Chapter 5 - The Controlled Burn
The kitchen air was thick with the scent of burnt sage and something sharper—lighter fluid. I walked in to find Meredith standing by the stove. A small, frantic flame danced on the countertop, licking at the edge of a stack of old mail.
Lily was huddled in the corner, her eyes wide, locked onto the fire with a primal, terrified focus.
"Oh, look, Logan," Meredith said, her voice dripping with a sickeningly sweet concern. "Lily was playing with matches again. She’s so impulsive. I just managed to catch it before it spread."
She didn't move to put it out. She just watched the flames climb, her eyes glassy.
I didn't argue. I didn't yell. My ER training took over—a cool, detached efficiency that was the only weapon I had. I grabbed the heavy-duty fire extinguisher from under the sink, the cold metal grounding me. With a rhythmic hiss, I blanketed the counter in white chemical dust.
The fire died instantly. The room went silent, save for the settling of the house.
I set the extinguisher down and turned to Meredith. She was still holding the box of matches, her knuckles white. I looked her dead in the eye, my posture loose, my expression void of the fear she expected.
May you like
"The wiring in these old houses is dangerous, Meredith," I said, my voice dangerously calm. "I’ll have an electrician come by tomorrow. We can't have 'accidents' like this anymore. It’s too risky for the structure."
She blinked, her smile faltering. For a split second, the mask slipped, revealing a woman who was furious that her performance had been interrupted. But she quickly smoothed her features, the coldness returning. "You're right, darling. You're so... practical."
