Chapter 116: Perfect Puzzle Piece
"Everest!!"
The young Mister Nocty made his way to the floor where he and Everest were sharing a room. His arm pressed against his nose, unfazed by the thickening smoke in the building.
"Everest!" He took a step forward, only to skid back as the pipeline attached overhead snapped and fell inches from him.
He jolted as the metal pipe clanged sharply in his ear. It had almost struck him if he hadn’t stopped in time. Yet, he quickly regained composure and jumped over the broken pipe. Thanks to it, water splashed from it and slightly cooled the surroundings.
"Everest!" Mister Nocty shouted as he closed in on their room. "Everest! It’s me!"
The second he reached their hallway, his pace quickened despite seeing flames roaring from other rooms.
He had been thinking about this incident every single day of his life.
The "what ifs" that crossed his mind every morning and night.
What if he hadn’t cowered? What if he’d just insisted on going with the others? Would he have had to attend his friends’ burial?
He may not have started the fire, but the reason they got trapped here was because of him. Had Mister Nocty—at this time—just mustered the courage, they would all be alive. But no.
This world was twisted and cruel for letting everyone else die except the one at fault. As if this world were telling him to bear this burden for the rest of his life. So, even if this was all not real, even if he knew it was futile, he couldn’t control his heart’s desire.
His desire to save and rescue his friends, just to see if there was ever a chance.