Page 26 of Sapphire's Gem
“The plates are at the buffet, just help yourself,” the guy said and scurried away.
“I’m not saying a word,” Sparrow quipped, even though she was thinking the same as me. I rolled my eyes, and we got up and filled our plates. Eyes followed us, and conversations were hushed as people watched our every move. The temptation to do something outrageous was there, but we weren’t here for that.
Nope, we were here to save these judgmental asses. Whoop-de-doo. Ignoring those watching, Sparrow began to eat, and I moaned after my first bite.
“S’good!”
“Ain’t they just? Shame we haven’t come more often,” Sparrow replied.
“Yeah.” I couldn’t help but hope they reopened after the fire. The food was great. Sparrow and I chowed down happily.
There was a commotion near the door as we finished eating. I craned my neck as my gut tensed, and it wasn’t due to the food. Two guys were shouting, and I stood up with Sparrow. Bothlooked to be in their twenties; both were skinheads with tattoos on their heads. They also both wore gang colours.
“Get out!” someone shouted, and one gangster slammed a fist into a man’s face. I guessed he was the owner when he stumbled back and fell.
“You were warned, old man!” one of the men yelled.
Before everyone’s horrified gazes, they yanked two Molotov cocktails out of their pockets and lit them before slamming them down. Screams erupted as fire flared. The window at the front of the restaurant smashed as more flew through it.
Panic started, and Sparrow and I exchanged a look. Without a second thought, I climbed up onto the table.
“Everyone, move back towards the rear!” I yelled as people began pushing and stumbling. The smoke was thickening quickly, and several people were already coughing.
“Stop shoving, you won’t get out any faster!” Sparrow bellowed at a man pushing a woman over. “Shame on you!”
He glanced at her, panic on his face, and then at the woman at his feet. He yanked her up and dragged her along with him.
“The back is blocked. We can’t get out!” someone cried out.
“There! Under the table is a little girl!” Sparrow yelled.
“Stay calm. We’ve called for help. Stay at the rear and get low to the ground,” I bellowed loudly.
“We’re trapped!” a woman shrieked.
“If you don’t calm the fuck down, lady—”
“My baby! My daughter, she’s missing!” another woman screamed, cutting me off.
As I squinted for Sparrow, I called back, “My VP is searching for her,” in the black smoke rolling in. The fire had spread far too quickly for my liking. “Sparrow!”
“My baby!” the mother continued to cry as a man held her back.
“We’re going to die! We can’t get out!” a man yelled as he ran towards me.
“Get back, you fuckin’ idiot! How do you think you’re going to get out? That’s a wall of flames!” I shouted at him.
He looked at me, panicked, and I saw real terror in his eyes. He yanked his sleeve up, and I winced at the twisted, scarred skin there. “I know what it’s like to burn alive.”
As I got down off the table and approached him, I said calmly. “I can see that. Panicking now won’t help you or anyone. Go to the rear; my sisters will come, or the fire department. Trust me.”
His panicked eyes searched my face, and I let him see my belief that we would be rescued. “Thank you,” he murmured before heading towards the back again.
“Sparrow!” I screamed over the roar of fire, searching for her. Where the hell was she? Surely, she should be back by now.
Out of the choking smoke, a figure appeared, and I relaxed, seeing it was Sparrow, who carried a toddler in her arms.
“Move to the kitchen; our sisters should be here by now,” I said, and Sparrow nodded.
