Chapter 3

I shrank back in terror, but the searing pain all over my body left me powerless to escape.

Dad walked over, hauled me up ruthlessly, and brutishly shoved me onto a heavy, solid-wood dining chair.

"Since you never learn your lesson, you can stay home and reflect on what you did wrong! You'll stay tied up right here with no food and no water, and you won't be coming to Tommy's birthday party today! We'll settle things properly after I come back from celebrating Tommy's birthday!"

My hands were bound behind the back of the chair, and my legs were lashed securely to the chair legs. Dad tied the rope so tightly that the slightest movement caused it to dig deep into my flesh, making me gasp in pain.

Then, without sparing me even a glance, he turned and took Thomas' hand. "Come on, Tommy. Let's go get your shoes on. We're going to have a big feast today, and there'll even be a three-tier cake!"

"Coming, Daddy!" Thomas chirped in a sweet, sugary voice before turning to shoot me a provocative, triumphant look.

Halfway to the door, he paused, as if remembering something. Then, he turned back, deliberately knocked over the glass of water on the table, and sauntered off.

The sound of water dripping onto the plastic power strip echoed endlessly in the empty living room.

Tied to the chair less than two yards away from that power strip, I stared at the spreading puddle of water. Out of nowhere, a memory flashed in my mind. It was one of a firefighter giving a talk at school.

"Children, remember, water conducts electricity. Never let water touch a live socket, or it can cause a short circuit and start a huge fire..."

Fire! The word slammed into my nerves like a sledgehammer.

"Help! Dad! Dad, come back!" I screamed with every ounce of strength I had, but the thick security door blocked out every sound.

I began to struggle frantically, my wrists and ankles rubbing violently against the coarse nylon rope. My skin quickly tore open, and blood seeped out, staining the rope red.

But Dad had tied the knots too tightly. The fixed knots were pretty much impossible to undo. So, dragging the heavy wooden chair with me, I could only wriggle in place like a desperate insect, trying to move away from the power strip.

The plastic casing of the power strip began to emit a pungent burning smell. Then came a dull bang as a bright yellow flame burst out.

The flames quickly ignited the highly flammable wool rug under the coffee table, and in an instant, the flames spread, quickly devouring everything around it.

Before long, thick smoke began to rise, and black fumes quickly filled the entire living room.

I coughed violently from the smoke. Every breath felt like I was inhaling knives. My lungs burned with a tearing pain.

As the fire raged on, the heat scorched my skin.

I watched as flames crept up the curtains, up the couch, and finally, toward the chair I was bound to. But the rope binding me remained completely unmoved.

"Dad... Dad..." I murmured in despair. The tears at the corners of my eyes evaporated the moment they formed due to the intense heat.

I watched as the flames licked at my feet, which were still tightly bound. The excruciating pain of burning flesh instantly overwhelmed all my senses.

The flames swallowed my vision, and the agony made me lose the ability to think. In the final moment before my consciousness faded, I thought I heard Thomas' giggles.

It was so hot, and it hurt so bad. Dad, it really hurt…