TRAPPED

TRAPPED
"How is the rescue team doing?" Dax asked the man wearing a black face cap.

"They've managed to save six people so far. Three are badly injured, while the other three sustained minor injuries."

"How many people were trapped in the building in total?"

"Twenty-six—twenty adults and six children."

"And so far, only the adults have been rescued?"

"Yes. There's been no sign of the children, dead or alive."

Dax’s jaw tightened. "I’m guessing the children were in a different room since this is a workspace."

"Yes. According to the first woman we rescued, the children were on a tour of the building when it collapsed."

Just then, someone ran up to us, informing the man in the cap that they had found a pregnant woman in critical condition. He hurried off, leaving Dax and me standing there. The thought of six children trapped inside sent an icy chill down my spine.

"They need more help. At this rate, those kids—and anyone else still inside—have almost no chance of surviving."

Dax exhaled sharply. "I know. But there's not much we can do."

"We can help them!"

He turned to face me, his expression hardening. "Brianna, I know you're worried, but I can't let you get anywhere near that building. I’m going to call for a backup team."

"But we can still help until they get here!"

"Brianna, please. Just stay here and make sure everything runs smoothly until I get back. Okay?"

Frustration boiled inside me, but I nodded. "Fine. Just… please be quick. I can't shake this horrible feeling. Those people are trapped, waiting, hoping to be rescued. If we don’t reach them in time, they’ll die."

His expression softened. "Just give me a little time. I'll come back with more help."

As soon as he left, I couldn’t stand still. I hurried over to check on the rescue team. The only relief so far was that no bodies had been found—yet.

"How are things looking? Any sign of the children?" I asked one of the rescue workers.

He shook his head grimly. "No. But we found an entrance leading to the lower floor."

My heart leapt. "Are you sending people in?"

"We’re still considering it. It’s risky. If the remaining floors collapse—"

"That’s why you’re the rescue team. You risk your lives to save others."

He sighed. "It's not as easy as it sounds."

I clenched my fists. "And do you think it’s easy for the people trapped in there, praying someone will come for them?"

His patience snapped. "Miss, we’re doing everything we can. If you think we’re not trying hard enough, why don’t you go in yourself?"

He turned and walked away. I stared at his retreating back, anger simmering beneath my skin. That arrogant bastard was in charge of saving lives?

Fine. If they weren’t going to act, I would.

I stormed after him. "Do you know you're an asshole? Just wait. I’ll make sure you lose your job."

He scoffed. "As if pressuring me wasn’t enough, now you’re threatening me? You’re a detective. Do your job and let us do ours."

I saw red. My fist shot out before I could think twice. It connected with his face, a satisfying crack splitting the air.

"Talk to me like that again, and I’ll break your bones. Idiot."

Leaving him clutching his jaw, I marched toward the rescue van. I requested supplies, packing as much food and water as I could fit into a backpack. Slinging it over my shoulders, I turned toward the building.

Not everyone here was as pathetic as that guy. Some of us were actually going to do something.

I grabbed a junior rescue worker by the arm. "Tell Dax what’s happening. Now."

He hesitated, but I shot him a warning glare. He nodded and ran off.

I knew Dax would have stopped me if he were here. But he wasn’t.

Which meant there was no one left to stop me.

Dax's POV

When I got back, Brianna was nowhere to be found. At first, I thought she might have stepped away to get something, but after an hour passed without any sign of her, worry set in. I began asking around.

"I'm so sorry," one of the rescue team members said, shifting uncomfortably. "She told me to inform you where she went, but I got caught up and forgot."

My chest tightened. "Where is she?" I demanded.

He hesitated, confirming my worst fears. "She... she went inside the building to look for the kids."

My eyes widened in shock. "And you let her go?"

"I'm sorry, but we couldn't stop her! Even our boss tried, but she punched him in the face."

A curse slipped from my lips. I had made a terrible mistake leaving her behind. I should have known better—Brianna always did what she believed was right, regardless of the consequences.

"Which way did she take?" I asked, my pulse racing.

"We found an entrance leading to the lower floor, but we couldn’t keep it open for long," he admitted, looking down in guilt.

Fury surged through me as I stormed toward the rescue team leader, grabbing him by the collar. "You knew she went inside, and you didn’t keep that entrance open?" I roared.

His expression remained indifferent. "I told her to stay out of it, but instead, she decked me. Whatever happens to her is not my problem."

My fist connected with his face before I could stop myself. He staggered back, and I left him with another punch, my anger burning through my veins.

Brianna, what have you done? How the hell am I supposed to know if you’re safe?

When the backup team arrived, I ordered them to remove that useless idiot from the site. Everyone was forced to double their efforts. So far, two bodies had been recovered, while the rest of the survivors were in critical condition. According to the crew, finding a way inside would take time. The entrance Brianna had used was now completely blocked.

With every passing second, my anxiety grew unbearable. My mind ran wild with possibilities—was she injured? Trapped? Worse?

Desperate, I called Eric and filled him in. He arrived at the site immediately with additional backup.

"What the hell happened?" he asked.

"I left her here to make sure things were running smoothly. I never thought she’d go in herself."

Eric exhaled sharply. "You should’ve known better. This is Brianna we’re talking about. I’m not surprised she went in—I’m just terrified for her."

"Are you going to tell your parents?"

"I can’t. If my mom finds out, she’ll collapse. And as much as I don’t want Gia to know, I won’t be able to keep it from her. She’ll figure it out."

"The team is trying to find another way in, but it’s going to take time."

Eric nodded grimly. "Then we hold on and do whatever we can."

Brianna's POV

I’ve been inside for hours, yet I haven’t found a single soul. My walkie-talkie is dead, and I know Dax must be going out of his mind with worry.

The lower floor and the first floor are the only ones that seem intact. I kept searching, hoping to find the children, but the silence was deafening. Doubt started creeping in.

What if the rescue team already found them? What if they’re still here but badly injured? What if they’re trapped behind debris?

Then it hit me—I had been looking in the wrong places. There were rooms buried under fallen blocks that I had passed by. I went back to the first floor and started with the nearest room. There was no way I could move all the fallen debris just to check inside, so I decided to let my voice do the work.

"Hello! Is anyone in there?" I called out, waiting for a response. Silence. I repeated this for every room I passed, growing more desperate by the second—until I finally heard something.

"We’re in here! Please help us!" a voice cried out from behind a blocked door. I turned toward the sign above the doorway—SCIENCE ROOM. Just as I suspected, they were trapped. It would have taken forever for the rescue team to reach them.

"Hold on! I’m coming!" I shouted back, immediately assessing the situation. I started clearing the smaller debris first, pushing and pulling away anything I could move. Some pieces were too heavy for me alone, but I managed to create a narrow opening just big enough for a person to squeeze through. Dropping my bag, I crawled inside. All six of them were huddled together, their faces pale with fear. I couldn’t tell their exact ages, but they looked around the same age as Rose.

"Are you all okay?" I asked, scanning each of them for injuries.

"We’re scared," the oldest-looking boy admitted, his voice trembling.

"I know, but I promise I’ll get us out of here. I just need all of you to stick together and follow my lead. Understand?" They nodded in unison. One by one, I helped them crawl through the small gap I’d cleared, guiding them to the safest spot I could find. They were weak—exhausted, dehydrated. I quickly gave them some food and water from my pack, letting them rest for a moment before we attempted to find a way out. I just hope Dax will find us.