Chapter 11 - Through the Fire
The flames crackled loudly, eating away at the rich mahogany wood of the desk where the hidden compartment lay exposed. Thick, greasy black smoke billowed upward, obscuring the crystal chandelier and turning the opulent mansion hallway into a nightmare of fire and ash.
“Leave it, Arthur! We won't survive if we go back in there!” Detective Miller yelled, coughing heavily as she used her jacket to swat away an ember that landed dangerously close to Lily’s hair.
Lily looked down at her pink backpack. The white teddy bear keychain was already covered in a light layer of soot, but the straps were securely over her shoulders. Inside the main pocket rested the heavy leather-bound journal—the original deed to the estate. But the flash drive containing the encrypted audio files and financial ledgers was still sitting on the burning edge of the hidden floor compartment.
“I can get it,” Lily whispered, her voice surprisingly calm amidst the raging inferno.
“No, Lily! Absolutely not!” Detective Miller commanded, gripping the little girl’s shoulder tighter and pulling her toward the side exit door where fresh, cool air was rushing in.
Before the detective could drag her away, Lily slipped out of her jacket with a quick twist, leaving the pink dress slightly scorched at the hem, and darted back into the smoke toward the burning desk before anyone could stop her.
“Lily!” Arthur screamed, coughing violently as he tried to take a step after her, but his knees buckled under the strain.
Lily dropped low to the floor, where the air was slightly cleaner, crawling frantically through the heat. The flames danced dangerously close to her braided pigtails, the pink ribbons melting slightly from the intense radiated heat. Her small hand swept blindly across the burning floorboards near the hidden compartment.
Clack.
Her fingers grazed the cold metal casing of the flash drive. She gripped it tightly in her fist, pulling it back just as a heavy wooden beam from the ceiling above groaned loudly and crashed down onto the desk, sending a massive shower of fiery sparks flying across the room.
Shielding her head with her arms, Lily scrambled backward on her hands and knees, scrambling away from the collapsing furniture as fast as her small legs could carry her.
“I got it!” Lily cried out, bursting through the thick wall of smoke and tumbling straight into Detective Miller’s waiting arms.
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The detective caught her instantly, pulling both Arthur and Lily through the side exit just as the entire front facade of the mansion caved inward with a thunderous roar.
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