8. Zoey

8

ZOEY

T he constant thrum of the helicopter's blades was a dull ache in Zoey's ears as she leaned forward, eyes fixed on the expanding fire line below. The flames were relentless, tearing through dry brush and timber like a predator on the hunt.

The fire's orange glow was bright, even in the harsh light of midday, and casted long shadows across the rocky terrain they hovered over.

Zoey clenched her jaw, anxiety twisting her gut into knots. "It's moving too fast," she muttered, more to herself than to Lux, who sat beside her in the cockpit. "If the wind keeps up like this, we're going to lose the entire section."

Lux's gaze was locked on the same burning horizon. "We can't let it get into that rocky terrain. If it does, we won't have a chance of containing it. The ground teams can't navigate those rocks."

Zoey knew she was right. The rocky terrain ahead was treacherous—steep and filled with boulders the size of cars. If the fire spread into that area, it would be nearly impossible to control, and they would have to wait for it to burn itself out. That could take days, and the damage would be catastrophic.

"We don't have enough air support," Zoey said. "If we get too close, we'll be putting everyone in danger. We can't afford to lose the helicopter."

Lux turned to look at her, and Zoey felt a strange jolt in her chest at the intensity of Lux's gaze. "We need to go in closer," Lux said. "We need to hit it hard before it spreads any farther."

Zoey shook her head. "That's reckless. We need to hold it back long enough for the ground teams to get the campers and hunters out. They're still evacuating."

"We've got to think bigger than that, Zoey. If we don't stop this fire now, it's going to keep spreading, and there won't be anything left to save. The ground teams can handle the evacuation. We need to focus on the fire."

Zoey bristled at the suggestion. It wasn't just about the fire; it was about the people on the ground. Their safety had to come first. "You're not listening," she said, her tone sharper than she intended. "If we go in too close and something goes wrong, we could crash. We can't help anyone if we're dead."

Lux didn't back down. "I know it's risky, but we have to try. If we don't stop it here, it's going to spread into the next valley. And then we're looking at a full-scale disaster."

Zoey exhaled, her mind racing as she weighed the options. She could feel the pressure mounting, the weight of responsibility crushing her. She glanced back at the fire. The flames licked higher into the sky, driven by the fierce wind that showed no sign of letting up.

She couldn't deny that Lux had a point. The fire was moving fast—faster than she'd ever seen—and if they didn't do something drastic, they would lose control of the situation completely.

But the idea of flying the helicopter closer to the fire made her stomach churn. It was a huge risk, and she wasn't sure she was ready to take it. "You're being reckless," she said, finally voicing the thought that had been circling in her mind since Lux had first suggested the plan.

Lux met her eyes, unflinching. "Maybe. But I'd rather be reckless and give us a fighting chance than sit back and watch the fire win."

There was a fire in Lux's eyes that matched the one below them—burning, intense, and impossible to ignore. Zoey felt her heart skip a beat and her breath catch in her throat. Despite everything, despite the dire circumstances, there was an undeniable pull between them, something electric that made her pulse race and skin tingle.

But she couldn't afford to let herself be distracted by those feelings now. She had to focus on the task at hand, on making the right decision for everyone involved.

She glanced back out the window, her eyes tracing the flames' path as they devoured everything. She could see the ground teams moving, tiny figures against the vast landscape, working tirelessly to create firebreaks and evacuate anyone still in the area.

It was chaos, pure and simple, and the wind wasn't helping. It was pushing the fire in unpredictable directions, making it even harder to contain. Every second that passed, the fire gained more ground, and the stakes climbed higher.

Zoey felt the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She knew what Lux was asking of her, knew the risk they would be taking if they followed her plan. But she also knew that sometimes in situations like this, you had to take risks. Calculated risks, sure, but risks nonetheless.

She turned back to Lux. "Fine," she said. "We'll do it your way. But you better hope this works or it's going to be hell."

Lux's eyes lit up, and Zoey could see gratitude there, too, mingling with her resolve. They were in this together now, and whatever happened next, they would face it side by side.

Zoey took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. They were about to dive headfirst into the heart of the fire, into the unknown, with nothing but their skills and guts to guide them. She only hoped it would be enough, even though her gut screamed at her. Zoey's hands gripped the edge of her seat, her knuckles turning white.

The helicopter vibrated under them, a constant reminder of how close they were to the danger below. She could feel the heat from the fire even at this altitude, a suffocating presence that clawed at her nerves. The sky was a haze of smoke, thick and oppressive, making it hard to see anything.

