STARLIGHT SCARS

VICTORIA POV

"Help! Someone help me, please..." I cried out, but no one seemed to hear me. Everyone had evacuated the building. 

The flames were burning hot. The heat clawed all over my skin. I was beginning to suffocate from the intense thick smoke. This wasn't how I had thought I'd die, especially not on my 25th birthday. 

"Michael! Michael! Honey, where are you?" I cried out for my fiancé to help me but even he was out of sight. 

I managed to leave that spot. I was so weak, so I supported myself with the walls. I clutched my hands because even the walls were already hot. I didn't know how, but I really wanted to survive.

Soon, I began to feel dizzy, and every breath I took felt hotter than the former, burning through my heart and down to my lungs. My vision began to blur, causing me to collide with a falling wood. 

The pain caused me to vibrate like that of an electric shock. My knees hit the cold tiles hard, and my body fell flat to the hot tiles. 

I lost hope as I slowly took what I thought were my last breaths, everything wavered. 

Suddenly I heard a voice screaming, "Victoria! Victoria! Where are you?!" But all I could see were shadows now. 

No amount of strength could help me up again. "I'm here..." I was barely above a whisper."

"Victoria! I've found you." He ran towards where I was. 

"Victoria! Thank God you're alive. You're safe now... I can't believe that bastard forgot you here. I'm going to kill him, I swear."

I felt his hands grab me, but who was it? I couldn't see his face well. My vision was completely blurred.

"Please don't die, Vic. I beg you. I can't live without you." I could tell he was crying. His voice was full of pain." 

He carried me up and I could feel his strong grip. His voice was full of determination. "I'm going to save you, no matter the cost! You won't die here." 

I felt hope surge within me. For a moment, I thought that was the end, but no. This man risked his own life just to save me. He was my angel.

Even with my blurred vision, and half-conscious state of mind, I saw how he shielded me with his body. I could tell he was also burning when I heard him groan, "Arrrrrgh!" 

Soon, we were outside the hotel, and everyone gathered around me. They looked like shadows with rumbling voices. That was all I could see. 

"Thank God! You are alive. My child. I'm sorry we left you there. Where is the ambulance?! I swear if my daughter dies..." A woman cried out among the crowd. I could tell immediately that it was Mom.

The shadows around me suddenly began to stretch, and dissolve. They melted into the night and slowly, darkness enveloped me, and the voices also stopped coming.

****

I woke up to strange muffled sounds like faint whispers, struggling to pierce through my ear. My head pounded as if it was about to explode from the pain I was feeling. 

Everything was suddenly dark. I couldn't see anything, but I could hear strange voices that seemed like they were crying. 

Where was I?

I tried to open my eyes but my eyelids felt heavy. 

"Sis... please, wake up..." a trembling voice cried out.

Suddenly, I forced my eyelids open, and the white lights that flooded my vision almost made me blind. I blinked repeatedly, trying to adjust, then I saw figures standing close to my bed.

A man in a white coat came closer, examining me and speaking quickly. A woman about my age stood crying beside another older woman whose face was pale and soaked in tears. 

"Doctor! Doctor! She's awake... come quick..." The younger woman's voice pierced the air. 

Everything felt hazy, and the pain in my body was unbearable, especially my head.

"Victoria?" A man's voice called out, his voice was shaky and he seemed to be crying. 

Suddenly, he pressed his lips against my forehead, and next was my knuckle.

"I've missed you so much, sweetie. I thought you left me all alone in this world. Thank you so much for coming back to me..." he continued to sob.

Sweetie? 

Who was he exactly? 

His presence felt overwhelming, too clingy, too intimate, too touchy. I tried pulling away, but my body betrayed me. I could only stare at him confused, my irritated face obvious. 

"Who... who are you?" My bruised voice suddenly came alive. " Who are you people? Why... why am I here?..."

The room suddenly fell silent.

Everyone froze. The man being all touchy suddenly let go in disbelief, his teary eyes now wide open. The older woman covered her mouth, preventing her screams from coming out too loud.