Page 51 of Glass

Distraction.

I use my free hand to pull a mostly-full bottle of liquid fire starter out of my purse. I thumb the cap off with one hand and have already started squeezing the liquid all over the cabinets before Arnoult has time to even think about reacting.

“This is what happens when you think you’re untouchable,” I tell him in a cold voice.

I have no sympathy for the man as he rushes toward the growing fire. One container of liquid fire starter can’t take out the whole floor by itself, but it will cause considerable damage to the cabinets. One of them seems fire-resistant and is slower to damage, but I have faith.

I also have more than one bottle of fire starter.

Looking back, I don’t know exactly what it was that drew me to the bottles in Doc’s RV. After Felix loaded the few things we agreed to take into the small sports car we drove here in, I couldn’t stop staring at the containers. Maybe I worried after one good fight I would be ready to set Felix on fire. Or maybe being around my mate bond made my intuition stronger.

Either way, I’m glad I listened to my gut.

Arnoult scrambles, trying to unhook his computer to drag it to safety. “You stupid girl, security will be up here any minute, and you’ll pay greatly for the damage to the university-owned equipment.”

“Really? Does security have the access code to get into your private lab?” I tilt my head at him, waiting for an answer as I pour out a second bottle and light a new match that I hold up tauntingly for Arnoult to see.

His face pales. A villain’s downfall is always his pride. I counted on it—I was right—and now there’s only one last thing I’m waiting for.

I watch Arnoult’s face carefully for the moment his eyes dart in a new direction. It takes a few minutes, but I inevitably catch it. He looks at the thing most valuable to him in the lab to make sure it’s safe.

I follow his gaze to another bank of sample storage that I missed on the first look around. I light another large fire, practically on top of Arnoult and his computer, to create the distraction I need.

Arnoult’s sleeve catches fire and as he panics, I move.

I pour out my last bottle of liquid fire starter and light three matches for good measure, dropping them one by one around the front of the cabinet. I take a few steps back to watch the fire build, and as I do, something catches my attention. There are bottles on a nearby shelf with warning labels, and the labels indicate the contents are highly flammable.

At this point, I’ve been so reckless I’m not using common sense anymore. I’ve devolved into thinking of nothing but my singular goal of ensuring I’ve destroyed every bit of Arnoult’s work.

I reach for the first flammable bottle. “Don’t!” Arnoult yells at the top of his lungs as my fingers curl around the cool metal container. I can faintly hear liquid sloshing inside. I take one last look at Arnoult—and the horror on his face—before unscrewing the cap and flinging the whole bottle at the burning cabinet.

A roaring sound fills the lab as the fire explodes, expanding the large fire I originally made by tenfold. The heat turns boiling so quickly I have to turn my face away to keep from suffocating in it.

Somewhere around me, Arnoult screams out in agony. Whether the fire has reached him, or if it's the sound of him losing everything… Well, I’m happy either way.

I stumble further away from the worst of the fire, but I can feel myself growing lightheaded. I try to reach out for something to stabilize myself with, but I’m seconds too late. My friend David once chastised me in science class for not being more careful with the unmarked chemicals.

I really should have listened.

I wince as my head hits the side of the table on the way down. My vision swims for a moment, like it did right after the car accident. This time, I can’t blink the fuzziness away. As I start to lose consciousness, I can almost swear I hear Felix calling out to me from far away.

Poppy, what did you do?