Paradise on Fire

Everyone is exhausted; they rest where they are. Jay wakes long enough to say, “You’ve got to fly, Addy. Fly home” (214). Jay is feverish and falls unconscious again. Addy realizes that Jay cannot continue traveling, as he will not survive much longer. She packs a backpack, and DeShon accuses her of leaving them. Nessa pleads with her to wait until a helicopter comes to save them.

Addy tells them that they’ve escaped the fire, but they are difficult to find. If she waits, help may only arrive after Jay has died. This convinces them, and DeShon says that he will make sure Jay does not die. Addy hikes east alone.

Addy admires the waterfall before she hikes downhill carefully. She is low on supplies, and she tries not to worry about Jay, DeShon, or Nessa. Addy feels truly alone in the smoky woods, hardly able to see even with a flashlight. She worries that everyone is gone. Addy wants to quit and go home.

The smoke is so thick that it stings her eyes. She imagines seeing Bibi. The wind changes, and she sees a wooden platform with a pathway.