Shelly PoV
I smiled at Damien as we left Alexander's office. "Thanks again," I whispered.
He grinned back at me. "It was nothing."
"You really think I can do this?" I asked him, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Absolutely." His crimaon eyes sparkled with encouragement. "You're going to surprise yourself, Shelly. Just remember, it's okay to ask for help. You're not alone in this."
I nodded, appreciating his support. It was comforting to know that I had someone in my corner, especially as I prepared to step into a professional environment that felt intimidating.
"What do you think Toren will say when he sees me in a suit?" I mused, a smile breaking on my face at the thought of his reaction.
Damien laughed. "He'll probably think you look like a superhero! Just make sure he knows you're still the same Shelly, even if you're in an office now."
I chuckled, picturing Toren's wide eyes and his dinosaur figurines scattered around. "Yeah, I guess I'll have to explain that I'm not disguising myself."
Damien nudged me playfully. "Just tell him you're on a secret mission to save the day. Kids love that stuff."
I laughed again, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease a bit. The image of Toren's excitement made my heart swell. I wanted him to feel proud of me, to see that I was trying to create a better life for both of us.
"Just be yourself," he replied, starting the engine. "You've got this. Maybe bring a little something for the team? Everyone loves snacks."
I nodded, considering his suggestion. "That could work. I could bake some cookies tonight. Toren loves helping me in the kitchen. It'll be fun."
"Perfect! A sweet way to make a good first impression! Uh, literally."
I chuckled. Laughing this much after my parents' deaths felt weird, but it was also a welcome change. I hadn't realized how much I needed this lightness in my life until Damien brought it out in me.
Damien slowed as he saw a plume of smoke ascend into the air. I couldn't make it the exact location as the wind was blowing it toward us, but it seemed to be coming from a business.
I squinted out the window, trying to get a better look at where the smoke was coming from. "Do you see that?" I asked, pointing toward the billowing cloud.
Damien's expression shifted from playful to serious in an instant. "Yeah, I do. It looks like it's coming from the Hosler bank.
A bank? Why would a bank catch on fire? Arson maybe? Bankers weren't very popular, especially after the most recent financial crisis.
Without another word, Damien slammed on the gas and maneuvered the car toward the bank. The closer we got, the thicker the smoke became, swirling ominously around the building. My heart raced in my chest as panic set in.
"Damien, are you sure we should—" I started, but he cut me off.
"We have to help. People could be inside!" His voice was steady, filled with determination. There was no hesitation in him, and I admired that about him. He always seemed ready to jump into action, no matter the situation.
He quickly parked opposite of the burning building and rushed. The firefighters were still not on the scene.
I covered my nose with my shirt and stepped out, not wanting to stay in the war while Damien was risking his life.
As we got closer, he held both hands out. They began to glow. The smoke funneled into his hands, as did the flames.
Was Damien not human? I knew he was odd, but I didn't think in the supernatural sense too.
"Damien, what are you doing?" I whispered, a mix of fear and awe coursing through me. I couldn't comprehend what I was witnessing.
Damien grunted. "We need to hurry. I can't hold the flames and smoke forever. I need to eject them from my body."
"How did you do that? I asked as we looked around for any people. The carpet was deep black in the lobby, a telling sign that it probably began there.
"Hello? Anyone here?" Damien asked, focusing on the rescue.
"Damien, we should check the back rooms," I suggested, my voice barely above a whisper. "There might be people trapped."
He nodded, his expression serious. "Good idea. Stay close to me."
We walked deeper into the bank and saw several broken windows, likely where people had escaped from. However, there was also a lot of debris that had fallen over the desks and file cabinets, creating obstacles as we navigated through the dimly lit space.
Damien looked around, using the flames in his hands as a torch.
"Anyone here?" he called out.
"Help me," a man cried out. The voice was coming from under some of the debris.
Without hesitation, Damien and I rushed toward the sound. Damien absorbed the flames in his hands entirely and began pulling out the large debris with ease. Those muscles of his really weren't just for show.
We saw a man in his early to mid twenties, panting. "T-thank you, strangers. I thought I was a goner."
Damien smiled. "Can you walk?"
The man looked back at his legs. "I think I can. Thankfully, my chair and desk prevented the debris from crushing me when the ceiling came down.
I furrowed my brow. The damage here looked more severe than at the lobby. Then, did the fire start here? Or maybe there were two points where it began?
Suddenly, a chunk of the ceiling came crashing down, causing the banker and me to yelp.
Damien grunted sent the flames he had absorbed toward the falling debris, turning them into ash in an instant.
What was that power of his?
The banker gasped. "Young man, are you a Remnant?"
A remnant? What was that?
Damien didn't answer, just grabbing the man's arm and helping him up. "Let's save the talking for later. This place is gonna collapse at any moment!"
I nodded and followed him toward the window. But, I still couldn't help but wonder who or what Damien really was to have those powers. Such powers no longer existed in our world.