Overwhelmed by fear in the smoke-filled underground passage, Saint sees a flickering light ahead and realizes it may be her only way out. The fire that drove her from the barn has spread back toward the wooden house, and the smoke quickly begins to choke her.

Still calling out for Patch, Saint reaches the end of the tunnel and spots a small hopper window above her, its glass painted black except where cracks let in light. Weak and struggling for breath, Saint first fails to pull herself up, then forces herself to try again, bracing her sneakers against the wall.

Using the handle of her slingshot, Saint smashes the glass and wriggles through the opening, cutting herself as she escapes. As she emerges, someone grabs her under the arms and hauls her fully outside. Saint, disoriented and terrified, curses wildly because she does not know who has caught her.

When flames ignite more chemicals and blow out the windows of the house, the danger behind her erupts into the open. At that moment, Saint finally learns that her rescuer is Nix, who holds her and tells her that he has her, marking her survival and rescue from Eli Aaron’s burning underground labyrinth.