Contents
Chapter 69
Overview
Naomi regains consciousness in the burning wine cellar, finds her exit blocked, and realizes Veronica has escaped. Ezra lies unconscious after stopping Naomi from leaving Veronica to die. As the fire overtakes the racks, Naomi accepts likely death and hopes Veronica rescues Teddy, shifting the stakes to their survival above.
Summary
Naomi wakes on the cellar floor, choking on smoke as she remembers igniting spilled whiskey to burn Veronica alive. Surveying the room, she sees the fire has spread and now blocks the stairs. Veronica is gone, but Ezra is slumped against the wall, unconscious.
Realizing Ezra struck her with a wine bottle to stop her from abandoning Veronica, Naomi tries to rouse him. The air is thick and the heat overwhelming; her attempts fail as the lower steps burn, cutting off escape.
Heat shatters bottles and the wine racks flash into a raging blaze, transforming a contained fire into an inferno. Naomi recognizes there is no way out, notes Ezra remains unresponsive, and believes the flames will consume them.
Resigned, Naomi turns her thoughts to Teddy, hoping Veronica escapes the house and reaches him in time. She accepts her likely fate while praying that Veronica saves Teddy and cares for him.
Who Appears
- NaomiWakes trapped in the burning cellar; realizes escape is blocked, accepts likely death, and hopes Veronica saves Teddy.
- Ezra FletcherUnconscious in the cellar after stopping Naomi; unresponsive as the fire overtakes the room.