The Blinding Finale?

A reassembled Miele blinked one eye, then the other, then, slowly, blinked both together. She reached up and rubbed her jaw, still sore from the gag. The Magician touched her shoulder, "How are you feeling, my dear?"

"Err, a little, um..."

"Disoriented? Yes, that's only to be expected, but everything will be fine, shortly." He smiled. "However, since I'm down to only a single assistant, I'm afraid I'll need your help for just a little longer. Will that be all right?"

"Um, sure..." the slight Chinese girl said, as Laurel wheeled out a cloth-covered box behind her.

"Don't worry, Miele, you won't be the assistant this time. But I do need you to help me by examining the cabinet." The Magician pulled the cloth off, to reveal a long box on legs. It was clear, and inside the bottom, a metal tube was coiled. The other end was connected to a canister outside the box.

"It's Pyrex, Miele- I find it's the only material durable enough for what comes next. Could you make sure it's solid and there are no trap doors- and that the latches are secure?"

Miele examined the box, and gave her approval. Laurel stepped forward from the side of the stage, dressed in a short, black silk robe. She untied the belt, shrugged it off, and held it out for Miele to take, then stood, naked, before the audience, as the Magician opened the cabinet.

"Laurel, would you be so kind?" the Magician asked, offering his hand. She stepped forward, and he helped her into the cabinet. She sat for a moment, took a breath, and reclined. The Magician handed Miele some padlocks, and closed the lid. "Miele, please, if you would, lock the cabinet and make sure it's secure."

The volunteer locked the lid. Laurel pushed against it a few times, showing she couldn't move. "If you would wait in the wings, Miele, I may need you again in a bit."

The Magician turned to the audience, stepping to the side of the cabinet. "As you can see, Laurel has been locked into this cabinet. There is no way for her to escape." He reached down to the cannister, turned a valve fully open. "The container is filling with my own special mix of gases- don't fear, it's mostly air tight. And you shall watch the fate of my final assistant, without any covers or curtains." The Magician reached over, and touched a button. "This, of course, will activate a spark generator inside the cabinet, and soon we shall see, is my assistant fireproof?" He pressed the button and stood back.

Instantly, the container was filled with a blinding, bright flame. Within could be seen Laurel's outline, writhing in the fire, which grew even brighter. Finally, the Magician stepped forwards, closed the valve, and the fire went out, leaving only black smoke. The Magician pressed another button, and a fan started to pull the smoke from the cabinet. Quickly, a form became visible.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the not-so-fireproof Laurel!" The Magician waved as the form was revealed to be her charred, blackened skeleton.

The curtain fell, leaving the shocked audience to sit in unbelieving silence, until, one row at a time, the ushers motioned them to leave...