Ambervale Island
Blaze's heart hammered in his chest as he stood at the edge of the shore, the waves crashing violently against the jagged rocks below. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a blood-red glow over the turbulent sea, as if the world itself was preparing for battle. Shadows stretched long and eerie, darkening the landscape and adding to the oppressive weight in his chest.
Four hours.
Four endless hours of waiting, of gnawing uncertainty, and now, the news about the devastating flood tearing through the neighboring island hung over him like an inescapable storm cloud. He had no time for hesitation.
"Arrange a boat for us. We need to get to Savannah." Blaze's voice cut through the air, the words sharp and deliberate. There was no room for doubt. No room for second-guessing.
Arthur, standing beside him, hesitated, the concern in his eyes unmistakable. "Mr. Baldwin, the tides are too strong. It's too dangerous. We can't risk it."
But Blaze didn't have time for caution, not when Savannah's safety was on the line.
The image of her, vulnerable and stranded, tormented him.
"I don't care about the danger!" he snapped, his voice rising with urgency. "Just get the boat ready!" His tone brooked no argument, and Arthur, knowing well how Blaze could be when driven by a cause, nodded reluctantly.
The wind whipped across the shore, tugging at his clothes as he approached the dock. The boat—small and frail in comparison to the churning sea—bobbed violently against the dock, as though it, too, was protesting the journey ahead.
Arthur stood a few steps behind, worry etched deeply into his features. "Boss, please! You have to think this through. If something happens to you..."
Blaze didn't need to hear the rest. He could already see the danger in Arthur's eyes, but it was a risk he was willing to take. "I can't wait. I won't sit here and do nothing!" His voice broke with a rawness that surprised even him, a mixture of desperation and resolve.
Every second counted. The thought of Savannah out there—alone, scared, possibly injured—pushed him forward, despite the overwhelming odds.
He stepped into the boat, the wood creaking under his weight as the vessel groaned in protest. His hands shook slightly as he untethered the rope, but his mind was made up.
"You're being reckless!" Arthur shouted over the rising wind, his voice filled with panic. But Blaze barely heard him. His mind was elsewhere, racing with thoughts of Savannah. He couldn't afford to listen to doubt, not now. Not when she might be in danger.
With a final, sharp pull, Blaze freed the boat from its moorings. The violent surge of water slapped against the sides, cold spray soaking his face. He gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity, his heart racing in sync with the storm raging around him.
The boat pitched and bucked beneath him as the waves rose higher, the dark water threatening to swallow him whole. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back, to take the safer route. But the thought of Savannah—of her safety, of her very survival—drove him forward, each surge of water only fueling his resolve.
"Just hold on, Savannah," he murmured under his breath, the words barely audible over the roar of the waves. His eyes were fixed on the distant island, the silhouette barely visible in the fading light. "I'm coming for you."
The wind howled like a living thing, the waves growing more ferocious with each passing moment. But Blaze's focus never wavered. He'd fought storms before, but this one felt different.
This wasn't just a fight against nature. This was personal. He could feel the weight of every second ticking away, and with each pulse of adrenaline, the clock seemed to be racing faster.
As he navigated through the violent waters, doubt gnawed at the edges of his thoughts. If he didn't make it back—if the waves swallowed him whole—who would save Savannah?
The fleeting thought sent a chill through his spine, but before it could take root, he shoved it away.
He couldn't think like that. Not when Savannah needed him. Not when the storm was his to face.
His grip tightened on the wheel, the wood creaking beneath his hands. There was no turning back. He would fight the tide, fight the storm itself, if that's what it took to find her. If the sea wanted to stand between them, he would break through it, just as he would break through any barrier standing in his way. He would find her. And nothing—nothing—could stop him.
Acornville Island
Savannah's heart raced as she moved swiftly across the sandy terrain, her breath coming in short bursts. The urgency of the situation pressed down on her like a heavy weight.
She had been helping families evacuate for hours, guiding them to the higher ground where they would be safer from the impending flood. Each passing moment felt like a countdown, and the anxiety in the air was palpable.
The sky loomed dark overhead, swirling clouds threatening to unleash their fury at any moment.
She could hear the distant rumble of thunder, a chilling reminder that time was not on their side.
The earlier warning had come through a crackling radio, the voice urgent and desperate. "Another wave of flood is coming! Move to higher ground immediately! A storm is approaching!"
She had taken charge, rallying those around her.
"This way! We need to go quickly!" she called, her voice strong despite the fear gnawing at her insides. The families, some with young children clinging to their sides, followed her, eyes wide with worry. Savannah felt a surge of responsibility; these people were depending on her, and she couldn't let them down.
As they climbed the steep path toward the ridge, she glanced back at the beach, her heart heavy. The reality of the situation loomed larger than her hopes. If the flood hit, it could wash everything away, and she couldn't allow that to happen.
"Come on, keep moving!" she urged, her tone firm but encouraging. The path was slippery, and the wind began to howl around them, sending a shiver down her spine. She felt the first drops of rain splatter against her skin, each one a reminder that the storm was closing in fast.
When they finally reached the top, Savannah turned to see how many were still with her. A few families had made it, but she noticed one woman still struggling with her child. Without hesitation, Savannah dashed back down the path, her heart pounding. "I'll help you!" she shouted, extending her hand.
