It was all going well until we set the house on fire.

Sure, we'd left (or more accurately, fallen out of) our iron circle, and the ghost was attacking while we fumbled for our rapiers. But we'd uncovered the Source, and the only thing left to do was seal it.

I was grasping at my rapier as the ghost drew nearer. My coat was tangled in my belt, and I cursed my amazing fashion sense. Just as I was desperately trying to think of a way to avoid the ghost-though my chanced looked slim-Lucy lobbed a canister of Greek Fire at the ghost above my head. I dived out of the way just in time, but I still felt the ends of my hair being singed.

The ghost girl screamed and the wind increased; books, papers, and flames whirled around me. Lucy's flare had managed to set the study on fire.

I quickly stood up and finally managed to grab my rapier. "Lucy!" I yelled, hoping she could hear me through the wind. "Plan E! We follow Plan E!" I only hoped she remembered what Plan E was, as I frequently caught her and George dozing off while I explained my strategies. The flames were growing, and I couldn't see her well enough through the smoke to know if she was doing as I asked.

"Lockwood!" I heard Lucy's voice call faintly through the chaos. "The door-"

"No time!" I screamed back, coughing as smoke entered my lungs. "I'll draw her off! You do the Source!" Hoping Lucy followed my instruction, something she was notoriously bad at, I turned to face the ghost girl. Ignoring the debris battering me from all sides, I advanced, swinging my rapier. The Visitor rushed at me, and I slashed upward, darting to the side. Her long hair blended with the smoke and the misty tendrils that were her arms reached toward me. Swinging my sword, I slowly but surely led the ghost away from the chimney. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lucy fighting her way towards the broken wall.

I attacked and parried, wind howling in my ears, keeping the ghost girl at bay but distracted. I was good, but she was a strong Type Two, and the house was burning around me.

Suddenly, the Visitor whirled toward the chimney, where I saw Lucy had reached the Source. She stared at it, but made no move to drape her net around the rotting form. And the ghost was close behind, reaching for Lucy as if she wanted to embrace her.

"Lucy!" I screamed, leaping toward them, but I was too far away. My heart stopped, but seemingly at the last second Lucy managed to throw the net over the girl.

Abruptly, the wind stopped. The ghost froze in midair, then seemed to fold in on herself, winking out of sight.

I glanced down and almost gasped in shock. The fingers on my left hand were as blue as the sky and my hand was swelling. I'd been ghost touched. The hand was numb, but I knew I'd die before tomorrow if I didn't get medical help, and quickly.

I pushed all thoughts of my injury out of my mind. The ghost may have been gone, but we were still in danger. The fire raged on, strong as ever, and I scanned the room for an exit. The open window seemed to be our only hope. I waved urgently to Lucy, pointing to the window, and she nodded. With that, I maneuvered my way through the destroyed study toward the window.

As soon as I reached it, I tried to pull it open. No luck. Since we had already set the house on fire, I figured that a little more property damage didn't matter, and I kicked the glass. This time the window smashed open.

Taking a gulp of fresh air, I turned to Lucy. "You all right?" I asked, scanning her for injuries. "Something happen by the hole?"

"No. Nothing. I'm fine." She smiled. "Well, another case solved."

I didn't quite believe her, but seeing as we were in a burning building, I let it go for the moment. "Yes. Won't Mrs. Hope be pleased? True, her house will have burned down, but at least it's ghost free." I smiled back. "So…"

"So…" She repeated, staring out the window warily.

"It'll be fine," I said trying to convince myself as much as her. "I'm almost sure there are some whopping bushes down there."

"Good."

"That and a concrete patio." I patted her arm reassuringly with my good hand, careful to conceal the other one. My fingers were the size of hot dogs, but I kept it behind my back. No need to worry Lucy. "Come on, Lucy. Turn and drop. It's not like we have a choice."

I watched indecision flicker across her face, but finally she sighed. "Okay. If you say so."

I grinned down at her. "In six months, when have I ever let you down?"

She grinned back and opened her mouth to reply when the ceiling in the study collapsed with a deafening crash. Burning wood and chunks of plaster rained around u.s I watched numbly as Lucy lurched forward, and as if in slow motion, I lunged toward her. My hand closed on thin air and I too was falling. Our eyes met, Lucy's huge brown orbs wide and terrified, before gravity took over and the ground rushed toward us.