BOUND BY LOVE DIVIDED BY BLOOD

Élan Royale was widely regarded as one of the most expensive and luxurious restaurants in Montelisse, a city where wealth, prestige, and influence were often displayed through grand architecture and extravagant establishments. The restaurant stood as a symbol of elegance and exclusivity, attracting wealthy families, influential businesspeople, distinguished guests, and visitors who wished to experience its celebrated cuisine and exceptional service. Its enormous structure contained several dining halls, private lounges, grand corridors, beautifully decorated rooms, and exclusive spaces reserved for guests who valued privacy, all of which had been carefully designed to create an atmosphere of comfort and sophistication. On most evenings, the sound of conversations, laughter, music, and the gentle movement of waiters carrying expensive meals filled the building, creating the impression of a place where nothing could possibly go wrong. Yet on this particular evening, the grandeur of Élan Royale would become a terrifying trap when a sudden fire broke out inside the building.

At first, the disturbance seemed like an ordinary commotion coming from one of the restaurant's adjoining sections, and many of the guests paid little attention to it, assuming that something had gone wrong in one of the kitchens or service areas. However, the sharp smell of smoke soon began to spread through the air, followed by frightened voices and the unmistakable sight of flames rising inside the building. The alarm was raised almost immediately, and guests began abandoning their meals as employees hurried through the halls, desperately directing everyone toward the exits. What had begun as confusion quickly turned into panic when several people discovered that some of the doors would not open. Guests pushed against them, pulled desperately at the handles, and shouted for assistance, while others rushed toward the windows in search of another way out. The more people struggled to escape, the more chaotic the situation became, and the growing flames began consuming furnishings, curtains, decorations, and anything else that stood in their path. Thick smoke gathered beneath the ceilings before gradually descending into the corridors, making it increasingly difficult for people to see where they were going or even breathe properly.

Caelisse, a young woman employed as a waitress at Élan Royale, had been standing in one of the restaurant's dining sections when the fire began. She had initially been helping guests move away from the smoke, following the instructions of the senior employees as everyone attempted to reach safety, but as she watched people crowd around the locked doors and heard their desperate cries for assistance, she realized that waiting for someone else to find a solution could cost them their lives. She looked toward the windows along the side of the room and saw that, although the flames were spreading rapidly through other parts of the restaurant, they had not yet reached that section. Her eyes immediately fell upon a nearby chair, and without allowing herself time to think about what she was about to do, she seized it with both hands and struck the glass with all the strength she could muster. The first blow caused the window to tremble but did not break it, so she struck it again, and again, until the glass finally shattered, sending fragments across the floor and leaving an opening large enough for the trapped guests to climb through.

“Please, come this way!” Caelisse shouted, raising her voice above the roar of the flames and the frightened crowd. “One at a time, and be careful of the broken glass!”

Several people immediately hurried toward her, and Caelisse helped them through the opening one after another, steadying those who struggled to climb through and guiding them toward a safer distance once they reached the ground outside. Some guests were trembling so badly that they could barely stand, while others were coughing violently from the smoke, but Caelisse continued assisting them, repeatedly turning back toward the dining hall to make certain that no one was being overlooked. Her uniform was already covered with soot, and the heat had begun pressing against her skin, yet she remained focused on getting as many people out as possible. It was only when she turned toward the interior of the restaurant once more that she noticed the elderly woman who had been left behind.

The woman was lying near one of the interior passageways, weakened by her injuries and struggling to move as smoke drifted around her. Several people had already passed through the area, but no one appeared willing to risk returning for her. Some were too frightened to go back inside, while others were barely able to help themselves after escaping the flames. Caelisse looked toward the broken window and then back at the elderly woman, understanding that the fire was spreading rapidly and that the woman might not survive if she remained where she was. For a brief moment, fear held her in place, because she knew exactly what returning inside meant, but the sight of the injured woman struggling helplessly in the smoke made it impossible for her to simply turn away. Without allowing herself time to reconsider, Caelisse ran back into the building.

The heat struck her almost immediately as she moved through the smoke-filled passageway, and she raised one arm to shield her face while trying to make her way toward the woman. Visibility had become poor, and every breath caused her throat to burn, but she continued forward until she finally reached the elderly woman. Caelisse knelt beside her and carefully tried to lift her, only to discover that the woman was too weak to stand and that the injuries she had sustained made it difficult for her to support her own weight. Caelisse tightened her hold around her and carefully pulled her closer, trying to take as much of the woman's weight as possible. “Please, stay with me,” she said, struggling to keep her voice steady as the smoke filled her lungs. “We're getting out of here.”

The elderly woman appeared barely conscious, and Caelisse could feel how weak she had become. She tightened her grip and began moving them toward the shattered window, but the journey back was far more difficult than she had anticipated. The passageway had become increasingly obscured, while the growing fire forced her to change direction more than once as she searched for a route that remained clear. Her arms began to ache from supporting the woman, and the smoke made every breath painful, yet Caelisse refused to abandon her. She stumbled several times, regained her balance, and continued forward, drawing upon whatever strength remained in her as the heat intensified around them. The sound of breaking glass, collapsing furniture, and roaring flames followed them through the passageway, but eventually the shattered window came into view.

