Exploded.

Just like that.

I was frozen. Staring. Mind blanked.

The entire needlepoint top of the steel building was now a ruin of black smoke and blazing flames, absolutely destroyed. Blood roared in my ears, muffling the cacophony rising in the air outside the window from the explosion.

A scream worked its way up my throat.

Jimin.

My body jerked into action and before I knew it I was bursting into the hallway.

The hotel corridor was filled with people who were also running out of their rooms, either having seen the explosion or heard it.

I had to fight my way through people in the hallways and stairs. By the time I managed to make it to the first floor my legs were burning. I didn't care.

The streets outside the hotel were even worse. Chaos reigned over the sidewalks and people were all shouting and shoving. I didn't care who I was elbowing or shoving. My eyes were glued to where the black plumes of smoke stained the bright blue sky.

The Infinity Council tower was only a few blocks from the hotel. But it seemed to take forever to get there. Rivers of people were pressing on all sides of me; some people trying to run away while others had the same mindset as me and were shoving towards the blast.

Only the top half of the building had detonated. Maybe— no, he had to have been on the lower levels. He had to be okay. I didn't know what I was going to do if he wasn't okay.

I swore as I tripped over something and went down. Immediately shoes began to trample over me and my screams was lost in the air of shouting and shrieking people.

I somehow managed to make it back to my feet and then I was running again.

Finally I burst out of a certain knot of people. I stumbled forward. The steel skyscraper loomed before me. Debris precariously scattered and littered the ground everywhere. People were already pulling out their phones and filming or calling.

My head snapped towards the entrance of the building where the inhabitants of the structure were all streaming out.

Most of them were dressed in uniform black and white or just neutral colors. The fact that my panicked mind wasn't allowing me to be able to focus on a single person didn't help.

What had Jimin been wearing this morning? Had it been a uniform? Jeans? Something else? Curse it. Curse it. Where was he?

Already police officers and security guards were rushing around and beginning to form a line between the civilians and the building. Above the devastation, New Order aircrafts began to circle the area around the ruptured building top. I could see the official symbol of the New Order painted in brilliant gold on the side of the crafts.

"Stay back! Everyone stay back!" The guards and police were yelling, holding out their arms into a human barrier between the pressing crowds. "Go back home! Stay back!"

Crap. I had to find him. I joined the crowd pushing against the body barriers nearest to me, fighting my way towards the front.

"It's the bloody aliens again isn't it?!" Someone roared in fury.

"They dare attack the Infinity Council?"

"Is it the Reformists?!"

There were only a few security guards holding the barrier before me. A furious hulking man broke through the flimsy arms of the officials with ease.

I used my lithe body to my advantage to slip through before the guards mangled to push back once again.

"Get back here!" One of them screamed at me.

I didn't listen. I was running towards the entrance of the building. People shot past me, bumping into me roughly and a couple times almost knocking me down again.

No matter how many people rushed past me, though, I couldn't find the familiar face I was looking for.

Had he already escaped? Was he still in there? He wasn't dead was he? Was he injured? What did I do? Should I run in? But I'd only get lost. I couldn't leave him in there though!

Tears burned in my eyes and I didn't know if it was because of the acidic fumes from the fire in the building tearing through my senses or something else.

I think I was shouting his name. I couldn't tell though. Everyone was screaming around me. Screaming names.

Suddenly an iron hand clamped down on my arm so tightly I knew for sure I shrieked in pain. My body ached from having been stomped on my stampeding crowds on the sidewalk and my bare feet were bloody.

The grip whirled me around and I was face to face with a furious looking guard. "Get out of here, young miss," he barked at me, beginning to drag me towards the swelling crowds.

More guards and police officers had arrived on the scene and were holding back the dam of onlookers. If I was pushed back into the crowds I wouldn't be able to slip through again.

I began fighting back. "No!" I shrieked. I realized my cheeks were damp. My tears had freed themselves without my realizing. "No I have to go back. Stop!"

The guard didn't listen and continued to mercilessly drag me towards the crowds. Away from the building. Away from him.

So I began to scream his name instead. My throat was raw. I sounded like a dying animal. I didn't care. All I cared was to know if he was alive. If he was okay.

He wasn't dead was he? He couldn't be. He'd been alive just a few hours ago. I'd just talked to him a few hours ago. No one could be here one moment and then gone the next so fast like that could they?

I was almost at the body barrier. I was going to be separated. I was going to be pushed back.

The guard grabbed me with both arms, about to shove me back on the other side of the police line.

A blur. A silver blur.

A massive silver wolf bowled over the guard, knocking both him and I to the ground. I had just enough time to see ice blue eyes and outstretched claws right before I fell flat.

This time I couldn't get up. My limbs were trembling too much. I couldn't see. The world spun around me.

The guard swore beside me. The shouting of the crowd before us died down momentarily. Shock. Everyone was in shock.

Hands were grasping my shoulders. Strong. But not violent like the guard had been. They pulled me up. Turning me. And then crushing me against a solid chest.

Smoke and fire. Sweat and blood. Jasmine and spice.

I clung tightly to him. My heart was still racing. Was he here? Was this him? Was I hallucinating?

Nothing was making sense.

I realized someone was speaking to me. A low steady murmur in my ear that cut right through the chaos of sirens and shouting.

"I'm here. I'm here. I'm here."

Over and over.

He was here. He was here.

"STEP AWAY FROM THE GIRL AND PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM."

I snapped my head to where the security guard that had been dragging me was now standing again. He was pointing a gun straight at us.

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