Chapter 318


    Chapter 318


    I didn’t necessanly have to personally pick up Hannah’s parents, but I wanted to see where Oscar grew


    up.


    At night, I slept in his room. It was clean and simple, with a few photos of Oscar from his student days. I


    stared at these pictures for a long time as my eyes got all misty


    That night, I dreamed of Oscar He was working part time in a bar, and Lasked him ‘Oscar, how have


    you been?”


    Oscar gave me a bright and cheerful smile, his voice still clear “Ms. Finch, I’m doing alright. There’s no


    need to worry about me


    When I woke up. I found my pillow wet with tears, and outside the door, I heard the voice of Oscar’s


    mother, Mia Morse. ‘Ms. Finch, time for breakfast”


    “Ainight” I replied and got up


    I had nned to leave after breakfast, but before I could, someone came to see Oscars father, Henry


    Morse, to discuss somend sale matters I didn’t understand the details, so I had to wait.


    I ended up waiting all day, so my n to return to Rosemont was dyed by another day.


    That night, something unexpected happened.


    I couldn’t sleep due to the things on my mind, and Neil called. I didn’t reject the call and hastily picked


    up.


    “Irene, where are you? How can you go so far all by yourself? The voice on the other end was Faith


    Whitmore’s She sounded worried but also a little bit happy. “I’m d you’re still willing to pick up Neil’s


    calls.”


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    “Maam, I’m fine. I’m here to fetch Oscar’s parents.” I was a bit sleepy, but this call woke me up, and


    soon my eyes were wide open as I listened to Faith’s voice.


    How could Faith be calling me from Neil’s phone?


    Before I could think of what to say, Faith spoke again. “Trene, I’mpletely against Neil and Bonnie


    dating. I just gave him a piece of my mind today. If he insists on being with Bonnie, I’ll cut him off


    completely! From now on, I’ll treat you like my own daughter. Daughters are better than sons!”


    If Neil were here, he’d probably feel super awkward.


    “Ma’am, please don’t say that. These are Neil’s choices, and he and I really aren’t suitable” I tried to


    soothe Faith.


    “You’re the best match for him. He just doesn’t appreciate you Irene, if you return to Sapphire River


    Community, let me know. I’lle to see you I heard your mother woke up, so I want to visit her Faith


    rushed through her sentences, as if she were afraid that I’d reject her.


    I figured my mom wouldn’t want to see Faith, so I had to tactfully refuse. “Maam, my mom needs to rest


    for now, and I don’t want her to know about certain unpleasant things so soon. Once she’s better, Ill


    invite you over for dinner, okay?”


    Faith was silent for a while and then sighed. I could hear her disappointment.


    “Alright, I wait for you Faith finally said, resignedly.


    I was about to hang up when Neil’s voice came through. “When are youing back?”


    I nced at the time on my phone. It was already half past midnight. Even if I set off early in the


    morning, I’d only reach homete at night


    “Late tomorrow night” I replied. Just as I finished speaking, I heard what seemed like footsteps outside


    my window. I thought it was Henry and Mia, so I didn’t give it much thought


    Tl be waiting for you at Sapphire River Community Neil spoke in a low voice, as if he were afraid that


    Faith would hear


    I felt a bit awkward, as if the vi in Sapphire River Community had be a secret rendezvous spot


    for Neil and me with no other purpose


    I could tell from Neil’s voice that he seemed to want to tell me something he couldn’t say over the


    phone.


    Just as I was figuring out how to respond, I suddenly smelled smoke wafting in through the window


    gap.


    I turned my head to look outside again and saw flickers of fire


    Panic set in, and I quickly jumped off the bed, flung open the window, and saw that the Morse family’s


    yard was already aze.


    How could there be a fire here? The smoke made me cough, and Neil asked. “What’s happening?”


    “Fire” I quickly replied and hung up, immediately dialing the fire department


    I dashed out of my room Bailey lived next door, and Henry and Mia were in the room opposite mine, but


    they were all sound asleep and didn’t seem to have noticed the fire


    I ran to Bailey’s door and banged on it frantically while yelling towards the Morse parents’ room. “Fire


    Fire! Wake up!*


    It took a minute for Bailey to finally open his door in a panic. He looked at the fire in the yard, clearly in


    disbelief.


    The yard was covered with a ss roof, so the smoke couldn’t escape, and my throat was already


    feeling unconfortable. But Henry and Mia still hadn’t woken up.


    Bailey ran over and kicked their door, and they finally woke up.


    “What’s happening? What’s happening?!” Henry shouted in panic. “Fire! Help!”


    Normally, if there was a fire, shouting for help would get the neighbors toe over. But tonight, the


    surroundings were eerily quiet, so no one came to help.


    Henry then ran to open the yard gate, only to find it locked from the outside!


    We were now trapped in this yard, which was like a furnace. Our lives were in danger.


    I called the fire department again, and their reply sent chills down my spine. “A big truck is blocking the


    road; we can’t contact the driver, and this is the only way…”


    They then told me some self protection measures, but the temperature was rising and the smoke was


    getting thicker. I hung up, grabbed Bailey and Mia’s hands, and ran towards Oscar’s room, with Henry


    following suit.


    There was an en suite in the room, so I quickly found some clothes and a towel, soaked them under


    the tap, and stuffed them in all the cracks in the door and windows. All that was left to do was wait for


    help.


    I asked Henry to call the neighbors, only to find out there was a promotion going on at a night market


    nearby. Everyone who showed up would get fifty bucks.


    Suddenly, it all clicked. This was too much of a coincidence. I had a feeling someone had deliberately


    set the fire and cut off all escape routes.


    The room was getting hotter and hotter, and there was no one to rescue us. In this critical moment, the


    image of Neil popped into my mind.


    But he was miles away; how could he possibly show up?


    “Irene!”


    Through the roaring mes, I suddenly heard Neil’s voice, filled with urgency and anger. “Answer me!”


    How could Neil be here? I thought I was hallucinating. Was this some kind of deathbed illusion?


    The door in front of me waspletely consumed by the fire. I took a couple of steps back as the door


    teetered on the brink of copse.


    “Neil, I…” I was about to say something but stopped myself. If Neil were to rush in now, he’d definitely


    be in grave danger. Getting seriously burned by the mes would be inevitable.