Identical shocked eyes meet across the shop an instant before the first eruption of fire roars inside the building.
London’s heart almost stops when the hackney stops in front of Sheridan Furniture store. It is closed, all the lights are out, but a flickering light inside the connected workshop tells her someone’s inside.
The driver drops down and offers a hand to help her down, “Should I wait?”
“Yes, please,” she turns to walk away when the first explosion of flames happens. The driver fights with the horse to calm him, and London stares in horror at the rear corner of the warehouse engulfed in flames.
A darkly dressed figure runs out from behind the building and runs off in the opposite direction.
“I’ll bring help! The firehouse is a few streets over!” the driver shouts and leaps back into his carriage, snapping the reigns with a shout.
London runs towards the building, praying no one is inside. She skids to a stop when she hears a deep voice inside, shouting.
“No!” Declan is struggling with the bay doors trying to pull them open. London jumps to help. Pulling, “They're stuck!” she shouts!
Put out the fire, London tells herself! She hurries into action again and runs around the back of the building, toward the flames. A large pile of debris and scrap wood, is on fire, licking up the side of the building. What was the explosion from? Smoke and flames pour in through a broken side window, filling the shop and making it difficult to breathe. London kicks at the fire spreading the burning wood apart and sending it cascading away from the building. She grabs a bucket and dips it into a barrel, tossing water on the flames. It flashes the moment the liquid hits it and flares back towards her, burning her hand. She screams in shock and drops the bucket, staring in horror. It's grown bigger, and she knows she's fighting a losing battle.
The building is constructed of wood, and it's already heavily aflame. In the distance, she can hear the fire brigade. Running towards the side of the building, she pulls open the single door and squints into the smoky darkness.
“Hello! Is anyone in here?” she shouts.
“Help!” a shaky voice calls.
Declan's grandfather must have fallen during the explosion, he is holding his head, and a small bleeding cut stains his hand. “Mr. Sheridan!” London runs to his side and slips an arm around his waist. “You have to stand with me,” she urges.
“NO! My Grandson!” He fights back and holds his head tightly in his hands.
“Declan will be alright! I heard him out front, come on, now!” She pulls and lifts him to his feet. He leans heavily on her groaning and struggling to see as she guides him towards the side door. They are almost to the door when the flames roar inside the window following the smoke like a river. The second the fire reaches the shelf on the wooden wall full of supplies, the oils and turpentines erupt, sending fire and debris raining across the shop.
London shoves Matthew through the door and into the alleyway to safety only to scream when a flaming piece of wood slams into her lower leg. She is knocked dizzy for a few seconds and sits up slowly. Flames catch the bottom corner of her dress on fire. The pain registers after she shoves the fiery wood off her leg. London coughs and limps from the building, just as the from bay doors are pried open. Fresh air hits the flames, and they erupt, larger than ever.
Matthew Sheridan lays sprawled on the ground. He struggles to his knees and fights to stay conscious. “You’re going to be okay,” a woman’s soothing voice says in his ear. Gentle hands help him to safety, and she can hear Declan shouting at the fire brigade inside fighting the flames. Steadying him against the next building. London whimpers as the pain registers. She rips a strip of cloth from her dress and presses it to the wound on his head. “Hold this,” she insists.
“I can't see! Where's my grandson?” Matthew asks, and she instantly reassures him.
“Declan is fine. You have smoke in your eyes. I'm sure you'll be okay, but we need to get you to safety.”
“Oh,” she groans and fights nausea back.
“You’re hurt!” Matthew tries to help her, but she pushes him against the second building.
“Stay here. I’m going to get help.” London stumbles through the alley toward the front, shouting for help.
“Help!” she screams and waves a hand. Two fire officers run to her aid. “He's back there!” she points. They run, and London turns, limping slowly away. The carriage driver is nowhere to be seen. He did his bit, she thinks. “Time to disappear, London.” She swipes at her tears and pushes through the group of people rushing to gawk at the excitement. Perfect, she thinks. Now, I can disappear, she limps to a hackney cab and rides away.
Declan rushes towards the building shouting for his grandfather, only to have a fire officer pull him back out front. “My Grandfather’s inside!”
“No, we have him, and he's asking for you,” he tells him.
“Thank you!” His heart drops when he sees him resting on the ground with two people tending to him.
“I tell you she was hurt!” Matthew shouts and fights to get up.
“Stop. You need to be still, Mr. Sheridan! We will search for her as soon as we see to you.” They pour fresh water over his eyes, rinsing them, and he snarls and grumbles.
“Grandfather! Do what they say,” Declan drops down beside him and laughs as he hugs him. “I knew you were tough, but I feared the worst,” he is shoved back as Matthew fights to be heard.
“She protected me, Declan! You
