Chapter Text
Sun peeked over the edges of the world, its soft tendrils grasping the ever lightening blue in golden rays. Lighting up the world, waking it from its nightmare. Smoke curled carelessly into the morning, the remnants of an explosion littering the dewy green grass of the countryside. Fire burned wildly, it's crackling sounds filling up the silence, bringing awareness to the absolute pain that raidiated through Lucy Carlyle's body. Wrapped in agony, she tried to drown out the sound of the high pitch ringing in her ears as her mouth formed words, her voice hoarse as she screamed for her colleague.
"Lockwood!" She screamed, her eyes sore and burning from the smoke that surrounded them.
The intensity of the heat, seared her. Throwing her arm over her eyes as she tried to gain footing, tried to get to her feet but ending up back on the grass.
"George!" She screamed, hoping one of them heard her.
Sucking in the smoke only made her fall into a fit of coughs, her hands scrapping the grass and mud.
She crawled away from the heat, feeling for anything. Hoping she felt Lockwood or George in the grass. Praying she didn't.
The investigation hadn't exactly gone to plan, and now the evidence and money earned was up in smoke. Literally.
Pain sat heavy on her chest, lungs burning for fresh air.
"Lockwood! Please!" She cried out, hot tears welling up in her eyes, making them sting more.
She heard nothing, and the worst thoughts began to seep in. Maybe she was alone again. Maybe they hadn't made it out of the building before it half exploded. She remembered them right behind her before the force of the explosion rocked her through the air. They had been closer to it. Maybe they didn't make it out as easy as she did.
"Lucy?" a small whimper fell from Lucy's side, not far from where she was crawling and relief washed over her like the waves brushing up across the beach.
"George?!" she recognised the small voice, he sounded hurt and Lucy scrambled in his direction.
Her eyes burned as she opened them wider, searching for the dark brown curls in the smoke. Seeing him, she cried in relief and crawled to him. He cough as she reached him and lifted his head. Cradling it on her lap, she stroked the sweaty singed mess of hair from his forehead. She noted the blood that seeped from his hairline, and saw only a small cut.
"Where's Anthony?" she said, turning her head wildly to see if she could spot him.
"I don't know." George coughed out before taking a deep shuddering breath.
"We have to get out of here," George exclaimed as his eyes also darted around the yard that was left smouldering.
"Not without Lockwood." Lucy replied quickly, already moving forward as George got to his hands and knees.
They stayed below the smoke line, knowing the fresh clean wind would soon change and the smoke would move away from them.
"Lockwood!" Lucy and George bellowed loudly.
They shared a look, knowing exactly what the other was thinking before splitting ways, hoping to cover more ground.
They continued to call out to their Employer, to their friend before the sounds of sirens began to blast over the sound of the roaring fire, coming from just over the horizon.
"Lockwood!" Lucy screamed, as she scrambled forward.
Her eyes had caught sight of the familiar black cloak that Anthony Lockwood seemed to always have attached to him. His hand was just invisible under a pile of smouldering timber, face just barely visible and his chest buried under the smoking wood.
"George! I found him!" Lucy yelled to her friend who was lost in the smoke.
Turning her attention to the boy in front of her, she quickly and hurriedly lifted the pile of wood off of him, wincing as the wood burned her soft skin. She pushed the wood aside, uncaring to her burns and the wood clattered back to the ground and she sat on her knees, her fingers gently probing over Lockwood. Checking up and down his body for injuries. Her breathing quickened at the sight of blood running down his arm, and splattered across his once neatly pressed white dress shirt. He looked so peaceful, the most Lucy had ever seen since she had met Lockwood. His eyelashes were curled and long, framing his cheekbones and ash sat sprinkled upon his face. No movement, no life.
"Lockwood?" Lucy tried to shake him awake, saying his name almost as if in prayer.
He didn't move and the desperation began to cling to Lucy. Hollow and sickness began to claw at her throat, terror building in her tone.
"Don't you dare. Don't you bloody dare, Lockwood! Come on!" She shouted, as she vigorously shook at him.
She heard heavy footfalls before shoulders roughly brushed her own and George fell down beside her, his hands moving quickly to Lockwood's face and turning it to the side. With two fingers, he pressed on Lockwood's neck, his eyes searching for Lucy's.
"It's faint. We need to get him out of here and to a Hospital!" He ordered.
For once in her life, Lucy Carlyle listened to George Karim.
George struggled to get to his feet and Lucy could see that he lacked strength, they all did. Using all that she had left, she buried her hands under Lockwood's knees and pulled up. With a groan and a pant of air, she pulled an unconscious Lockwood into her arms and got up. George tried to support her before realising he was better off leading the way. Her arms ached but she refused to give, taking measured steps and biting back the pain that threatened to take her down. Lockwood's head lulled heavily on Lucy's shoulder, his rapier bouncing off her hip. A constant reminder that she needed to keep going.
The three of them emerged from the smoke just as the Fire service, Ambulance service and Police van pulled onto the pebbled road that led to the once beautiful cottage. Her knees shook at the sight of the medics rushing out of their vehicles and towards her. They caught up to them just in time, Lucy's arms giving away and Lockwood safely sliding into their arms. She collapsed to the pebble with a shallow cry and George was quick to put his arm around her, sharing with what he had left.
Lucy watched as they took Lockwood to the stretcher tjat had been set up by the colleague who had stayed behind to get the supplies ready.
"It's going to be okay, Lucy. He's going to be okay."
Lucy wanted to believe him.