At the sound, Arielle has run from the bedroom, a duffel bag over her shoulder. Her eyes are wild with fear.
“My bedroom’s on fire!” she screams. Tim has run towards the inferno that’s now raging in the living room, grabbing a rug to throw over the worst of it, but it’s not enough. I hear a sound in the kitchen, and I extract myself from Austin, pushing him towards Arielle as I run toward it. When I get there, I see another blaze eating at the brightly colored cloth on the kitchen table. Fueled by the gasoline, the flames spread so fast I’m left staring in disbelief. All around us, fires have started.
Smashing the windows hadn’t been an attempt by Buford’s men to get in. They’d been finding a way to get us out. And they’re doing it with fire.
I see Arielle and Austin huddled together, and it breaks my heart. I’ve brought them to this. And I’m going to get them out of it. There isn’t a moment of doubt when I hear Tim’s next words.
“There’s only one thing left for you to do,” he says grimly. I glance at him silently. “You have to die.”
Chapter 8
Chaos Resigns
Arielle Nygard
“What? No…wait!” I scream as I hear Tim’s words. He can’t be serious. But my disbelief deepens as I see the expression on Sam’s face. He’s nodding. Why is he nodding?
“Buford will never let up,” he says, turning to me, his eyes meeting mine. Beautiful eyes. Terrible eyes. Eyes that dragged me into this mess. “As long as I’m alive, he’s going to be after me…after you,” he goes on.
“But we can make a plan!” I say. “We can find another way. We’ll get the diamond back.”
Sam’s shaking his head sadly. “It’s beyond that now, Arielle. This is about more than just a diamond. It’s about his pride. I messed with his pride.”
I don’t believe him. He’s still talking like a madman. Half our conversations have been on the wrong side of reality – this one isn’t any different. This one takes things to a whole new level.
“He’s right,” Tim says. How can he be agreeing with him?They’re both mad!“In Buford’s world, there’s no commodity more priceless than pride. These men run their empires on fear – and when your buddy here pulled his little stunt, he practically walked into the lion’s den and yanked that rug right out from under him. You’ll never be safe. Nobody you care about will ever be safe.” He’s giving Sam an accusing stare and Sam glances away.
They both look at me and Austin, and I sense some unspoken understanding forming between them.
Around us, chaos reigns. Aside from the horror within me, there is horror surrounding me. My house is going up in flames. Every room seems to have been engulfed in fire. My little home… Fire is devouring everything. Every precious memory. I see a photo of me and Steve on our wedding day – charring, blackening. I fight back a sob.
“Oh, my God!” I cry.
“Get her out of here!” Sam is saying. He has me by the elbow with one hand and he’s holding Austin’s shoulder with the other, guiding us towards the door. I don’t want to go! The crackling around me increases, and I know that I must. My son needs me. I needhim. He’s all I have left. Except Sam…
Sam has pressed me forward, away from the heat of the fire, stepping behind us to keep urging us ahead. I’m so torn between turning back to gather some of my precious things and making a dash for the sweet, fresh air outside.
Tim throws open the front door, and all but shoves me out. Smoke pours out with us in waves, and Austin and I are both coughing. I feel Tim’s hand firm on my upper arm, dragging me along. I want to resist, but I know that I can’t. I have to get out. I have to save Austin.
Buford and his men are standing at the front gate on the sidewalk. I immediately pick him out, even though I’ve never set eyes on him before. He’s a rough-hewn square of a man…broad-shouldered and powerful; soft around the middle now, but still intimidating, despite the idiotic hairpiece he has glued to his head. For a moment I have a hysterical urge to laugh and I half wonder if he’s steering clear of the flames in case the stupid thing catches fire. He’s standing in the center of the group, smirking. He raises a hand and sticks a fat cigar between his lips and puffs at it as he grins at me.
“So nice to meet you, Air-ree-elle…” He draws my name out. Although I can barely make out the words above the din of the fire behind me. But there’s a new sound now. The jangling wail of sirens. Suddenly blue flashing lights have joined the red flicker of the flames. Buford’s eyes narrow for a moment, then he raises a hand, waves it once at his men, and they recede into the shadows of the night.
It’s almost too much to believe for a moment, but I have other things on my mind. We’re halfway down the walkway from my house, and I spin around to find Sam. I know he’d been right behind me through the doorway. I’d felt his hand on my back, pressing me away from the fire.
But he’s not right behind me now. He’s yards away…standing just outside the doorway, his form framed by the red-gold of the flames.
“Sam!” I scream, about to step forward, but Tim has my arm, and he’s not letting go. I flail at him, fingernails raking at his skin, but he holds firm. He has his arms around my waist now, and I’m still straining to break free. Sam hasn’t moved. “Please, Sam!” I scream again, knowing what’s about to come. Dreading it. “Please come with us! Please!” I’ve dropped to my knees, no longer fighting Tim. He’s too strong. “Damn you! Let me go!” I groan the words out – there’s no power to them. I know he won’t.
His arms are wrapped around me, his breath against my ear as he holds me. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
I’m sobbing, the heat of the flames drying the tears on my cheeks even before I can feel the wetness on my skin. The look on Sam’s face is pure sorrow. Pure pain. Like the pain I’m feeling within.Please…I don’t say it out loud now…it just echoes in my heart, in my eyes.
Sam’s gaze softens, and he smiles gently, and then his lips move as he forms the words, ‘I love you’.
My heart shatters.
∞∞∞
