”Riley.”

”The window. Or out of a vent or-”

”Riley!”

Amy's shout snapped Riley out of his trance.

It was then that he saw she wasn't even looking at him. Neither was Carly. Or Melissa.

All of them, despite the flames teasing their imminent death, were looking outside.

”What is it?” Riley said. ”What...”

When he looked out of the window, he saw it, and he understood.

”What do... what do we do?” Carly asked.

Riley didn't know what to say. None of them knew what to say.

All they could do was watch.