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My heart clenches as understanding dawns on me: Her pride in this house isn’t only about our legacy. It’s also about the decision she made all those years ago, to choose this place over her own daughter. She has to believe that staying was always the right choice. That this home means something. Because when my mom died, this house became all she had left.

And now that choice will burn. In the end, she will have lost it anyway.

“Please, Nana,” I urge. “We can make a new choice. Together. I already lost my mom. I can’t lose you too.”

At my words, a shift ripples across her face, hardening her features. She gives me a firm nod, and relief washes over me as she begins to rise. I help her up, the pot abandoned on the floor.

Together, we make our way out of the kitchen, into the hall, but just as we reach the entryway, Rex leaps in front of us. A low growl rumbles from his throat as he blocks the front door.

“Rex, it’s alright,” Karmela says. “C’mon, we all need to go.” She sidles closer, but the Dalmatian bares his teeth.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, panicked.

“I don’t know,” Karmela answers, equally unnerved. Rex snaps at her outstretched hand.

Luka slides in front of us. “I’ll block him while you two go for the door.”

“But—” I try.

“Go. Now!” The command in Luka’s voice silences me. Karmela and I rush for the door, Rex barking frantically behind us. I pull at the knob, but it won’t budge. The lock as well.

“What’s wrong?” Luka calls.

“I can’t open it!”

Desperately, I yank on the handle and lock again and again, until a voice, rugged as stone, rumbles slowly through my mind.

You will not abandon me.

We all go quiet, even Rex. As I search for the source of the voice, shadows leap across the fresh plaster. “Did you hear that?” I ask.

“Hear what?” Luka replies.

I look to Karmela, who peers at the walls with a mixture of fear and reverence. “It was the house,” she says quietly. “It doesn’t want us to leave.”

Before I can comprehend this, Luka pulls us in the other direction. “The back door.” It’s the way we came in—it should be open. We follow, Rex nipping at our feet. But as we approach, we are met by flames. The fire has reached the house. We’re trapped.

Luka sprints back toward the front door, throwing his weight against it and kicking fiercely. Meanwhile, Karmela and I hurry into the living room, tugging at the windows. But they are sealed shut, refusing to open.

“Help!” Karmela shouts, banging on the glass. I join her, praying someone outside might hear us. But there’s no one in sight. They all must’ve run far from this place, to safety.

“The windows won’t open!” I call out to Luka.

“Keep trying!”

Desperate, I try to think of any other options. The balcony. Maybe I can call for help from there, if the house hasn’t shut that too. “Stay with Luka. I’ll be right back,” I tell Karmela, racing toward the stairs. Smoke penetrates the air, choking my lungs as I ascend.

The lace curtains flutter as I enter my room—the balcony doors are open. I lunge forward, but at the last moment, they swing shut in my face. I stare in disbelief a moment before pounding against the glass. “Let us go! You’re going to kill us all!”

The voice comes again, grating and angry. You destroyed our name. Our pride. Our legacy.

“You already did that!” I shout back.

What do you know, rootless girl? I made a mistake placing my trust in you. I helped you in more ways than you know, and this is how you repay me?

This House is your roots, your inheritance. Your blood.

If I must burn, then we burn together. I will not be left behind.