Chapter 31

Chapter 31
THE CRASH IN THE DARK

Point of View: Luna Hart

My head feels like I hit it hard, and everything is dark. As I blink my eyes open, Mia's cruel, icy chuckle reverberates in my ears. The automobile is tilted, with branches sticking through the damaged glass and the front end smashing into a tree. With her head resting on the seat and a little blood on her face, my mom is slouched beside me. Mr. Cole is in the front, his face pallid, his hands motionless on the steering wheel. I feel like my stomach is about to explode from the tight twisting. I am Luna Hart, the missing girl from Hart Global, and I will no longer keep my secret. However, my closest buddy Mia went rogue, writing about a "real boss" and now laughing as our automobile crashes. Behind us, the dark automobile that struck us is silent, its lights out.

"Mom!" I shake her arm and mumble. My hands are chilly, my voice faltering. Her eyelids flicker open as she moans.

She mumbles, "Luna?" and touches her head. "Are you alright?"

My throat tightens as I nod. Indeed. However, we crashed.

Mr. Cole turns, perspiring. "Are you both okay?" he says in a harsh voice. His door is stuck because the tree is pinning it when he attempts to open it. "We must leave."

I turn to see the door of the black automobile slowly opening. Mia emerges like a shadow, her face illuminated by the moon, her grin misplaced. My heart beats quickly. I point and mutter, "She's coming."

Mr. Cole stares with wide eyes. He kicks his window, saying, "Stay low." Although it splits, the glass does not shatter. He kicks harder this time, shattering it, glass raining down.

With unsteady hands, my mother unbuckles me. She urges me to go near Mr. Cole's seat and adds, "Climb out." I sneak through the smashed glass and crawl across, my knees scratching the seat. My face stings from the chilly night air. My mom's legs are shaky as she lands, but Mr. Cole aids her.

Branches scrape my arms as we dash into the forest. Mia's chuckle pierces the darkness as her footsteps crunch behind her. "Luna!" she yells in a harsh tone. "You can't hide!"

With rapid breathing, my mother draws me very close. "Don't stop," she murmurs. The bark of a large tree is scratchy on my back as we hide behind it. Mr. Cole squats beside us, looking about in the shadows.

When the footsteps halt, Mia's voice re-emerges, this time closer. She speaks slowly as she adds, "I know you're here." "Luna, the boss wants you."

My stomach aches. The manager? My mom concealed someone in my family, according to Mia. Her face is pallid in the moonlight as I gaze at her. "Who is she referring to?" I mumble.

With tears in her eyes, my mother shakes her head. "I'm not sure," she adds in a low voice. "I assumed it was finished."

My shoulder is touched by Mr. Cole. His voice is low as he continues, "We'll figure it out." "But we're on the move now."

My feet slide on the damp leaves as we stealthily move through the woods. The black limbs of the forest break underneath us. My heart continues to race even as Mia's voice wanes. The moon is shining above as we come to a dusty road. Mr. Cole's fingers move quickly as he takes out his phone. His expression is tense as he replies, "No signal." "We continue to move."

My mom's hand is firm in mine as we walk quickly, my legs hurting. There are no lights, no automobiles, and the road is silent. The photo of me, my mother, and Ms. Linda within my locket feels heavy as it bounces against my chest. I feel a burning pain at Mia's treachery. Could she?

We discover a little barn with a creaking door. It smells like dust and hay inside. Our breaths are loud as we shelter beneath bales. My mother gives me a tender embrace. She murmurs, "For now, we're safe."

I twist my stomach, yet I nod. Secure? Mia out there? With a solemn expression, Mr. Cole peers out the door. He closes it by saying, "No one followed."

The hay prickles under me as we sit in the dark. My mother softly speaks while stroking my hair. "I apologize, Luna," she says. "I ought to have explained everything to you."

"How about?" I inquire in a low voice.

She breathes deeply. "The sister of your father. Not Victoria. One more. She was dangerous. I kept her hidden from you.

My throat tightens as I nod. "Is she in charge?"

My mother becomes teary-eyed. "Perhaps. I'm not sure.

Beside us, Mr. Cole speaks quietly. "We'll track her down. Put an end to this.

My heart is heavy, yet I nod. I can't get Mia's face and her cruel grin out of my brain. With the exception of crickets outside, the barn is silent while we wait. I resist sleep even when my eyelids droop. I can't allow the monster to track us down.

As morning arrives, light seeps through the wood's crevices. My mother's head rests on a bale while she sleeps. Mr. Cole is awake and keeping an eye on the door. He stands and declares, "We need food." "I'll go check out."

My stomach rumbles as I nod. With the creak of the door, he sneaks out. With weary eyelids, my mother awakens. She gives me a hug and says, "He'll be back."

Now that the barn is heated, we wait. Mr. Cole returns with red-stained hands and berries from a shrub. He hands them to us and says, "Eat these."

My stomach aches even though the berries are delicious. I let them know about Mia's message stating that the boss is related. My mother's face becomes pallid once again. "We must ascertain who," she adds.

Mr. Cole gives a nod. "As soon as we get a signal, I'll call my detective friend."

We stroll along the dusty path after leaving the barn. Birds are singing and the sun is high. With my mother's hand in mine, I feel fine for a while. Then, however, we hear a loud, swift engine. As it rounded the corner, a black vehicle sped in our direction.

"Go!" With a shout, Mr. Cole shoves us into the woods. My arms are scratched by thorns as we plunge behind bushes. Doors smash as the vehicle comes to a halt. With my pulse pounding, I look out. Mia is speaking to a tall lady with long black hair while sporting untidy hair. Her eyes are like blades, and her face is piercing.

My mother murmurs, her voice trembling, "That's her." "The sister of your father."

My stomach turns around. The manager? Mia shouts as she gestures toward the woods. She remarks, "They're close."

The lady takes out a phone and nods. "Find them," she adds in a chilly tone.

With branches breaking under us, Mr. Cole leads us further into the forest. My breath is short and my legs are burning. My hands are covered with dirt as we hide in a ditch. My name is being called by Mia's voice as the footsteps approach.

With my heart racing, I grip my locket tightly. My mother's powerful but terrified eyes contact mine. "We'll make it," she murmurs.

The footsteps halt above us, but I nod. A shadow casts itself over the ditch. Mia's face emerges with a cruel grin. "I came across you," she says.

The lady walks beside her, staring at me. "Hello, Luna," she says in a sweet voice. "My name is Aunt Clara."

My heart stops. Clara? My mother's breath is quick as she squeezes my hand. Clara smiles sharply as she kneels. "You're accompanying me," she declares. "Families remain together."

The air breaks with a loud crack before I can move. Blood oozing through her fingers, Clara clutches her arm as she falls. Mia ducks and cries. Mr. Cole stands, his face stern, a rifle in his hand.

He shouts, "Run!" and fires once again.

We rush through the woods as we struggle upward. Branches shatter as shots reverberate behind us. My mother slips her hand in mine and tugs me. We come to a clearing, gasping, but I'm stopped by a new sound—a helicopter descending low over the woods, its blades deafening.

A figure slides d
own a falling rope and lands quickly. A guy with a rifle aimed at us has his face hidden.