The flames erupted almost instantaneously.
Katelyn was taken aback by the sudden blaze. Alarmingly, the fire started directly on her dress.
“How did it suddenly catch fire?”
There was no time to ponder as Katelyn frantically attempted to smother the flames engulfing her dress, to no avail.
Samuel quickly doused her with water, but it barely made a difference.
Katelyn’s pupils dilated as the fire seemed alive, its flames voracious. She felt an acute stinging and burning on her skin.
“Quick, remove the dress! Something’s not right with it!” Vincent commanded urgently.
Beneath the dress, Katelyn was only in her undergarments. Despite the potential embarrassment, the severity of the situation forced her to clumsily strip off the dress and throw it out of the car window.
The fire had flared up so rapidly that, despite her quick actions, Katelyn suffered extensive burns on her skin, and some of her hair was singed.
Her heart raced as she took deep breaths.
Outside the car, Samuel had stamped out the last of the flames.
With the immediate danger over, a cool breeze flowed through the window, making Katelyn acutely aware of her scant attire.
Suddenly, a large suit jacket was draped over her, offering coverage and warmth.
Vincent averted his gaze and said softly but firmly, “I’ll have Samuel fetch you a new outfit and take you to the hospital for a check-up.” His prompt and considerate response slightly steadied Katelyn’s rattled nerves.
“Thank you,” she said, reclining in her seat.
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Vincent’s jacket was ample enough to envelop her completely, and she drew her legs under it for additional warmth.
She bit her lip, eyeing the charred remains of her dress. “Why did the dress suddenly catch fire?” she mused aloud.
Nothing unusual had occurred in the car, and Vincent was not a smoker. The fire had seemed to spring from nowhere.
After a pause, Vincent said, “There must have been something on the dress. Likely white phosphorus. Didn’t you mention smelling chemicals just before the fire started?” This text is hosted at find?novel.net
His words triggered a realization in Katelyn. White phosphorus, known for its extremely low ignition point, did not require an open flame to catch fire. It usually ignited spontaneously when the temperature reached its threshold. This substance was often used in stage pyrotechnics for dramatic effects and was also accessible in everyday life, available in many places.
Had her reaction been slower, the dress could have set the entire car ablaze.
Katelyn’s fists clenched, determination clear in her eyes. “This was a deliberate attack. It was targeted at me.”
Vincent’s gaze sharpened, reflecting a mix of concern and resolve. “Did you notice anyone messing with your dress?”
The fact that the dress hadn’t ignited during the special dancing activity but had only caught fire afterwards hinted that someone had applied the white phosphorus discreetly after the event.
Katelyn thought back through the evening’s events. The dress, provided by the event organizers, had been randomly selected by each guest in the backstage changing area. They all looked the same, differing only in size. She hadn’t removed it since putting it on.
After a moment’s hesitation, she slowly shook her head. “No, I didn’t see anyone near enough to tamper with it without me noticing.”
Vincent’s tone was grave. “We’ll delve deeper into this later. Right now, let’s get you to the hospital.”
Samuel returned shortly with a new dress from a nearby mall, transforming their drive home into a trip to the hospital.
At the hospital, Katelyn underwent a comprehensive check-up. She had moderate burns on her arm and a portion of her back, and a significant part of her hair had also been affected.
Vincent watched intently as the doctors treated her, his expression unreadable, shadowed by dark thoughts. He pulled Samuel aside and quietly issued some instructions, which Samuel promptly went to execute.
By the time Katelyn’s treatment concluded, Samuel had already returned.
“Bad news, Mr. Adams. The person is dead!”
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