The woman grasped it tightly, gratitude flooding her eyes as they hurried back up the incline together. "Thank you! I was so scared!" she exclaimed, breathless.
"Just hold on tight. We're almost there!"
Savannah encouraged, pushing aside her own fear for the sake of the others. Once they reached safety, she turned to survey the horizon. The ocean roared angrily, the waves crashing violently against the shore. She could see the water rising, inch by inch, and knew that they were running out of time.
The storm was upon them, and she could feel the air electrified with tension. But in that moment of chaos, one thought anchored her: Even if the winds howled and the waves threatened to sweep everything away, she would hold on to the hope of helping people.
"Stay close!" she called to the others, her voice steady despite the fear swirling within her. They were all in this together, and she would do everything in her power to protect them. As the first true gusts of wind whipped around her, Savannah stood tall, ready to face whatever came next.
Suddenly, a voice rang out, sharp and desperate, slicing through the wind and rain: "My child! Where is my child?"
The mother's cry was raw, her face ashen with terror. Savannah's stomach lurched, a gut-wrenching jolt of panic racing through her veins. The fear in the woman's eyes was a stark, painful reminder of just how fragile everything was in this moment—how much was at stake.
The storm roared around them, but Savannah's focus remained singular. She couldn't let fear take root.
"Stay here with the others," she said firmly, her voice strong yet laced with a note of comfort. "I'll go find your child." Without waiting for the woman's response, Savannah bolted, her feet pounding against the slick, treacherous path. Every muscle in her body screamed, but she pushed harder. She had to find that child. They'd been close—too close—to have wandered off now.
As she sprinted through the growing wind and torrential rain, her heart slammed against her ribcage.
"Where are you?" she whispered desperately, her words swallowed by the shrieking storm. Her eyes darted, scanning the horizon, praying to see the small figure she had just seen moments ago. Every second felt like an eternity. The wind howled like a living thing, and the dark clouds overhead seemed to pulse with the same urgency—move faster, hurry, now.
On the other hand, the mother of that child was crying messily, praying for her child. After ten frantic minutes, just as she was beginning to lose hope for her child, she spotted movement at the entrance of a nearby shelter. A child emerged, hand in hand with a man she didn't recognize. Relief flooded through her, but it quickly turned to confusion for Alex.
"Where's Savannah?" Alex's voice cut through the chaos, his brow furrowed with mounting concern. His gaze locked onto the child standing before him, her innocent eyes wide with the naivety only a child could possess.
The little one, her face as serene as if the storm itself were a distant memory, tilted her head and answered matter-of-factly, "She went back to get my favorite toy that I forgot."
The words struck Alex like a physical blow. A toy. A toy? His heart dropped into his stomach, sinking with a cold dread. No, no, no.
The breath left his chest in a soft, strangled gasp, panic rising swiftly like the floodwaters he could already feel creeping at the edges of his mind.
Before he could think, his body was already moving—rushing to the door, ready to tear back into the storm. But as his hand reached the handle, another voice rang out, sharp and commanding, freezing him in his tracks.
"Alex!" A first responder's voice cracked through the tension, their urgency pulling him back from the edge. "The flood's already hit the island! We need to get everyone to safety now!"
A wave of cold fear washed over Alex, and for a moment, time itself seemed to freeze. The reality of the situation hit him like a punch to the gut. The flood had already arrived.
They were past the point of no return. And Savannah—she was still out there.
"We can't just leave her!" Alex's voice broke, the desperation in his tone raw and frantic. His feet were already in motion, but his mind, his heart, screamed at him to turn back, to do something. She can't be out there alone.
"Alex, we need to get everyone to higher ground first!" The responder's voice was taut with authority, their face grim as they stepped forward, trying to ground him in the impossible truth.
"If she's not back yet, we can only hope she's found shelter. We have to trust that she'll be okay."
The wind howled like a beast unleashed, a feral force that seemed to mock their helplessness. The floodwaters were rising—relentless, unstoppable—and with every second that passed, the storm's grip tightened around them. There was no more time.
"Let's go!" the responder barked, their command punctuated by the violent crack of thunder overhead.
The urgency was suffocating, and with a final, desperate glance toward the path, Alex felt his last shred of hope crumble. Please, please let her be safe. But there was no time for prayers, no time for wishing.
With a heavy heart and a mind swirling with dread, Alex turned away from the door, his legs moving on autopilot as he began to lead the families deeper into the shelter. The first torrents of rain began to fall in heavy sheets, each drop hammering the earth like a ticking clock, signaling the last moments of safety.
Inside the shelter, chaos swirled as families huddled together, children clinging to parents with wide, fearful eyes.
Alex's chest felt tight, his every breath labored as he moved among them, trying to offer whatever semblance of comfort he could.
But his mind was elsewhere—out there, with Savannah.
Each step felt heavier than the last, as though the weight of the world was pressing down on his shoulders. He just hoped that wherever she was, whatever danger she was facing, she had found shelter. God, please let her be safe.
The storm outside was only growing fiercer, but Alex couldn't help but wonder if the storm in his heart would ever calm.
Author's Note :
Here's a short update:) as my eyes hurts :(
Happy reading<3
Take care of yourselves everyone:)
Good Night/morning <3<3