The next sentence introduces some dialogue.
'Let me do that,' offered Harry, and he took the matches from her.
Notice there’s less of that sense of decay here; Harry is taking action, trying to help, and this makes us feel a little more normal and safe (a nice contrast to how Bathilda’s house makes us feel).
“How about my phone?” suggested Gabriela, as she took it from her back pocket.
“It would be wiser to go below decks, ma’am,” said Nelson, and he turned to the stairs.
“Let me help you,” I whispered, and I took the man’s elbow.