Lux leaned over her, reaching for a switch just above Zoey's head. The scent of her, a mix of sweat and something distinctly Lux, filled Zoey's senses, overwhelming her.

The closeness was intoxicating, and for a moment, Zoey forgot about the fire, about the danger, about everything but Lux's presence. The proximity made her heart pound, and she was acutely aware of Lux's breath against her cheek.

They were close, too close. Zoey could feel Lux's warmth, the steady rise and fall of her chest as she reached for the switch. Her lips were just inches away, and for a heartbeat, Zoey wondered what it would be like to close that distance. To give in to the pull she felt every time Lux was near.

But then the helicopter jolted, a reminder of where they were and what they were doing. Zoey snapped back to reality, her face heating up as she realized how easily she'd been distracted. Lux's hand brushed against her arm as she adjusted the switch, sending a jolt of electricity through Zoey's body.

Lux didn't seem to notice the effect she had. She was focused, her eyes sharp and alert, taking in every detail of their surroundings. "We're losing altitude. We need to climb," Lux said.

But before she could make the adjustment, the helicopter shuddered violently. The engine sputtered, and Zoey's heart leaped into her throat.

"Something's wrong," Lux said.

Zoey's breath quickened as she fought to keep the panic at bay. She could feel the tension radiating off Lux and see the concentration etched into every line of her face.

For a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them, the roar of the helicopter fading into the background. Zoey's pulse raced as her hands moved with practiced ease over the controls.

"Keep it steady," Lux instructed, leaving no room for argument.

Zoey gripped the controls, her palms slick with sweat as she tried to keep the helicopter level while Lux worked on something behind her. The helicopter jerked again, and Zoey's stomach lurched, fear clawing at her insides.

"I need you to hold it steady for just a few more seconds," Lux said.

Zoey could barely breathe, her attention split between keeping the helicopter in the air and the unbearable closeness of Lux. Her heart pounded and her skin tingled with the awareness of Lux's presence. Every time Lux moved, every brush of her arm or leg against Zoey's, a shiver rippled through her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lux straightened, her eyes meeting Zoey's. "It should hold for now," she said. "But we need to get back to the main strategy."

Zoey's relief was short-lived as Lux's words registered. The argument they'd had earlier flared up in her mind again, and the tension between them thickened. "You're still pushing for that?"

"We have to," Lux said, her tone leaving no room for debate. "If we don't get ahead of this fire now, we won't have a chance later. We can't afford to wait."

Zoey shook her head, anger bubbling up inside her. "And what about the people on the ground? If we crash, they have to fight the fire without us while trying to save us and any civilians. Our priority should be landing as quickly as we can to help bring people to safety."

"They're handling the evacuations," Lux countered. "But if this fire spreads any farther, there won't be anything left for them to come back to. We need to think bigger, Zoey. This is about more than just the immediate danger. And I can fly this helicopter into anything. She'll hold, I know it."

Zoey's hands tightened on the controls, her jaw clenched as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. Lux's determination, her unwavering focus on the fire, was maddening. "You're not thinking about the risks," Zoey said. "If we push too hard too fast, we could lose everything."

"And if we don't, we'll lose even more," Lux shot back. "This isn't just about saving a few lives today. It's about preventing a disaster that could affect hundreds, maybe thousands, in the long run."

Zoey's frustration boiled over, her emotions a chaotic mess inside her. She understood where Lux was coming from; she really did. But the thought of making the wrong call and leaving anyone behind, of not doing everything they could to save as many people as possible, was unbearable. Again.

Lux's eyes softened, just a fraction, as she saw the conflict on Zoey's face. "I know you care about them, Zoey. I do too. But sometimes we have to make the hard calls. We have to look at the bigger picture."

Zoey looked away, her gaze fixed on the flames below. The fire was a living thing, hungry and relentless, and it was spreading faster than they could keep up with. She knew Lux was right and knew they needed to act fast if they were going to have any hope of stopping it.

But that didn't make the decision any easier.

Lux reached out, her hand brushing against Zoey's arm, sending a shiver through her. "Trust me on this," Lux said. "We can do this. Together."

Zoey turned to meet her gaze. The conviction in Lux's eyes made Zoey's heart ache. Despite everything, despite the fear and the tension, she wanted to trust Lux. Wanted to believe that they could pull this off.

"Fine," Zoey said. "But if this goes wrong…"

"It won't," Lux said.