CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
THIRD PERSON POV
THE AFTERMATH
The gym was a scene of utter chaos. Smoke twisted into the rafters, alarms blaring and students screaming as fire crews worked frantically to contain the blaze. Police blocked off entrances, shouting orders, while hoses sprayed streams of water that hissed against the growing inferno.
Derek stood at the edge of the school grounds, hands shoved deep in his pockets, his sharp eyes taking in the destruction. He watched as the firefighters battled the flames and students were shepherded to safety, a sinking feeling settling in his chest. This wasn’t supposed to happen, he thought, jaw tight. I didn’t mean for it to go this far.
The sight of the scorched gym, the twisted remnants of chairs and tables, and the panicked crowd made his stomac
