Leopold only had time for a pained smile at Rose’s answer before the world exploded in flames. In his prone position, he could not help but stare up at the terrified woman pinned to the ceiling. Someone else’s nightmare, he was sure of it, but completely horrifying nonetheless. The cloying scents of smoke and blood assaulted him as he tried to breathe. It was suddenly very difficult to see or move or speak.

He knew that struggling to stand might do more damage than the bullet already had, but staying here would mean certain death. He was just summoning up the courage and proper words to tell his two companions to leave him and run when Sam scooped him up, none too gently. Surrounded by heat and smoke, Leopold’s final thought before he blacked out was nevertheless that he had not failed after all.