Chapter 2

2

Like last time, he didn't even ask if we were safe.

He just said, "Lily, our place is on fire. Go knock on Annabelle's door and get them out!"

Last time, Mom wasn't there when he called.

She had no idea what he said.

She always thought going to the neighbor's was my idea.

Hearing it now, Mom frowned.

I quickly shushed her and asked, "But Dad! The hallway's on fire. If we go next door, we might not get out.

What should we do?"

As expected, Dad yelled.

"You have to go! Even if it means dying!"

Mom stared, blinking in disbelief, and I was silent.

After a moment, he seemed to realize he'd lost it.

"No, Lily…

Dad means life is more important than anything. You can't just leave them to die.

Go now…"

Seeing the tears in Mom's eyes, I hung up.

When I was five, Dad had suddenly moved Annabelle and her daughter next door.

He called her a distant cousin from back home.

Taking advantage of his dead family, he settled his little crush right next door to us.

Mom loved him, so she tried to take care of them, too.

Until, in the hospital last time, I saw them hugging, out in the open, and I knew.

Not a cousin. Just another woman!

And Annabelle's daughter, Cindy, was Dad's kid, too!

The fire had started because they were storing junk in the hallway.

Last time, the fire was intense, spreading to the upper floors, affecting several families.

After the investigation, everyone online was furious.

But Dad had pulled my oxygen to make me take the blame!

This time, I was going to expose them all.

"Mom, I always thought Dad and Annabelle were a little weird. I don't mind helping them out, but now that we're talking about life or death, Dad doesn't even care about us!"

I watched Mom's face as I spoke.

She shed a few tears, but wiped them away, and started pulling me down the stairs again.

"He can ignore me, but not his daughter!

Let's go. He's a firefighter. If he wants to save people, let him!"

Thinking of last time, I smiled.

Roaring flames and broken beams.

If he wanted to save them, let him.