abcnovels
Chapter 322
Chapter 322
Chapter 322
Is there bad blood between me and fire? Why do I always get stirred in a fire?
Elspeth let out a silent sigh. Looking at the tranced Edmund, she yanked him over and ran to the fire exit.
She sprinted while observing the fire only to discover that its point of origin was on the third floor. Considering that they were on the fifth floor, their escape was blocked because the fire had spread to the emergency exit, let alone the elevator.
The throngs on the third floor gathered at the emergency exit, but the blazing fire rendered their escape impossible. Frowning, Elspeth headed to the side.
“Where are you going?” A worried Edmund grasped her wrist.
“Are you an idiot? Where can I possibly go? I’m looking for fire extinguishers and water.” She rolled her eyes and glared at him.
“I’m coming with you.”
She shook her head. “No. The fire is too strong. All it takes to lose your life is one blunder.”
“What about you? Why must you take it upon yourself?”
“We’re different! I’m trained for years, and this little fire can’t stop me. I would’ve gotten out of here if it wasn’t for you and the people.” She almost smacked his head with a slipper because of his worrying intelligence.
Worry got the best of Edmund, hence his reactions. After understanding the situation, he let go of her hand and removed his coat. “Take this with you. Soak it and cover yourself with it. It’s easy to get burned in that dress.”
“Thanks.” Elspeth gladly accepted the garment and covered herself with it. It did not take her long to get to the fire hydrant on the fourth floor.
She shook the fire extinguisher, however, to her dismay, it was empty. There should be a weekly fire extinguisher inspection in such a huge shopping mall. As far as I know, never once had a fire broken out in this shopping mall.
This is not a fire accident, but a man-made disaster.
The thought of that possibility made her heart sink almost instantly.
It’s too late to search for fire extinguishers now. I can’t take many of them by myself either. Is everyone gonna die here?
Anxious, Elspeth tightened her fists and felt a rough texture on her fingertip. She lowered her gaze, staring at her ring.
I can use this to contact the nearest member of the Evil Wind Sect! Aside from the disadvantage of exposing her location, it was the most perfect escape tool.
Now was not the time to think about that. Elspeth decisively turned on its signal in an attempt to contact anyone in the vicinity. Soon, the indicator light lit up and she managed to contact someone.
“Any orders, Miss Lynwood?”
“Send over ten men with fire extinguishers.”
The person on the other side of the line paused momentarily. “Fire extinguishers? Not weapons?”
His response vexed her. “I’m in a shopping mall, and it’s on fire. Hurry up. There are over a hundred people to rescue.”
The person finally grasped the situation and accepted the order. When Elspeth bypassed a clothing store, she tore a few pieces of clothes and brought them to the toilet to soak them.
After that, she returned to Edmund, who sighed in relief upon her safe return.
Her expression was solemn. “Someone destroyed the fire extinguisher. I think someone knows where we are and wants us dead.”
“Why are you so sure that we’re the target?” he questioned her certainty.
“I’m not sure, but I have a lot of enemies. I can’t help it,” she explained expressionlessly as though it was something normal.
He went speechless at her reply.
Why does she sound so proud of that?
Noticing his weird expression, she burst into laughter. “Alright. Enough with the jokes. Cover your nose and mouth with this. Let’s see if we can get out of here.”
Elspeth tossed a piece of wet garment to him. Edmund reflexively grabbed it only to realize that it was a women’s singlet.
His face flushed red at the drop of a hat. “Why are you giving me this?”
She distributed the clothes to everyone and took a glance at him. “Is your dignity more important than your life? Just take it.”
Edmund’s question drew all eyes on him. The six-foot-tall man was blushing while holding a women’s singlet.
If the fire did not break out, the ladies would have been swooning over his adorable reaction. However, they were now in an emergency where their lives were at stake, and so no one cared.
Finally accepting his fate, Edmund covered his nose with the singlet. The damp smell made him feel better.
Yeah, what’s so embarrassing about this? It’s not like someone has worn it before. It’s just a piece of cloth. He convinced himself.
Elspeth made sure everyone had their noses and mouth covered before leading them downstairs to check on the situation. In fact, the fire had become worse as every corner of the floor was burned.
Her brows knitted, and she told them to retreat back to where they came from. She figured that her men would arrive earlier than the firemen on the account that there was no news of the rescue during the past three minutes.
Hiding in a corner, she turned on the signal on the ring. An anxious voice resounded. “Miss Lynwood, we’re here.”
Only then did she feel calmer. “How long will it take for you guys to come to the third floor?”
“The fire is too big. We’re still putting out the fire on the first floor.”
Her hands formed a fist. If the fire got any worse, the crowd would have to go to the fifth floor. The shopping mall was not that huge; it comprised only six floors. It might collapse because of the fire.
A jittery Elspeth pondered and ordered, “Putting out the fire is not of utmost priority right now. Prevent the fire from getting any worse. Make sure the emergency exit is safe so that the people on the fourth floor can evacuate first.”
The person then terminated the call to continue on the rescue mission. Meanwhile, Edmund had long noticed what Elspeth was doing at the corner. After listening to the conversation, he teased, “I didn’t know this side of you, Elspeth. What a pleasant surprise.”
She was always full of surprises.
His discovery alarmed her. Nothing good would come from that even if he liked her. No one should know of the fact that she was the founder of the Evil Wind Sect.