Paradise on Fire

Addy leads them down the hill using the compass until daybreak, but everyone is exhausted. Addy falls, hurting her chin and losing the compass. The group rests, holding onto each other so that they do not fall down the steep hill.

Addy has a nightmare and wakes screaming “Adaugo.” DeShon asks who that is, and she tells them that it’s her name, which she has not told them because it makes her feel different. They talk about the meaning of her name. They feel like they might be safe, but then the fire reaches the mountainside, and they race to get down to the stream before the fire cuts off their escape. Addy gets burned on her arm while keeping Nessa from falling. They make it to the stream, but the smoke is heavy. Addy is injured and feels defeated.

Jay uses the MedKit to treat the burn on Addy’s arm. Jay took a first-aid class at the Y after his brother died. The group is exhausted and rests by the water. They share the water they have, discussing what could have happened to the others and Paradise Ranch. They share a protein bar, and Jay treats DeShon’s sprained ankle, but they cannot wait long.

There is a helicopter above, but the smoke is too thick to allow them to be seen. They agree to go downstream to town. Addy tells them that Leo will look for them, but DeShon is bitter that Leo brought them there. He calms down, but Nessa wonders if they should have stayed with Dylan and Jamie. Nessa asks Addy if she thinks the other group survived, and Addy says she does not know. Jay says that he is glad he followed Addy, and DeShon agrees.

They follow the stream, but it is uncomfortable. They walk for ages, and Addy realizes that if they do not cross the stream, the fire will catch up to them. Addy is the only one of the four who can swim at all, and they are apprehensive about trying to cross the stream.

Addy measures the depth of the stream using a rope and a blue latex glove, and when they find a shallower area, they cross. While Jay is comforting Nessa, he falls over and is pulled downstream. Addy runs faster than she ever has to keep up with Jay. She throws a rope to him, which he catches. When DeShon and Nessa catch up, they help pull him to shore.

Jay is barely conscious, is freezing, and has a severe cut and possible internal bleeding. Addy sanitizes his cut, and when she realizes that the blankets they have will not be enough, they reluctantly start a fire.

Jay is unconscious and feverish. While DeShon and Nessa doze, Addy worries. They have found the second backpack, but it is soaked, so they hang the clothes to dry. Addy considers the topography of the area and knows that they are not safe, as it is only a matter of time before the fire gets to that side of the mountain. She wonders, “[D]id I lead us into a dead end?” (201).

Addy insists that they leave, waking the others up. Both DeShon and Nessa tell her that they shouldn’t leave because Jay is still severely injured and a helicopter will find them. Addy points out that because there is still smoke, the fire is close and will get to them. She tells them that Jay will die if they stay, and DeShon has the idea to build a raft.

Nessa and Jay ride on the raft while DeShon and Addy propel it through the water. Addy insists that they keep going until there is only blue sky. As they reach clear sky, they approach a waterfall. They kick with all their might to get the raft to the shore before reaching the waterfall. They reach the shore just in time. Jay remains unconscious.