smoke, then Lila' s scream ripped throu

a blur beside m

gotta g

ack, towards the flames already

, to grab his arm, to s

I reme

ood crashed down, crushing my

ern for me, but with fury, later, when Lila was

rlett! You should hav

a brand o

hat bled me dry, blackballing m

tation, the cold dismissal in his e

ouse. Oh God,

own, the air growing hotter, thicker, until I

ory so real I cou

elling Lila' s name,

, I stepp

him charge in

hand, was safe. My

as part of the porch roof gave w

bled out, dragging a s

e him, her pageant dress in tat

houting, the blur of t

ld plastic ch

Beaumont Jr. and his wif

ssion grim, spoke t

ation is unavoidable... the right one, ex

led, a small, broke

ace like stone, tur

y didn't you stop him? You

a low growl, f

ze, my own c

't listen. He was... obsessed wit

a beat

e his c