Chapter 3

Black smoke now completely filled the cabin.

The floor of the car grew hotter, the heat searing the soles of my shoes.

Then I saw it.

A flicker of orange.

Flames.

"It's on fire! The car is going to explode!"

I whipped my head back toward Declan, my voice a desperate plea.

"Declan, save me! Open the door! The car is actually on fire! Please... I'm begging you!"

"Have you completely lost it, Linnea? You'd set your own car on fire just to get my attention and make me feel sorry for you?"

"You'll stop at nothing, will you? Look at yourself. Your face is a mess, all smoke-stained and tear-streaked. You think that's attractive? It's pathetic."

It was getting harder to breathe.

The smoke burned like acid in my lungs.

With the last of my strength, I hammered on the window, my pleas fading into faint, muffled gasps.

"Open... the door... I'm going to die..."

As he watched the black smoke billow and the flames climb higher, a flicker of doubt crossed Declan's face.

Maeve immediately tightened her grip on his arm.

"Declan, honey, her act is so convincing. It's starting to scare me."

"Let's just go. Your mom cooked all that food for us. It's Thanksgiving, and we can't keep your parents waiting."

At the mention of his parents, the sliver of doubt in Declan's eyes vanished.

He gave me one last cold look, then turned his back and pulled Maeve away with him.