Burning light.

Burning.

She whimpered kicking her legs to get away from the source and ended up huddled in the corner next to the sink.

"Stop. I'm not going to hurt you." The gentle voice was close. Too close, that Rho's eyes fluttered open to be met by a pair of hazel eyes looking at her with concern. A girl, Rho registered. A girl who looked so pale and fragile. Yet, harmless and not one of them. They stared at each other for a while, the girl wondering what on earth was this female stranger involved in and Rho considering her next actions.

"Just get me some water, please." She croaked out, her voice barely audible.

"What about your injuries..?" The girl asked unsurely.

"I'm fine, please. Just water." Rho didn't want to risk involving this girl. Hesitating, she forced herself up, the jacket still clenched tightly.

"Let me at least get you cleaned up," the girl offered softly puzzled by the hole in Rho's shoulder and her condition in general, "look there's a bullet in here. You're losing too much blood."

"I'm fine," Rho snapped then regretted it as soon as it came out, "I'm sorry," she swallowed the lump in her throat, "I didn't mean to, okay? Just do me a favor. Can I borrow some of your clothes, please?"

It was freezing cold and she was soaking wet. Nodding, the girl disappeared in the hallway. Rho glanced around, gulping her water. The apartment was stuffed with boxes. Then, the girl appeared again with a sleepy smile.

"Thank you." Rho got into the bathroom to change. Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt disgusted. The dress was sticking to her body and she felt like ripping it to shreds. Running her hands through her hair, she pushed it away from her face. Pain stabbed her as her shoulder moved.

She rummaged through the cabinet until the pads revealed themselves. Putting one on her shoulder, she groaned. Then, she put on the grey t-shirt, the joggers and held the jacket between her fingers.

When she got out, the girl was waiting for her. She handed her a beanie and pair of socks. "I don't know what size you are. But anyway, try them on." She offered a smile gesturing to a pair of shoes. They were a tad bit big for her, but Rho managed to walk without her feet slipping out. So, they were just fine. "Thanks."

"Don't worry about being seen, by the way." She said noticing Rho glancing at the door unconsciously. "No one lives here anymore. Last to evacuate," she giggled gesturing to the boxes. 

A knock startled them both.

Peeking through the hole in the door, her heart sunk. "He's one of them." Rho whispered.

"Hide in the bathroom." The girl urged her. Locking the door, Rho found a pair of scissors in the cabinet. She held them close to her pounding heart and leaned against the door. The girl ruffled her hair and put on the sleepiest look she managed. Opening the door, she yawned. "Hello, handsome . You're real, right? I'm not dreaming, right?" She rubbed her eyes for emphasis.

"Move, bitch." He pushed her and got in.

"I like it when you talk dirty to me." She seductively bit her lips, cringing on the inside.

"Where the fuck is she? I know she's here." His patience was wearing off.

"You want two of us? You greedy man." She gasped playfully keeping up with her façade, but her eyes widened when he aimed a gun at her." I don't know who you're talking about. I live alone." She stuttered.

"You sure as hell know who the fuck I'm talking about," he shoved her down, "the blood on the ladder and your window is enough for me to know that she, at least, stopped by here."

"She's not here. She left and went that way." She gulped gesturing to an unknown direction. He ignored her, looking around the small flat. She followed his gaze to the light peeking from under the bathroom's door. "I'm expecting a baby, so I pee a lot you know..." She lied.

"Shut the fuck up!" He ordered. Rho knew he'll find her in there. Fuck their boss. He doesn't just hire anybody to do his dirty work.

To hell with it, if she was going down then it wouldn't be without a fight. Tightening her hold around her weapon, she grasped the knob and twisted it slightly. The girl picked up the glass of water and hit him hard on the back of his head for he wasn't paying attention to her. He growled then whipped around, eyes flaring with anger. That's when Rho sprinted jumping on his back to tackle him down.

He grumbled, losing his balance. Yet, he wouldn't budge. They fought like maniacs and Rho kept hitting him. She stabbed him in his left side, under his armpit and in the shoulder. The fuck is this guy made of?, she let out a voice of frustration and exasperation.

He hit her in the head with the back of the gun and she grunted feeling dizzy. The girl rushed to help Rho as she almost fell but ended up getting shot in her thigh. She yelped falling down. Rho sucked in a deep breath, the scenes playing again in her mind.

"No!" She shouted and stabbed him hard in the neck then twisted the scissors. Frantically, her arms moved on their own wounding him twice more. Screaming in pain, he shoved her off and she tumbled down hands covered in blood.

Disoriented, he pulled the trigger randomly spinning around. He gasped for air, squeezing his neck. With shaky hands, Rho pulled the carpet under him. His body collided with the hard floor.

He was dead.

Throwing the weapon, she fell to the ground whimpering. Fingers trembling, she stared at the blood covering them. Body convulsing, she heaved throwing up whatever was in her stomach. You're one of them now. "Oh, gosh." She whispered, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, a heavy weight settling deep within.

Faint groans and whimpers snapped her back to the current situation. The anonymous girl was squirming. Gasping, Rho dashed to her.

"Oh, God." She brushed the wounds on her chest. The girl flinched and bit her lips, eyes squeezed shut. "I'm so, so sorry. Shit!" She started to ramble, apologizing on and on. "I shouldn't have come here at all in the first place."

