18
At the end of July, I woke up because of smoke.
I looked at the time. 4:21 a.m., when people sleep the most.
I opened the door, but it was locked.
The power was off.
<
2:44
83
I was on the second floor. They thought I
couldn’t get down.
Last time, they took my wheelchair, so I had to
crawl.
opened the door, let down the rope, and climbed down.
I was going to wait to call 911, but there were
other people in the house. I didn’t want them to get hurt, so I called.
The fire department came and the first person
out was Chase in his wheelchair.
Then the maids came out.
I counted. Everyone but Lily and my parents got
out
<
2
out.
The fire department, police, and reporters
showed up.
I hadn’t called the reporters.
The fire grew bigger. Chase cried to the
reporters, saying that he wanted to save his
sister and parents.
My grandparents came and said it was a tragedy.
I watched Chase acting.
The next morning, the fire department found
Dad, Mom, and Lily.
One dead, two injured.
2:44
But they couldn’t find me.
82
Chase was excited that his father was dead.
He’d probably inherit his money.
What about Mom’s kid? Probably a miscarriage
or a birth defect.
His only concern was Lily. He hoped she’d
become a vegetable, or die.
He cried, begging everyone to find his sister.
Meanwhile, I had told the police that I was safe.
I told them that I’d woken up and found my door locked. The power was out.
But because I was paranoid, I’d added those
hidden cameras. I could give them the evidence.
I le u welucu the window SITUL. I TOW Coulu i llave
gotten out?
