Ann hears a calming voice uttering her name, above the sirens and the chaos, this voice was clear. She thought this was her mind playing tricks on her at the last moment, as she remembers the calmness a certain someone always felt.

“Ann.” She heard it again and this time she felt someone pulling on her restrains, she immediately opens her eyes and finds Andrew before her. “Don’t worry I’ll get you out,” he says removing the rug from her mouth allowing her to talk.

“Andrew…,” Ann says and for a moment she notices something different, his mannerisms, the way he spoke to her, touched her. “Nicholas?” Still thinking this is a dream she just sits there staring at the man, who is hurrying to set her free.

“What have they done to you?” he says gently placing his hand on Ann’s wound as she turns her head from the sting. It was at this moment that she was sure, Andrew was here, she actually had someone who had come to save her.

“Andrew,” Ann says in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”

“Here you save you!” he says knowing there is nothing he can do about the cut on her face. He signs and looks around noticing nothing that can help the situation. “Let’s just go…”

“Andrew wait!” Ann says now finally free and holding his arm. “Before anything else, I just wanted to apologize. I didn’t tell you everything because I didn’t know what to say. I did want to see my ex and when you showed up, I thought that maybe…”

“Don’t be sorry Ann, you were right.” These words echo louder than the chaos around them. “Let’s go,” he says noticing Ann’s shocked expression.

“Nicholas?” the words were soft and gentle but audible enough for Nicholas to stand still for a moment and look at her with guilt, he nods his head once and then says.

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“Let’s get out of here before…” Ann doesn’t waste a second jumping into his arms. Both fearful and relieved, she embraces Nicholas and he wraps his arms around her. It was almost as if their breathing was synchronized, as they just spend a few moments in each other’s embrace. Ann feels the same comfort she has always felt in his arms and lets her emotions take control. She cries and then smiles, happy that she gets to see him again. He looks at her with loving eyes that soon turn serious as he reminds her of the dangerous predicament, they are now in.

“I…I…,” Ann has so many things to tell him, but she doesn’t know where to start.

“We can talk later ok.” Despite what he says her mind goes in another direction. Should she start by telling him how happy she is to see him again, or how she is happy he’s there for her right now… or maybe how angry she is to find out he killed someone else not too long ago?

“Ann, we need to get out of the building before they return,” Nicholas says with a caring but stern voice.

“Just tell me one thing.” Before Ann can say anything else, Nicholas speaks.

“I am so sorry about everything Ann,” Nicholas says sounding guilty. “You are in danger because of me and what I did.”

“It’s true?” Ann’s words burst out of her lips with a tremble in her voice as Nicholas realizes what she means.

“I am not sure what he told you but, it probably is,” Nicholas says sighing.

“What do you mean?”

“Ann!” Nicholas slightly raises his voice but takes a deep breath and calms down. “I know you have questions and all of that but now really isn’t the time for this. First, let us get you safe, then you can yell at me or whatever…”

“Just tell me one…”

“I know I promised I would see you again but I never planned to. After we parted ways, I tried my best for you, but everything always led me down that same path. That’s all I can say for now, I’ll explain everything else later. Now come on!” Ann looks completely devastated and disappointed and Nicholas pretends to not notice Ann’s feelings. He quickly tugs her arm and gets her out of the room as she looks out to see smoke. She now realizes the reason for his desperation and regrets allowing her emotions to take control of her.

“Nick…,” Ann says clinging onto Nicholas.

“Don’t worry, I know a way out,” Nicholas leads Ann as she holds his hand. Oddly enough, he does not try and use the fire escape but the stairs. Ann is nervous about where he’s leading her but she trusts him, they go down but then they abruptly stop.

“What did I tell you Py, these people are too smart for their own good.”