Bill couldn't hear the spell that was cast or see if there were any results. The smoke was too thick and his head was already spinning as he struggled to keep his feet. It would be so much easier just to go to sleep...
Later, he thought the only thing that had kept him from giving up was the memory of his mother's grief-stricken face, when he'd found her standing over Fred's body. He couldn't do that to her. Couldn't let her lose another son. He only had to hold out long enough for whoever was down below to climb up to the roof. Unless the fire destroyed the chair before they could get to him. Tar was not a slow burner. He could feel the heat of the flames under him, licking at his feet.