Out of the Smoke
3RD POV:
The sight of him made several people gasp audibly.
His shirt was completely ripped and half-burnt, the fabric sticking to his skin where it had melted slightly from the heat. His hair was soaking wet with sweat and covered in black soot. His face was smeared with ash. His arms were shaking violently under Hannah’s weight, trembling with exhaustion and probably pain, but he held her as though she were the last piece of earth keeping him alive. Like if he let go, he’d fall into an abyss.
Hannah was completely limp in his arms. Her head hung back, resting against his shoulder. Her face was grey with ash, making her look almost corpse-like. Strands of her beautiful hair were singed and burnt, plastered to her forehead with sweat and blood. Her clothes were blackened and torn, barely recognizable as clothing anymore.
Smoke was still curling off both of them, rising into the night air as if the fire was still trying to claim them even now.
For one brief moment, the entire world stood absolutely silent.
Then reality crashed back in like a tidal wave.
Everyone present gasped. Some people screamed. Some started crying immediately.
“Oh my God…”
“They’re out! They’re out!”
“Somebody help them!”
Martin screamed Elijah’s name and started running toward them, his long legs covering the distance quickly. ” ELIJAH! Oh God, Elijah!”
Jacob covered his mouth with both hands, his eyes wide with shock and relief and terror all mixed together.
Lucas stood completely still for a moment, frozen in place. From where he was standing, he could see Hannah’s face. Her closed eyes. Her slack expression. Her chest that didn’t seem to be moving.
He heavily doubted she was alive. The thought hit him like a physical blow, and he felt his knees weaken.
Martin reached them first, his chest heaving, a sound breaking out of him that was half-sob, half-relief. “Jesus Christ, you’re alive. You’re both alive. Oh thank God…”
Lucas followed on shaky legs, his breath caught in his throat, tears already falling freely down his cheeks. Because seeing Hannah like that, so still, so lifeless-looking in Elijah’s arms, cracked something deep inside him that he didn’t know could break.
He sobbed openly, not caring who saw.
Jacob took a shaky step backward, his hand still covering his face as if he could physically shove back the terror that was lodged in his throat. The reality was hitting him now. They were out. They were alive.

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