I didn’t think. I didn’t plan.
My body surged forward on pure fury.
My fingers wrapped around her throat, tightening before my mind could register what I was doing. Rage thundered through me so violently it stole my breath, drowned out reason, drowned out fear.
The small black bottle slipped from Nina’s grasp and hit the floor with a hollow clink. The cap rolled once.
Then—
The smell detonated.
Gasoline.
Sharp and vicious, tearing through the air like a blade. It burned my nostrils, clawed down my throat, spread across the room in an instant like something alive and hungry.
We crashed into each other—hands shoving, nails tearing, bodies slamming into furniture. She kicked wildly, heel striking metal. Maybe a lighter. Maybe stone against steel.
Whatever it was, it was enough.
The fire didn’t pause.
Flames erupted violently, racing up the curtains, leaping along the walls as if they’d been waiting for an excuse. Heat slammed into my skin. Smoke poured in thick and black, devouring the room.
My body failed me.
Still weak. Still drained.