Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy finally twisted around and slid back into the driver's seat.

He saw the flames licking up from the front of the car.

"Get out!" Jessica's voice was sharp with urgency.

The firelight danced in her eyes, painting them a wild, desperate red. She hadn't meant for him to die.

Timothy grabbed her hand, pulling her from the car as fast as he could manage, his steps long and hurried.

But his leg was injured—he couldn't move quickly. Behind them, the fire crackled louder, danger creeping closer with every second.

He let go of Jessica's hand. "Run!"

"We're leaving together. Move it, no arguments." Jessica darted around to his injured side, gripping his arm, practically dragging him forward.

Timothy glanced at her, catching the fierce determination on her face. The corner of his mouth tugged up, just a little.

She still cared, didn't she? She couldn't bear to see him die. That had to be it.

But there wasn't enough time.

The front of the car was wrecked, oil leaking everywhere, the wiring a tangled mess—that's what had started the fire. When the electrics go up, it's only a matter of time before the gas line ruptures. They needed to be fifty meters away, at least. Timothy looked back. The flames were crawling down the length of the car, eating it alive. They'd only made it twenty, maybe twenty-five meters.

Lance, moving faster than anyone, pushed forward, already close to safety. He must have sensed they were nearly at the fifty-meter mark.

"Ma'am! Sir!" Mabel and the driver arrived, faces drained of color at the sight before them.

Mabel's eyes darted across the chaos, spotting Jessica hustling Timothy away from the burning car.

Vince's car skidded to a stop just as Mabel reached them. He barely had time to open the door before-

A deafening explosion shook the ground.

BAM.

and threw himself over her, shielding her with his whole body as they hit the dirt. His hands clamped over her

her, a blast

"Jessy!"

"Little Mute!"

Herbert tore across the safe zone,

rained down, some of it landing

shouted, already peeling off his jacket as he ran. He

soon as Timothy tried to stand, his knees buckled. He collapsed into

worry, helped Jessica up. His mind was a blur-everything had happened so fast, and danger

Mute, are you

in Vince's grasp. She frowned, then finally

would never leave him there, not even if he

said to Herbert, "Take Jessy home. I'll get

his back

too close. She hadn't realized that resisting Timothy would end

know all the details, but it was obvious-Timothy had been hurt

married, after all. They had a son together. They might be on the verge of divorce, but it hadn't come to

everything, Jessica still worried

keep his voice steady, even though he was rattled. "Little Mute, maybe we should go to

shook her

Timothy hadn't

hadn't tried to carve

her

have run

had no idea

to take her, and

wouldn't find her