Stella's POV

The smoke wrapped around me like a suffocating shroud. My eyes burned with tears, my throat was on fire, but I didn't stop. The woman in the driver's seat groaned again, weak.

"It's going to be okay…" I murmured to her, trying to stay calm even as my entire body shook. "Just one more second, okay?"

I managed to release her seat belt. It snapped loose, and her body fell against mine with a limp, unfamiliar weight. She was lighter than I expected. Or maybe it was desperation giv