Chapter 1

"Livia, get out of the house—the fire's coming!"

By the time Mom called, the last light of sunset was fading.

I looked out the window. Flames were raging not far away, thick black smoke filled the sky, and ash drifted past on the wind.

My textbook still lay open on the desk, its pages so covered in soot I couldn't make out the words.

I gripped the receiver and fought back tears. "Mom, where are you? There's black smoke everywhere outside..."

Mom was silent for a moment.

I heard people shouting and car horns blaring on her end of the line.

As I looked around the silent house, panic suddenly gripped me.

Every door here had always been shut to me.

I was only allowed in three places: the hallway, the bathroom, and the storage room where I slept.

If I ever opened another door without permission, Mom wouldn't let me eat for a whole day.

Even on Christmas, with the temperature below freezing, all I could do was lean against the cold door and listen to them laughing and celebrating on the other side.

I huddled by the thin strip of firelight under the door and quietly picked at the cold spaghetti on my plate.

But this time, the will to survive was stronger than my fear. For the first time, I pushed open the doors I'd never been allowed to open.

Every room was empty. Vesper's toys, usually scattered everywhere, were gone too. It looked as though someone had ransacked the house.

Even the three new goldfish in the tank on the patio were gone.

I froze.

"Don't worry about us. Just get yourself out of there now!"

Mom instinctively dodged my question, a hint of guilt in her voice.

My vision swam, and I sank to the floor as a terrible thought hit me.

No! It can't be...

Mom and Dad would never abandon me.

I squeezed my skinny little body under the desk and hugged a family photo to my chest.

It was the only picture of Mom, Dad, and me together.

I clutched the receiver like a lifeline, my voice choked with tears. "Mom, Dad, the wind is so hot, and smoke is filling the house. Where are you?

"I'm so scared. Can you please come save me? Take me with you..."

No one answered me.

A moment later, I heard Vesper cheer. "Mom, Dad, look! The road's open up ahead!"

I went still. The room spun, and it felt as if the whole world was leaving me behind.

The wildfire was coming, and my mom and dad had fled with my adopted sister.

They'd taken everything they owned. They hadn't even forgotten Vesper's three new goldfish. They'd only forgotten me.

"Why?"

I burst into tears.

I'd been so good.

Ever since Mom and Dad brought Vesper home, they'd only taken family photos with her and wouldn't even let me call them Mom and Dad in front of her.

Once, I'd tried crying and throwing a fit the way Vesper did.

But Mom slapped me so hard I hit the floor.

"Livia, if you keep acting like this, you can get out of this house!

"Vesper's family is gone. You're her big sister. Instead of loving her, you're fighting her for attention. I'm so disappointed in you."

After that, I stopped fighting for anything. I obeyed them and gave everything to Vesper.

Then why don't Mom and Dad want me anymore?

Dad's angry voice came through. "Oh, for God's sake! We shouted for you before we left, but you just lay there in bed playing dead. Now you're blaming us?"

I cried even harder.

Two days earlier, Vesper had split my head open with a toy, and I'd bled a lot.

That morning, Mom had given me a few pills and said I'd be fine after a nap.

I'd been drifting in and out of sleep ever since and had only just come to.

I opened my mouth to explain, but Mom cut me off. "Livia, can you grow up a little? What good will crying do? You still have a little time before the fire gets there. Run, now.

"Once you're somewhere safe, we'll come get you..."

Krrzzt.

Before Mom could finish, the phone and the lights cut out at the same time.

I screamed in fright, turned, and ran to the window.

The power was out.

The whole house went dark. Only the blinding glow of the fire outside remained.

The fire was already right below me!

Thick black smoke stung my nose as it poured into the room.

I coughed, cried, and shouted out the window for help. I refused to give up.

As I watched the stream of cars fleeing the city, I searched for ours, desperate to see it turn around and fight its way back through the traffic for me.

But all I heard was the crackle of the fire consuming everything.

It had all been wishful thinking.

The smoke thickened. I slid down from the window and huddled on the floor, hugging my knees.

I fought down my panic and made myself go over the wildfire safety tips I'd overheard through the door, again and again.

Vesper always hated that PSA when it came on TV, but now it was the only advice I had.

Fire crept into my room like a monster ready to swallow me whole.

No, I can't let that happen!

I steadied my trembling legs, went back to my room for my blanket, and ran through the dark to the bathroom.

It was my only hope of surviving!

The flames outside climbed higher and higher until they swallowed the whole house.