Chapter 35

Greyson looked as if he was about to grab Dane by the collar, but of course it didn't happen. Right at that moment, part of the staircase collapsed with a loud noise. Standing precariously on the half-remaining stairs, he looked down to see a dark space that had caved in. Taking advantage of Greyson's hesitation, Dane ran down the hallway. Greyson spat out a short curse and had no choice but to chase after him again.

Around the time they had searched almost the entire second floor, suddenly a voice came through the radio. It was Wilkins's voice.

– Dane, Dane! Are you okay? Haven't found it yet?

"Still searching. Second floor."

– Wait! Charlie will be in the attic!

The man's voice suddenly cut in. Seeing Dane stop in his tracks, Greyson thought. We're done for. That's what he must be thinking now.

Judging that he would now turn back, Greyson prepared to retreat, when suddenly Dane asked.

"Where is the attic?"

What is he saying?

Greyson frowned and looked at him. Though he couldn't see his expression because his back was turned, he could definitely feel that Dane had no intention of retreating.

"The ceiling of the inner room... you need to press a button... did Charlie often go up there?"

– Yes, yes, I trained him to go up there right away in scary situations. In case a burglar came in and might kill Charlie. Also, I didn't want to lose him if he got scared and ran outside...

The man asked urgently in a voice mixed with sobs.

– C-can you find him? Is Charlie still alive...

Though he continued talking, Dane ruthlessly cut off the radio. Whether it was because he didn't want to hear the whining, or because time was urgent, or both, was unclear, but what he would do next was certain.

You can't do that.

"Hey, that's enough..."

"Miller."

Just as he was about to say he wouldn't go any further, suddenly Dane called his name. For the first time, he who had been rushing forward looking only ahead turned to Greyson and said.

"You get out, there's no need for you to stay here. You're just in the way."

Of course, that had been his intention. Coming this far was more than enough, and Greyson had done as much as he could. But when the other side said it first, Greyson didn't feel particularly good. Of course, it must be because of that unchanging unpleasant tone.

"What about you?"

He was about to ask if he was really going to jump into those flames to save a dog that was surely dead, but there was no time. Dane disappeared into the black smoke in an instant without even answering.

Left alone, Greyson blinked in disbelief before coming to his senses at a loud "crack." Some part of the house had collapsed again.

It was already impossible to follow Dane. Of course, he had no intention of doing so. Staying in such a dangerous situation would be suicidal. Dane must know what Greyson, who was little more than a complete novice, knew.

He'll do what he can and come out.

Thinking this, Greyson immediately retreated. Humans fundamentally fear death. The fear of pain is the same. Dane couldn't escape that either, so he would soon come out, abandoning the dog. After all, his own life would be most precious.

The moment he turned around, he briefly recalled Wilkins saying never to come out alone, but he immediately erased it from his mind. Thinking that by the time he had completely exited, Dane would have followed out anyway, so it would be the same thing.

With flames rising from all directions, Greyson no longer hesitated and ran toward the outside without regret.

* * *

Wilkins was standing in the same place, anxiously watching the blazing house. The flames were devouring the house like fierce waves, and the red light flickering through the windows looked like hellfire. Though this wasn't his first time experiencing such a situation, it was inevitable to feel anxious since it was always a life-risking job. Even Wilkins, who was commanding the scene, was frustrated because he couldn't tell what was happening at all, as it seemed like a long time had passed since Dane had entered there. What was Dane thinking, turning off the radio?

"Charlie, Charlie..."

The man continued to cry, calling only the dog's name. Though he was equally anxious, he couldn't rebuke him. As he silently patted the man's shoulder, suddenly a human shadow appeared from within the flames.

"Dane?"

As Wilkins immediately called his name, the man also looked in the same direction with a start. They waited for him to come out of the fire, each hoping for their expected person, but the man who removed his mask was someone they hadn't expected at all.

"Miller!"

"Where's Charlie?"

To the almost simultaneous exclamations, Greyson removed his helmet, ran his fingers through his hair, and answered.

"That bastard went inside to find the dog."

"What?"

Wilkins shouted as if in shock. Immediately, the man fired off questions like bullets.

"So you haven't found Charlie yet? Where did you separate? You must have heard everything I said? I said Charlie would be hiding in the attic, but the radio was cut—"

"Stop! Be quiet for a moment!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Wilkins shouted. The man, who had been wailing and crying until then, momentarily stopped crying and opened his eyes wide. Ignoring him, Wilkins turned back to Greyson and asked urgently.

"Dane went inside? To find the dog?"

Following his voice that seemed shocked, Wilkins looked Greyson up and down before fixing his eyes on his face.

"But why did you come out alone? I begged you so earnestly to stay together! How could you just come out alone, leaving your partner behind? How? Did your feet come off? Huh?"

He truly seemed unable to comprehend. Because there could be no firefighter who would abandon a colleague and escape alone in such a situation. To Wilkins who was waiting for an answer, Greyson replied cheerfully with the same smile as before.

"He said I was just in the way and told me to get out, so I did. I can't refuse other people's requests, you see."

"...What?"

Wilkins responded after a pause, seemingly quite flustered. His face, pale and with wide eyes looking up at Greyson, was a mix of confusion, embarrassment, contempt, and other negative emotions.

"What's going on? Is Dane alone in there?"

Ezra, who had belatedly heard the words, shouted in horror. Just then, support from other fire stations had arrived, and as the firefighting on the other side seemed to be mostly finished, firefighters with some free time were gathering in front of the house. Wilkins, as if anger was belatedly surging, clenched both fists tightly and glared at Greyson. His shout came next.

"You call that an explanation! Even if Dane said that, you should have stayed there, or at the very least, you could have radioed us! You came out leaving your colleague alone in those flames? And you call yourself a firefighter? You dare to come here saying you want to be a firefighter, you goddamn bastard!"

He was raging like a madman. It wasn't just Wilkins. Other colleagues, including Ezra, also shouted and condemned Greyson upon hearing his story.

"You bastard, you're not even human! Even if you're not a firefighter, you can't leave a colleague alone in that danger and come out!"

"You showing up saying you wanted to be a firefighter was nonsense from the start! Get out of here now, you piece of trash!"

"As I thought, you were no good from the beginning, we shouldn't have accepted someone like you! I was against it from the start! We all knew you were no good!"

Despite the outpouring of outcries, Greyson was still just smiling. His unchanging expression, like a mask, even made it seem as if he was mocking others. To the firefighters who were shouting in increasing anger at that face, Greyson shrugged and asked.

"I understand you all have tremendous camaraderie, but if you're so worried, instead of gathering here to condemn me, shouldn't someone go in and bring that guy out?"

"We were going to do that without you saying it, you bastard!"