The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 68

Tilly's desperate cries drifted out from the darkness, mangled by agonizing coughs that shredded everyone's nerves.

"The door's jammed, the passageway is blocked, and it's too small. We can't get in!" Garrison covered his mouth, coughing as he fought down his rising panic, forcing a level tone. "The smoke is spreading too fast! Professor Harrison, Abigail, you need to evacuate with Sloane right now!"

He shot a look at the young man beside Sloane—a guy he thoroughly detested, but who at least looked capable. "Josh, right? Escort the professor and his wife out. The coach and I will stay behind and figure something out!"

"No! I'm not leaving without my Tilly!" Abigail wailed, collapsing onto the floor.

"I'm not leaving either... I'm her father..." Professor Harrison stubbornly clung to the hatch.

"I swear we'll do everything we can! But staying here won't get you inside! Are we all just going to die down here for nothing?!"

Garrison roared, his voice tearing from his throat.

He knew how brutal the call was, but there was zero time left for debate. The thick black smoke was already creeping up!

"I can fit."

A crisp voice sliced through the chaos.

The men whipped their heads around. Sloane was already crouched in front of the narrow hatch, using her hands to measure the width of the gap and the clearance inside.

"Sloane, do you have any idea what it's like in there?!" Garrison's voice spiked with a furious panic he didn't even register.

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