Twenty-Three

Zina

My gut feeling told me that Gwen was stuck inside. She wasn't psychotic enough to have to burn

down her own house. This was the house she had lived in all her life and raised her sons, where she kept a shrine for her dead son.

The very thought of her setting it on fire seemed absurd. She might have been bitter and unkind, but I couldn’t see her doing this kind of destruction.

Immediately, I called the fire service, and they assured me they were on their way, but waiting around wasn’t an option. I needed to be sure Gwen wasn’t trapped inside, even though she had been nothing but an ass to me.

The fire was spreading quickly, consuming everything in its path.

"Gwen!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, hoping she could hear me.

The fire roared louder, burning one side of the house. I ran through the backyard and pushed open the kitchen door, and though that side wasn’t engulfed in flames yet, it was hot as hell and thick with smoke.

I kept screaming for Gwen until my voice grew h