ifted in and out of consciousness. At some point, I heard a sound at the

re, silhouetted by a single lantern she he

ing into the basement. "It real

at her, too

low circle. "I knew you' d be trouble. So, I made a deal with Joe. He gets yo

de me, her fac

vant. I found out about her allergy weeks ago. A little bit in her tea every day... it was just supposed to weaken her, make her

p, her smil

m taking very good care of him. And now, I

iquid and a rag stuffed in the top. The sharp, s

bye, S

g bottle into the corner of the basement, where a pile of old newspaper

the heavy door behind me. I heard the bolt slide

nd black. The heat was intense, blistering my skin. This was it. This

, I heard Ch

od, Caleb, the bas

c shouts, the sound of

ah! S

angry, but... panicked. A flicke

hloe shrieked. "It' s too late!

, the sound of her

it!" Chloe' s voice was hysterical

tairs caught fire, turning into a blazing inferno. The