The Lying Game

Isa awakens to the voices of Kate and Luc overhead in Kate’s room. Isa hears Kate sobbing, asking if Luc wanted to punish her. Luc responds that “it wasn’t supposed to be like this” (342). Isa wakes Fatima and the two eavesdrop. Luc tells Kate that he always loved her, that she was the only person he loved, and he would have “done anything” to be with her (343). Kate tearfully replies that Luc should have trusted her and waited. Isa and Fatima hear a crash and a shout and think Kate is in danger. They wake Thea. Isa thinks they have perhaps misinterpreted the situation. They then hear another crash and a scream. Isa smells burning paraffin and hears the crackling of fire as Kate runs downstairs.

Kate shouts at them to get out of the Tide Mill: The Mill is on fire due to a broken lamp. Isa rushes upstairs for Freya, but the smoke is already thick, and burning drops of paraffin fall through the floorboards onto her arms. Luc stops her from going farther. Isa shouts that Freya is in Luc’s room and tries to push past him. Behind Luc, the hallway fills with flames.