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Maria had been passed out for hours.

When her eyes finally had the strength to open, they slowly made their way to the window, the illuminating dark sky before her. She could still feel the heaviness of her beaten body, barely able to prop herself up by her hand on the ground, her arm shaking as she sat up.

She was dispirited. Maria didn't understand why her body had woken her up; there was no point. She was forced again to face her reality, the imminent death waiting for her. She would rather have continued to be knocked out than have to endure her final moments of torture. She knew Giovanni would come back at any minute, and it wasn't to free her.

Maria felt the tightness around her ankle that was starting to become numb. The cold chain was wrapped around it. Her sore eyes finally had the courage to look down at the state of her leg. It was already starting to bruise; the deep blue and purple marks of pain had seeped to the surface of her red-tinged, inflamed skin. The chain had dug into the area of open flesh, beginning to dry up with blood.

Maria's lips parted in astonishment. That wasn't the first time she had woken up from unconsciousness. She remembered. Maria had been falling in and out of consciousness for the last couple of hours, drowsy and confused. She had forgotten that the last time she woke up, she was desperate. Her shaking hands had been pulling and pushing the chain wrapped around her, ardent on releasing herself from the chain that bound her like an animal.

Maria had been so desperate that the chain had torn away at her skin, digging deep into her raw flesh. Her eyes widened at the sight. Maria's pain was so harrowing that she could no longer feel it, numb like a body waiting for death.

Maria could no longer cry; the tears had been dried up after sobbing for so long. She could no longer speak; not a single scream could leave her anymore; her throat was dry and painful; she had used up her voice.

But most of all, she no longer had any hope. Hope of escaping her chain, hope of surviving. Her body had been through too much. Her trembling arm gave out, and her upper body sunk back into the floor, her eyes slowly rolling back as she could feel the familiar throbbing of her pounding head, a sign that she was about to pass out again.

It was hot; it was really hot. The one thing Maria could feel was the immense heat her body was emitting. She could feel it; Maria was critically sick. She was still coughing out blood.

She heaved for breath again, her ribs stinging at her deep breaths, her chest tight and her head feeling like a ton of bricks had been placed on top. Dizzy and lethargic, she lay there, waiting for the sleep to take over her again helplessly.

Then Maria could smell it. The pungent smell of fumes and of burning wood. The intense smoke was already beginning to fill her lungs. Though her weak body was unable to respond to the alarms ringing in her head, her nostrils recognised the distinct and daunting smell she noticed the moment the bedroom door opened again.

As the heavy footsteps approached, Maria couldn't focus on the presence of Giovanni in the room. Her mind had confirmed something else in her head: she was truly going to die.

The place was on fire. Maria would really be with Giovanni in death.

She kept her eyes closed and dreamt. She dreamed of slipping on her pointe slippers once more and gliding across the floor, dancing and dancing all to her heart's content.

At least in Maria's dreams, she could dance once more.

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Leonardo had always known Maria to be an optimistic person.

Her wide smile and bright, sparkling eyes always held a sense of hope and assurance that no matter what, everything would be alright. He held onto her hope, her unwilling desire for peace. But what truly gave away her optimism was her words: Maria always found the light in any dark situation. She was his light, guiding him to hope. He wanted nothing more than to know she was safe and alive.

So Leonardo clung onto her hope as his own wasn't strong enough. He held on believing she was okay and assured he would be there to save her. He would stop at nothing that night to make sure he found her.

"The other person?" Rosa repeated incredulously, her eyebrows knotted together in confusion as she looked up at Leonardo. Her eyes glanced over to Iris, unable to understand. Rosa slowly shook her head. "Camille is involved? Are you sure? I never once saw her there."

Iris let out a small sigh of deflation, another dead end. She brought the phone closer to her face and said, "I'll call you later, Ro. Take care of yourself." Rosa nodded; she was still lying in her hospital bed, unable to physically be there.

As soon as Iris had hung up, Leonardo ran his hand through his hair as he deeply exhaled, his eyes simply watching the countless people entering and exiting the shopping mall before them.

They were all so normal for what was going on in his world. People laughed and smiled, swung their shopping bags, and grinned in large groups, enjoying their day. They had no idea of the storm building in his mind, the level of anxiety and frustration running through him. The whole world was still going on as if his worries didn't matter. It didn't. At least not to the world. Life continued to go on despite the problems through it. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. He was trying to do anything to stop his stress and guide his actions. He needed to think clearly to find Maria.

"Don," Leonardo's head snapped towards Marco as he approached swiftly, his face already giving away that he had a valuable round of information. His assured eyes met Leonardo's as Iris stared up at him in hope. "Camille's car was tracked. We know her location, and it's only half an hour away from here."

"Also," Marco continued, "the police have gotten a sniff of this. I'm sure they'll also be hanging around here."

Leonardo and Iris were quick in getting back into the car as soon as the address had been given. Leonardo had several of his men following him behind as he raced down the roads, completely ignoring the speed signs around him. He was determined; Leonardo hadn't actually spoken much upon arriving. He was too busy calming the tornado in his mind.

