Chapter 15 - The Mother’s Madness
“Mom!” I screamed, halting in the doorway as smoke stung my eyes and throat. “What are you doing? Stop!”
Eleanor turned toward me, her eyes wild, her hair matted with sweat. She had lost her mind. The humiliation of losing her status, her home, and her pristine reputation had pushed her over the edge.
“He ruined us, Claire!” Mom shrieked over the roar of the fire. “Your father signed over his land rights to Mark’s firm yesterday! He gave away our legacy just to punish me!”
“I didn't give it to Mark, Eleanor!” Dad coughed out, his face black with soot. “I put it into a irrevocable trust for Claire! You and Lauren get nothing!”
Mom let out a guttural scream of pure rage and raised the gasoline container to pour it over Dad.
“No!” Daniel roared, charging into the burning room. He tackled Mom to the floor, sending the gas can rolling across the hardwood floor away from the flames.
“Get him out!” Daniel yelled at me, struggling to hold down my thrashing, screaming mother. “Claire, cut the ropes!”
I grabbed a sharp carving knife from the kitchen counter and threw myself beside Dad, frantically sawing through the thick cords binding his wrists. The heat was scorching my skin. Part of the ceiling collapsed in a shower of sparks just feet away.
“Got it!” I cried as the ropes snapped.
Dad collapsed forward into my arms, gasping for fresh air. Together, we dragged him out onto the cool grass of the front yard.
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I turned back to the house, screaming for Daniel.
Through the thick smoke of the doorway, Daniel stumbled out, dragging my mother by her arms just as the living room roof caved in with a deafening crash.