"It's not your fault...entirely," she smiled then grimaced at the massive pain she felt, "I was going to die anyway. You just moved the appointment to today." At the confused look she received, she added. "Cancer. This is somehow like chemo." She laughed half-heartedly. "Maybe a bit worse."

Rho's expression softened and she started to cry as the unknown girl coughed, bleeding badly.

"It's been nice meeting you, I'm Aurora." She offered a small sad smile. The girl struggled but did the same and opened her mouth.

"I'm-" She didn't get to finish her sentence as her voice faded and her eyelids dropped down which made Rho burst into tears. She hugged the unknown girl and cried her heart out, sobs muffled. Hiccupping, she started breaking everything in her way. She was mad. Hurt. Broken. Numb.

Sliding down the wall, she hugged her legs ignoring the stinging pain in her shoulder. It won't be late until the others would come. If one found her, it won't be hard for the others.

The smell of rotten eggs invaded her respiratory system and she coughed. Her eyes moved to the trashed kitchen and the damaged pipes. Probably why they were evacuating everyone, this place wasn't safe at all. "Shit."

Then, an idea popped in her mind.

The girl was about her age, length and...The injuries!, she whimpered turning her to the side. Then, with shaky hands she shot her in the right shoulder and flinched. Breathing raggedly, Rho dragged her next to the guy.

After closing the window, pouring all the flammable products she could find everywhere and turning on the stoves, she hurried to the bedroom looking for any money or identity.

Rummaging through the drawers she stumbled upon a picture of the girl in the hospital with her parents. On the back it read: Get well soon, Amelia. Love you. xx

"Amelia," She murmured brushing it with her thumb. The air was getting suffocating. Stuffing the image in a bag along the wallet after checking it for money, she hurried out and crammed the papers inside as well.

Throwing on a new shirt and the jacket, she hauled the backpack on her uninjured shoulder then opened the door hesitantly.

Stalking down the corridor, she peeked downstairs and when no one appeared, she tiptoed back to the apartment. The door was creaked open and the faint smell of gas reached her nostrils.

Her hands were shaking but she ignored them and aimed at the door. The first shot made a hole in the floor. She flinched. The second one was one meter in the wall on the right side of the door. "fuck!" she muttered frustrated.

Rubbing her eyes, she held the gun up again and aimed at the door. The moment she pulled the trigger, the bullet burst out of the gun, flames around it. When it reached the door everything exploded, fire eating what's within its reach spreading quickly.

Before she could register anything, her body flew across the hall and crashed against the wall. She yelped, her face catching fire.

Groaning, unsupportable pain, Rho slammed her body breaking the door of another apartment and hurried to the nearest sink before splashing her face with water. It stung. Sighing in relief at the disappearance of the burning sensation, she climbed out and down another rusty ladder. As soon as she got out she breathed in the fresh air.

Hiding in the shadows, she watched as a small crowd formed watching the horrible scene unfold. No one rushed in or to call for help. They took their time, because for them the place was deserted. Her heart ached, dizziness settling in.

The fire swallowed everything not sparing a single corner. And for that, she was glad.

Swaying a bit, her hand shot out to the wall securing herself upright. Pulling the beanie and the hoodie down a bit over her eyes, she zipped up the jacket.

Her grip tightened around the bag's straps as if securing it when hushed voices entered her hearing range.

"It's over boss." One of them was whispering on the phone. "Yes, she's dead. Paul got her. Yes. No, he's dead, too. Don't worry, boss, the fire left no clues...Okay, boss, we'll be there." He hung up. Another one in a leather jacket approached him.

"What's up with the boss?" She couldn't see their faces as they spoke to each other.

"Just making sure we finished the job." She pressed her back harder to the wall, shrinking down in a sitting position.

"That guy surely almost fucked us up." He grunted. "His timing was off, she nearly slipped away."

"Well, that's Pattinson for you." Her ears perked up, taking a step back. "We're good as long as he's willing to help us. Anyway," they started talking about some sort of a bar.

She zoned out, mind replaying what she'd just heard, eyes wide and arms limp. Tom?, she inhaled sharply. Her father's voice kept ringing in her head as she let out a shaky breath. But, what are the odds?

This was too much for one night.

The fire trucks came blaring, with the police in tow. "Fucking police," she muttered, taking few steps farther in the darkness, "they're never there when you need them." She watched as the guys who've been following her, retreated and disappeared in a blink of an eye.

She staggered into the dark alley. 'You're on your own now, baby girl'. Oh God, I am.

"What if it wasn't that Tom..? What if it was another person with the same name?" She mumbled, dazed and puzzled. 'Go home now I don't think they're coming.' She scoffed. 'She was supposed to be here a while ago.'

Her head felt heavy and she hardly restrained herself from lying on the cold dirty tarmac. But, as exhaustion washed over her body and the adrenaline rush was fading, pain overtook.
The bullet in her shoulder was too much. Touching her stinging face, her hands returned covered in blood.

Her eyes burnt from a sudden need to pass out. Her body complained from being pushed too hard.

Looking up at the sky, she allowed the tears to escape. I'm one step ahead. Yet, ten steps back.

"Dude, are you alright? Hey!" The world spun around and Rho felt arms wrap around her before surrendering to unwelcomed darkness.

** ** ** ** **