Reviews, reviews! Oh how I love reviews! The best Christmas present ever! Anyway, keep them coming!

blueacorn5- Thanks for your ideas for this chapter!

winniethepooh (loves bu- Thanks. I'd rather not be crushed. And Lemony won't die… at least, not yet. Interesting name. How did you come up with it?

ASOUEFan- Hmm… maybe I will use more characters. Thanks for the review and the suggestions!

Peaches Garcia- Thanks a lot! Don't worry, I'll update soon.

Should I name the chapters? I'm not sure... my sister says no. What do you think?

Everyone, I might not update for a while. You know…exams…Christmas…New Year…oh well, you get it. Please be patient!

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Except my blue commonplace book. Lemony Snicket and Daniel Handler own all the good stuff, like the characters, the ideas, the books, and everything else. Phooey.

Lemony awoke to a very familiar smell. He was drowsy and didn't realize what it meant until he felt the heat. Lemony's eyes snapped open and his heart skipped a beat as he realized what the smell was. Smoke.

Tendrils of the deadly substance were curling all around the chair he was tied to. Lemony could see the flames dancing in the corner. The fire was undoubtedly started by Olaf. It was spreading quickly, crawling up the wooden walls.

Lemony struggled against his bonds, but the rope was tied too tight. How was he going to escape? Lemony rocked the chair back and forth in an effort to move away from the flames. A particularly strong rock tipped the chair over backwards in one swift motion.

Lemony landed on the concrete floor with a sickening crack. As soon as the dust clouds had cleared, Lemony realized his hands were free. The spindly chair had broken as a result of the fall. Unfortunately, so had Lemony's wrist.

He winced as he carefully stood up and took the ropes off his hands. Coughing in the ash-filled air, Lemony searched the small room for a way out. There was no furniture other than the chair, and no windows. A small light bulb on the ceiling and the door were the only other aspects of the room.

Lemony ran over to the door and jiggled the handle. It was locked. He quickly searched his pockets with his uninjured hand. Lemony had several items including a bubble gum wrapper, a broken pencil, a small pad of paper, a hairpin, and a couple of coins. How could he use such a meager selection to escape?

Suddenly it came to him. He could use the hairpin to pick the lock on the door and get out! He reached into his pocket and pulled out the hairpin. It was emerald green and had a tiny clear jewel that reflected the light encrusted on the top.

Lemony remembered where he had found it… Beatrice had worn it in her hair at the Masked Ball. It was a perfect match with the dragonfly costume she had worn. The hairpin had fallen out and landed on the veranda, where Lemony had picked it up as the guards whisked him away.

Lemony was torn between saving his life and saving one of his last mementos of the woman he loved. Surely he could find another way to escape? But Lemony knew the hairpin was his only chance. He slid to the floor, his back pressed against the wall, staring at the hairpin. Memories of a happy time long ago flooded his head and blocked all thoughts of escape.

Finally the heat of the fire snapped Lemony out of it. He got up and stuck the hairpin in the keyhole. While he wiggled it around inside, Lemony could feel tears running down his face. He heard a satisfying click, and Lemony opened the door. The hairpin was bent all out of shape and the jewel had fallen out. But Lemony was free.

He walked out into the dark hallway, illuminated by the light from the flames. In his panicked and sorrowful state, which in this case does not mean "Alabama or Hawaii", but "a distressed and depressed mood", Lemony forgot to close the door behind him.

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Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanza! Happy New Year!