Stoll's leg bounced up and down as he and Saira waited for Orchid. "I don't have a good feeling about this, Levine," he told her. Saira was hardly listening, in her own world. Fareeda Patel's death must have hit harder than Stoll thought. How do I help her cope with this trauma? Be compassionate? Difficult, he admitted. He touched her shoulder, making her flinch. "Sorry," he said. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know," she confessed, her gaze sliding between him and the floor. Stoll turned to her, frowning. "We have bigger fish to fry," she said, looking away from him, her voice breaking.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Stoll tried to grab her shoulder, but she shrugged him off. "I'm sorry," he repeated, feeling nervous. Saira was like an older sister to him—though, he'd never give her that satisfaction—and it hurt his heart to see her so deep in her sorrow.

Saira took a deep breath, forcing a smile, her sadness masked. "I'm okay," she said happily, though it sounded fake. "We should focus on what's happening tonight. I mean, Orchid says she's going to take the fall for us."

Stoll hadn't forgotten that either. He doubted the cops would believe their narration—cutting Stoll and Saira out of the timeline completely would be a liability—but then again, Orchid always managed to work her magic. But is it safe for her? He never wanted more than to run up to the girl he loved and tell her that they were safe, they did not need to worry any longer. And if they were in danger, they'd be in danger together.

"Levine—"

She stopped, holding up a finger, silencing Stoll. "Wait," she said, pressing her face against the Study Hall's door. Stoll arched an eyebrow in confusion. "Do you smell that?" He took a whiff, pausing.

Saira's eyes widened with fear. "That smells like..."

"Smoke."

As if on cue, fire alarms went off, blaring loudly. Red flashed through the halls as Stoll's eyes widened. Where was the fire coming from? Realization struck him. "Orchid!" he yelled out, running towards the door. Locked.

Stoll banged on the door, desperate. Orchid's in there, she's going to burn. "Here, I brought my lock-picking stuff," Saira said quickly, bringing out the tools. She jammed them in, jiggling them around until the lock clicked.

Stoll opened the door, running inside. Already, some smoke was descending from the second floor into the library. "This place is full of books," he gasped, covering his mouth with his sleeve. "It's going to burn to the ground!" It was like a deathly hot fog.

"I'll get help," Saira said quickly, backing out of the library. Before Stoll could get another word in, she bolted out the door. Why was she so scared suddenly? Stoll nodded, charging into the puff of smoke, coughing. He passed by shelves of books, his eyes stringing. He found the stairs' railings, patting blindly as he ran upstairs. Gray smoke swarmed his vision as he coughed again. Find Orchid, he thought.

It got harder to breathe as he forced his eyes open. The smoke was coming from the Exam Room, under its door, where club meetings were held. "Orchid!" he shouted, grabbing the door knob. It burned his hand as he withdrew, recoiling in pain. Stoll shook off the pain, pounding on the door. "Orchid! Orchid, please! Someone open this door!"

He fumbled around in his pockets, but his hands found a few lock-picking tools that he had used earlier in the day to steal something for Sam. His fingers were sweaty as entering the tools in the keyhole, it was a race against time. He unlocked the door quickly, swinging it open. "Orchid—"

Blazes of red, orange, and yellow blinded Stoll. "Orchid?" He spotted her, she was on the floor, unconscious, her messy black hair covering her face. Is she dead? He hoped not. He froze as he saw Stanley Crawford, hunched over Orchid's body, his eyes lit with destructive urge. He stood next to Tommy Asterion, who looked dazed.

"Stoll," came Madeleine Xing's voice. "Get the hell out."

Then were was Madeleine and—

Sam.

His older brother.

His hero.

The story's hidden villain.

Time slowed down as flames snuck around like a snake. "Stoll," Sam said, his calm eerily calm. "Get out." Stoll choked as he saw Madeleine's unflinching face. He trusted both of them. How could they be behind this?

"You l-lied."

"Get out!" Sam roared, fists shaking. The calm facade washed away, replaced with anger, such hatred that Stoll had never seen before from his elder brother. "Get out!" But no, Stoll was paralyzed in place.

"Why?" Stoll's body shook with anger mixed with betrayal. You're supposed to be my brother, he thought. "You k-killed them all, didn't you?" The flames brightened. "Gray was right—Madeleine was a part of the murders, but you were behind it. You're the founder of the g-gothic literature club."

"You don't understand!" Madeleine cried out. "It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair—" She coughed violently, covering her mouth with her elbow. It got harder and harder to think in the hazy smoke. "Silverleaf should have burned in hell for its sins, it should have burned!"

"How? When? Why?" Stoll demanded and became dizzy, smoke filling the room. Voices slurred around him as flames engulfed the Exam Room. How did the fire happen? Questions swirled around his mind as he collapsed, landing on the hot ground. It's so hot here.

Footsteps passed him as his eyes were unfocused. From the corner of his darkening eyes, he spotted Orchid, still unconscious. Standing over her was Tommy Asterion. Stoll didn't know where Sam, Madeleine, and Stanley were. "Help h-her," he managed, pointing a finger at Orchid's body. "Please." If anyone was going to die tonight, he wished it would be him.

Tommy was breathing heavily, dazed, casting a glance at Orchid. "I'm sorry, Orchid." Before Stoll could react, Tommy opened the window, letting a burst of airflow into the room.

"No!" Stoll shrieked as the red-headed boy fled the scene, running out the door, and slamming it. The oxygen only added to the fire—he's trying to let the fire kill us. As Stoll's leg ached, he crawled towards Orchid on the burning hot floor. Her eyes were closed and she already had minor burns. Checking her pulse, he was relieved to know she was alive. He pulled her closer to him, looking around. "C'mon, Gray, c'mon," he mumbled, standing up. Pain shot up his leg and he took a sharp breath. It'll be okay.

He grabbed Orchid's arm, pulling her up. He supported her as they staggered towards the door. Stoll used his sleeve to try and twist the doorknob, but it was locked. "Shit, shit," he said, looking around crazily. Were they doomed? "Help! Help!"

Mom left.

Dad left.

Mr. O'Donnell left.

Mrs. Black left.

Sam left.

Madeleine left.

Stoll glanced at Orchid, his lungs tightening. No, he wouldn't leave Orchid. "Help us! Help us!" he screamed, pounding on the door until his knuckles were bruised and bleeding."Please! Someone help us! We're trapped in here!"

His voice hurt as shelves collapsed. He flinched, trembling as he held Orchid closer to his chest. Stoll's whole body ached and he just wanted to lay down and go to sleep. To close his eyes forever. "It's going to be okay," he told himself.