“Thornwood Manor?”
“How do you—?” I began, but Vail cut me off.
“I did not realize anyone lived there. I have heard about it being haunted.” Her voice lowered as though she feared the mention of it would summon a dark force.
“It is not,” I told her defensively, as sweat formed on my palms.
“Rosie, you need to be careful. I do not have a good feeling about you living there.”
“The man who lives there … Mr. Blackwell … he has taken care of me. And you should know more than anyone not to believe the town’s gossip.”
“Mr. Blackwell?” Vail said. “If a distinguished man lives there then why do I not know of him?”
“He works a lot, I assure you, I’m perfectly safe.”
“Do you not find it strange that I have never heard of this man and only of the rumours of his estate?”
“Vail, please,” I begged her. “Trust me.”
Vail sighed. “Please promise me you will be cautious. And if things start to get strange you will come find me?”
“I promise.” I gave her a reassuring squeeze.
Just as I was about to share more information with Vail, a sudden commotion erupted from the market. We heard screaming and yelling, and we turned to see people rushing toward a small house. Flames and thick black smoke billowed from the windows. A growing crowd had gathered, with some townsfolk clutching buckets they filled from a nearby well and hurriedly tossing water onto the flames.
Vail and I sprinted toward the house, grabbing buckets around the well to join in the frantic effort. We sloshed water onto the flames, but they continued to grow, eating away at the wood as the house creaked and burned.
“Help!” A little girl’s voice cried from inside the burning structure.
“Did you hear that?” I asked Vail, who was filling her bucket once more.
“Hear what?” she asked, throwing water onto the flames.
“I think someone is in the house.” I scanned the second-floor windows.
Turning to Vail, I urged, “Can you stop this in any way? With your magic?”
She shook her head. “I … I am not supposed to use magic in front of people.” She pulled her scarf around her nose as thick smoke crept down the street.
“There is someone in that house!” Without thinking, I hiked up the hem of my dress and tied it to my belt.
“Rosie, wait!” Vail grabbed my arm.
“I cannot, Iwill notlet her die.” I tugged my arm out of her grasp and rushed into the house.
The smoke was dense and obscured my vision. I dropped to the ground and held my breath as I began crawling toward the staircase ahead. I ascended the stairs on my hands and knees, taking a break halfway up to breathe before holding my breath once more.
I got to the top, and the smoke was thick. My face felt hot from the unruly flames.
“I am here!” I shouted, but as the words left my lips, thick smoke rolled in, choking me. My lungs burned, and I coughed violently.
The little girl’s voice cried out once more.
“Where are you?” I called into the thick smoke, hearing the threatening crackling of fire and creaking wood around me. My lungs felt heavy, and I struggled to breathe.
A wooden beam crashed down from the ceiling in front of me, and I rolled to the side to evade it. I closed my eyes for a moment, my heart racing in my chest. Then I opened them again to find the strangest sight.
A small purple butterfly, nearly translucent, appeared in the smoke in front of me. I blinked, thinking it was some sort of illusion, but it remained there. It flew away from me, and I followed it. I reached out to touch it and felt a small hand reaching to touch mine. I grasped it firmly and pulled the terrified child into my arms.