With considerable effort, Caelisse managed to guide the elderly woman through the opening and followed closely behind her, bringing them both out of the burning restaurant. The moment they reached the outside, Caelisse struggled to catch her breath, but she immediately turned her attention back to the woman to make certain that she was still conscious.

By then, emergency personnel had begun arriving outside, and ambulances were positioned nearby to receive the injured. Firefighters and rescue workers were attempting to control the blaze while police officers helped keep the growing crowd away from the building. Medical personnel rushed toward Caelisse and the elderly woman as soon as they saw the condition they were in, and after examining them, they recognized the severity of the elderly woman's injuries and arranged for both of them to be transported to Crownsphire International Hospital. Several other injured guests were also being taken for treatment, while those who had escaped without serious injuries were directed to a safer area where they could receive assistance. Throughout the journey to the hospital, Caelisse remained beside the elderly woman, watching anxiously as the medical personnel worked to stabilize her. The woman appeared extremely weak, and the sight of the blood covering parts of her clothing made Caelisse increasingly afraid that she might not survive. Although Caelisse herself had sustained injuries during the rescue, including cuts and bruising from the shattered glass and the struggle inside the burning building, she barely paid attention to them, her thoughts remaining fixed on the stranger whose life she had risked her own to save.

At Crownsphire International Hospital, the elderly woman was rushed into the emergency department, where doctors and nurses immediately began examining her injuries and working to stabilize her condition. Caelisse followed as far as she was permitted, but the medical staff soon directed her to wait outside while they attended to the patient. She stood in the corridor, her hands trembling as she tried to understand what was happening beyond the doors. The hospital staff moved with urgency, carrying medical equipment into the emergency department and communicating with one another as they worked, while the seriousness of their expressions made Caelisse fear that the woman's condition was far worse than she had initially imagined. When one of the doctors finally came into the corridor, Caelisse stepped toward him immediately.

“Doctor, will she be fine?” she asked, her voice carrying the worry she had been holding back since the rescue. The doctor looked at her, but he did not answer at once. He knew that the elderly woman had arrived in a critical condition, and the severity of her injuries had already caused considerable concern among the medical personnel treating her. Rather than discuss the matter in the crowded corridor, he glanced toward the emergency department before looking back at Caelisse. “Young lady, please follow me.” Caelisse followed him without hesitation, still struggling to catch her breath after everything that had happened. Once they entered his office, the doctor indicated that she should take a seat before introducing himself. “My name is Doctor Averin,” he explained. “Before we discuss the patient's condition, may I ask what your relationship is to her?” Caelisse shook her head.

“I'm sorry, Doctor, but I don't know her personally. I work as a waitress at Élan Royale, and she had come to the restaurant as a guest. When the fire started, I saw that she was injured and that no one was helping her, so I went back inside and brought her out.” Doctor Averin listened carefully, taking in her explanation before leaning forward slightly. “I understand. The situation is very serious. She has lost a considerable amount of blood, and we need to give her a transfusion as quickly as possible so that we can continue treating her injuries. The wound on her leg is particularly deep, which is why she has lost so much blood. We have checked the available blood supply, but unfortunately, we do not currently have a suitable compatible unit for her.”

Caelisse's expression changed as she listened.

“What does that mean, Doctor? Is there anything else you can do?”

“We are doing everything possible to stabilize her,” Doctor Averin assured her, “but time is very important. May I ask what your blood type is?”“I'm O positive,” Caelisse answered. The doctor considered her response for a moment before explaining that she might be able to help, provided that the necessary tests and crossmatching confirmed that her blood was compatible with the patient's. He made it clear that he would not force her to donate blood, especially because she had sustained injuries herself and had just come through a traumatic experience, but the elderly woman's condition was urgent and a suitable donor could make a significant difference in her treatment.

“I cannot compel you to do this,” he told her, “but if your blood is compatible and you are willing to help, you could give her the chance she desperately needs.” Caelisse did not hesitate.

“Then where should I go to have my blood tested?” Doctor Averin rose from his chair. “Come with me.” He led her to the laboratory, where the technicians collected a sample and began the necessary tests. Caelisse waited anxiously while they examined the results, hoping that she would be able to help the woman who had nearly lost her life inside Élan Royale. When the tests were completed, the medical personnel confirmed that her blood was suitable for the transfusion, and they prepared to collect the amount required for the elderly woman's treatment. Although Caelisse was exhausted and had sustained injuries of her own, she remained cooperative throughout the procedure. She understood that the doctors needed to act quickly, and she was willing to endure the discomfort if it meant giving the woman a chance to recover. Once the donation was completed, the medical team continued with the transfusion and returned to treating the patient's injuries.