Chapter 7 - The Echoes in the Dark
Before Arthur could grasp the meaning of her threat, a brilliant, blinding flash of light erupted from the second-floor windows of Blackwood Manor.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the structure, blowing out the leaded glass panes of the master suite. Shards of crystal rained down onto the portico below, followed immediately by a thick, churning plume of black, greasy smoke that rolled out into the stormy night.
Arthur gasped, his blood running cold as he remembered where he had sent Maria and his daughters.
The master bedroom.
"No!" Arthur screamed.
He turned to sprint back toward the house, but Eleanor lunged forward with sudden, terrifying speed. She grabbed the lapels of his wet suit jacket, throwing her entire body weight against him, attempting to pull him down onto the slick, wet gravel.
"Let them burn, Arthur!" Eleanor shrieked into his face, her fingernails digging through his clothes into his flesh. "Let them burn! We can start over! Just you and me! Without her memory! Without her children!"
"Get off me, you monster!" Arthur roared.
He brought his forearm up with immense force, striking her across the shoulder, breaking her grip. Eleanor stumbled backward, slipping on the wet stones, crashing heavily onto the gravel driveway.
Arthur didn't look back to see if she was injured. He turned and sprinted back up the marble steps, bursting through the front entrance into a foyer that was already rapidly filling with thick, choking gray smoke.
Above him, the ceiling of the second-floor landing was glowing a terrifying, furious orange. The dry oak paneling of the ancient mansion was catching fire with terrifying speed, fueled by the draft from the broken windows and the open front doors.
"Maria!" Arthur shouted, coughing as the acrid smoke hit his throat, stinging his eyes. "Lily! Clara!"
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From the top of the grand staircase came the sound of panicked screaming and coughing.
Maria appeared at the edge of the burning landing, clutching little Clara in her arms, while Lily clung frantically to her skirt. Behind them, a wall of roaring orange flame was sweeping through the master bedroom corridor, cutting off their escape to the rear stairs.
