And somehow, Rachel Morgan keeps ending up in the blast radius.
Which means either she’s the target, or she’s a witness to something she doesn’t even know she saw.
Either way, she’s in danger.
And I need to figure out why before the next fire happens.
Chapter eighteen
Chapter 18
Rachel
Ishouldn’t have opened the account.
That’s what I keep telling myself as I scroll through video after video, comment after comment, all of them about me.
“You never should have opened a social media account,” Jake said this morning when he caught me on my phone at six a.m.
“Forgive me for being curious after the second fire happened,” I shot back.
Sophie mentioned it yesterday when she came to pick up Tommy, and tried to be casual about it. “Hey, uh, Rachel? People are posting about the library fire. Just thought you should know.”
I lasted five hours before downloading the app and creating a private account.
I wish I hadn’t.
The video is everywhere. Someone filmed the library evacuation. Me stumbling out with Tommy in my arms, both of us covered in soot. The caption reads: “Millbrook Fire Girl Strikes Again, what are the odds?”
The comments section is a nightmare.
She’s definitely cursed.
Two fires in two weeks? That’s not a coincidence
Does anyone else think she’s doing this for attention?
Insurance scammer vibes
Someone check this lady’s background
That poor kid. CPS needs to get involved
A knock on my bedroom door makes me jump.
“Rachel?” Jake’s voice. “You okay in there?”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s not true.” The door opens, and he leans against the frame. “You’ve been doomscrolling for three hours.”
“I’m not doomscrolling. I’m… staying informed.”
“You’re torturing yourself.” He crosses the room and sits on the edge of my bed. “What are they saying?”
“The usual. Jinx. Attention seeker. Arsonist. Take your pick.” I pull my knees up to my chest. “Derek’s probably collecting screenshots as we speak. More evidence for his custody case.”
“Derek’s an idiot. No judge is going to take Tommy away because you happened to be near some fires.”
