The White Wolf Chapter 143: Gates of Hell

Through the fallen-down doorway, she burst into the flames. Her eyes looked for any sign of life. The guards were on her trail calling to her to leave but she couldn’t. 

It was chaos. Through a hallway, there were bodies of adults and children. Some had been too close to the blast. Their faces were unrecognizable and their limbs were strewn across the scene. Some had remained intact giving her hope. 

She just started grabbing and the guards followed suit figuring following would be easier to get her out. She did not know if they were alive or not but she could not take the chance and leave them behind. 

They brought the bodies outside where Marissa and Cynthia both bloodied and bruised began helping lay them on the grass and check their pulses. A shake of the head was all they could muster before moving into the next one. 

Their lifeless corpses lay on the ground. It felt as if she had failed them. Failed to protect them. She had to keep searching for survivors. Her body was buzzing begging to move. They did not check any of the other rooms so the possibility of survivors remained. 

“I can’t let you go in there!” Enzo grabbed Alexia’s arm as she turned back to run into the burning building. 

“I’m going with or without you!” She jerked her arm away and sprinted not bothering to look. Curses spewed forth from Enzo’s mouth as he followed her into the fiery gates of hell. 

She covered her mouth from the smoke as she looked around not seeing anyone. Not finding anyone she kept looking. Room to room, she glanced in with what little vision she had. Her search was coming up short. 

“Most of them were out on the lawn, we should go,” Enzo said through coughs after he received a Mindlink from the guards. 

There was a shut door that Alexia could not ignore. She tried to open it even though the handle burned her as she tried to turn but it would not budge. Throwing her weight at it she tried to bust it open. Enzo quickly assisted her throwing his weight onto it as well causing it to fly open. 

With the door open they saw several children lying on the ground. They lay still unmoving but it looked like they were far enough from the blast that there was a chance of survival. 

“They probably passed out from the smoke,” Enzo yelled assessing the situation. 

Quickly they started grabbing the children with no time to stop and check. Alexia paused as her chest tightened at the sight of one child. Ellie. 

“We’ve got to go! If I don’t get you out of here before this building collapses the king will skin my hide!” Enzo roared as he frantically looked around. This was no place for the queen to be trapped. 

She scooped Ellie up into her arms. Holding her limp little body she made her way out of the building that was threatening to collapse. Walls were falling, it could collapse at any moment. Its creeks were a warning of its impending collapse. 

Once they were out of the building and through the smoke, they quickly made their way a safe distance and began checking the state of the children. 

Emergency services arrived and began assisting however there were too few of them and too many in need of help. 

Finding faint pulses, they began to give them oxygen. One by one the children began to regain consciousness except little Ellie. 

Alexia held her as the oxygen mask covered her face but nothing seemed to work. Alexia began to shake and prayed to the moon goddess. 

Enzo was rushing around making sure the perimeter was secure constantly looking over his shoulder at the Queen and Cynthia. Just as he turned to look again, the building came crashing down. 

It was deafening as it caved in on itself like a house of cards. The tall structure fell to its demise. 

A guard threw himself over the Queen and dust and debris flew into the sky. The sun was nowhere in sight as it had been blocked out. 

Sirens wailed. Children wailed. Everyone wailed as the emergency responders tried to assist and bring order. Alexia knew protocol was that she needed to be evacuated but she could not bring herself to leave little Ellie. 

Ellie’s pulse was faint barely even there. She was fading fast. She looked around for help but the emergency services were overwhelmed by the amount of injuries. 

“We need more help,” Alexia called out to Enzo. 

“It’s the best we have! There were several bombs going off in the city! We’re overwhelmed!” He told her over the noise. 

The oxygen wasn’t working there was nothing she could do. She prayed and prayed looking at the little body in her arms. Her palms became warm and had a faint glow. 

The chaos faded as she was distracted watching the faint light emitting from her hands. It touched Ellie’s skin and then disappeared. 

A few seconds later, Ellie’s eyes flew open as she coughed sitting up. 

“You’re alright, you’re alright,” Alexia told her trying to comfort her. Ellie’s hand flew to the oxygen mask as she began to steady her breathing. 

“Your majesty, Let’s get her in an ambulance so we can take her to the hospital.” A paramedic said their voice wavering as they tried to address the Queen respectfully but time was of the essence. 

Alexia stood up and carried her to the nearest ambulance where she laid her on a gurney. The paramedic immediately started checking her vitals and let out a deep breath as she seemed to be stable. 

While Ellie was being checked, Alexia held her hand. The paramedic called out “We’ve got to move!” Hurriedly he prepared the vehicle for transport. 

“Your majesty, we have got to go back to the palace. The king is losing his mind that you’re not back yet and is about to come down here!” Enzo pleaded. 

“I can’t leave her all alone!” She cried, her arms trembling as if Ellie was the tether keeping her from breaking down. 

Just then a caregiver at the orphanage appeared. “I will take care of her, Your Majesty.”

Alexia stared her down before nodding allowing the caregiver to slide into her seat and take Ellie’s hand. 

“I want an update as soon as possible.” She called to no one in particular as she stepped out of the vehicle. 

“We will send word when there’s a change.” The caregiver told her reassuringly before they shut the doors to the back of the ambulance. 

Siren blaring the ambulance pulled away. She did not look away till it was out of sight. In the distance, she could see puffs of smoke rising where buildings once stood. 

Turning, she surveyed the area. Bodies were covered by makeshift blankets. Paramedics were overwhelmed caring for the injured. 

She walked amongst the blankets and gurneys as the smoke surrounded her taking it all in. Who would mourn these departed souls? Orphans alone in the world. Their names would soon be forgotten and every memory of them gone forever. How did this happen? 

“Alright let’s go.” She said to Enzo.