Contents
Chapter 67
Overview
Veronica, bound in the cellar, faces Naomi’s plan to burn the house and kill her. Ezra Fletcher regains consciousness, assaults Naomi with a wine bottle, and frees Veronica as flames spread. He orders Veronica to rescue Teddy, while she realizes Ezra may not escape. Naomi is left unconscious as the fire grows.
Summary
Veronica, duct-taped in the cellar, realizes Naomi intends to burn the house with her inside. Spotting dropped scissors just out of reach, she notices Ezra Fletcher groaning at the base of the stairs, alive but badly injured.
Naomi returns with a lighter, expressing grim resolve and a warped promise to raise Teddy. As Naomi moves to ignite spilled scotch, Ezra crawls toward a wine rack, seizes a magnum, and, after Naomi lights the alcohol, smashes her knees and then her head, knocking her unconscious.
Amid growing flames, Ezra cuts Veronica free with the scissors, apologizing for his delay. With the fire nearing hard liquor, Veronica offers to help Ezra upstairs, but he insists she prioritize rescuing Teddy.
Veronica hesitates, then obeys. As she climbs, Ezra tells her to close the cellar door to contain the fire. She realizes he does not expect to escape, shuts the door, and continues toward Teddy, leaving Naomi unconscious below as the blaze spreads.
Who Appears
- VeronicaPOV; bound in the cellar; nearly burned alive; freed by Ezra; decides to rescue Teddy; closes the cellar door.
- NaomiAntagonist; returns with a lighter, ignites spilled scotch to start an arson; is knocked unconscious by Ezra.
- Ezra FletcherGravely injured but revives; crawls, uses a magnum bottle to disable Naomi; cuts Veronica free; likely sacrifices himself.
- TeddyChild upstairs; Ezra urges Veronica to rescue him as the house fire spreads.