Iris had brought him out of his thoughts. "Camille was a friend. How could she..." Iris sighed, her hand covering her eyes as she shook her head. She was still grasping the situation.

"Iris, I know what you know," Leonardo strongly began. Iris' eyes blinked in surprise at his sudden low tone. It was one of the only things Leonardo had said the whole day, and she didn't know what he meant. "But there will be things today you haven't seen before. Things not many people see in their life. Will you be able to handle it?" She could almost chuckle at Leonardo's concern for her. He hadn't seen what Maria had done against the law before.

"I've been on this world for a long time, Don," Iris confidently replied with a small smile on her face. He glanced over at her, unfamiliar with the title being said by her. She held an assured look in her eyes as she nodded, "Nothing scares me now."

"And I'll do whatever it takes to save Maria," Iris firmly added, her eyebrows narrowed. The two shared a mutual understanding. She hesitated before adding, "I'm glad you're doing this."

"Doing what?" Leonardo asked, his hand tight on the steering wheel as he continued to speed down the road. Iris discreetly clutched onto her seatbelt, her heart racing at the speed he was going at.

"Doing everything you can to save Ria despite all that's happened," Iris explained in a soft tone, feeling the tears begin to prick in her eyes again. "She loves you," was all she could finish with. If Iris went on any further, a whole waterfall would be released.

Leonardo felt her words pang in his heart. The image of Maria returned to his mind once more, and he swallowed roughly, feeling his nose tingle as the emotions began to hit him again, a mixture of guilt and frustration. He couldn't. The last thing he could do then would be to break down. She would be fine—she would be safe.

"I'm glad you're here too." Leonardo simply responded; a sense of gratefulness was in him whenever he was with Iris. Maria needed someone like Iris in her life. "You're her best friend." Iris closed her eyes before she'd start crying again, deeply missing Maria.

There was a comfortable silence, and not too long after, Vincenzo's call was picked up by Leonardo.

"We've got her," he informed Leonardo, a slight sound of commotion in the background. Leonardo's heart tightened as he inhaled sharply. "Good. We're five minutes away." They were getting closer and closer to uncovering the full truth.

Camille Lemaire was on her knees, screeching to be released. Leonardo's men had surrounded the empty land Camille was found in, standing respectively with arms ready. Her white, small car was parked not too far away with its door wide open.

"Bitch," Iris harshly whispered in vexation, her small legs following Leonardo as her fists tightened by her sides. Leonardo's fury, that he had managed to swallow down all that time, was beginning to creep out of its cage. He was burning with anger. His strides towards them were strong; he stormed over, unwilling to show any mercy to the Lemaire woman.

"The last place she was in was found to be owned by Giovanni's brother. She was driving back from there," Vincenzo informed Leonardo, his hand slipping his phone back into his pocket. He glanced over at Camille and clenched his jaw. "That's where Maria is." He could've sent Leonardo straight to where Maria was. Her location was known and not too far away. However, his reasoning for the detour was, "You need to see her. You need to see the face of the person who betrayed Maria."

"Bring out Francis," Leonardo said as he walked past Vincenzo, the rage coursing through his veins. Leonardo had no restraints at that point. He could've had Camille tortured; beaten right then and there, until the point that all she could do was beg for mercy. Actions have consequences, severe ones in the mafia. But Leonardo didn't have the time or energy to fight. All he wanted was Maria.

Francis Lemaire was placed right before Camille, with only a vest and black trousers on. He had been beaten before arrival; the man was covered in bruises, and his own blood soaked his vest. His eyes widened the moment he saw Camille, hardly able to stand as he went onto his knees before her on the ground.

"You stupid bitch!" He slapped her, and barely even seconds later, Camille spat right back into his face with a shriek of anger. Iris stood by Leonardo as they watched, Leonardo's arms folded tightly as he watched the situation before him.

"You messed with the Romanos? Are you trying to get both of us fucking killed?" Francis shouted in exasperation, his face red with anger. It was like watching Dumb and Dumber before Leonardo.

"I wouldn't have to do this!" Camille yelled back, her tone high and frustrated. "I wouldn't if you had actually loved me! You chose her over me!"

"You fucking idiot!" Francis insulted in anger, his veins practically begging to pop out of his skin. He rasped in fury, "So what was it? Jealously? You fucked over the Romanos just to get me back! I never slept with her!"

"Is that what you think this is?" Camille screeched back, her eyes throwing daggers at Francis. "You thought of her every single second and every day—even when we were together! You said you'd stop. You said you'd be with me but you actually considered getting her!"

"So you went batshit crazy on her?"

"Are you defending her? That slut!"

Leonardo could no longer stand to watch the lovers' quarrel. He had realised enough in that five-minute spat. "I'll ask this once," Leonardo said in an unusually calm and collected tone that was still authoritative. "Where is Maria?" He knew. But he wanted to hear her exact response.

Her bitter and furious eyes drilled into Leonardo's. She glared hard, her arms fighting to free themselves from the cuffs behind her back. She was fuming, her whole face heated with anger as she cursed out in front of him.

"Burning in hell."

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~ Author's Note ~

With Maria trapped in a fire, Leonardo is seriously running out of time to save her.

Will he manage to make it on time?

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