The most I could do was keep struggling and flailing. I did have some self-defense training, after all. I’d learned to use weapons and punch over the years. I’d nailed Niphon pretty good at Christmas. Unfortunately, what I could do now was limited with Greg on me like this. He simply outweighed me. Still, my efforts must have proven annoying because Greg growled and grabbed both my arms in an attempt to flip me over. I yelled profanities at him and got another knee-jab in, close to his groin but not close enough.

And that’s when it happened.

The smell hit me first. An overwhelming and suffocating odor of natural gas. I stopped struggling for half a second. I didn’t need to be human to know that meant trouble.

Before I could process that further, the kitchen exploded into flames.

Fire expanded out into the living room. It didn’t quite reach us, but I think Greg must have still gotten burned because he screamed in pain and released his hold on me. His body had shielded the worst from me, and mostly all I felt was a rolling wave of heat and air.

I didn’t bother to think or question anything. Greg had released me in his confusion, and I bolted. I scrambled from the couch and ran out the front door, away from the fire. Away from Greg.

I drove off as fast as I could, my Passat’s tires squealing on the pavement. Sweat poured off me, and my hands could barely grip the steering wheel through their shaking. About a mile away, I heard the singing of sirens, but I couldn’t spare a thought for what had happened. I couldn’t think about whether Greg had made it out or not. I couldn’t think about how a gas leak had miraculously saved me.

The only thing I could think about now was getting away and getting to safety.

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Instinct made me drive back to Queen Anne. I operated on autopilot, my mind blank. It was only when I’d parked and gotten out of the car that my senses slowly began to return to me. Still, I tried my best to stay numb, to not think about anything right away. My stomach was growling, so I decided to focus on basic needs. I walked over to a Thai restaurant between my apartment and the bookstore, seeking the comfort of a corner table and green curry. Once I was settled, there was no avoiding it.

What had happened back there? Part of me could still feel Greg’s hands on me, still feel the sickening sensation of being utterly and completely helpless. But the rest of me was slowly starting to analyze the stove exploding.