Chapter 16 When Darkness Feels Real
Kate's POV
The rain wouldn't stop. It drummed on the roof of the car as Lina drove away down the lonely road—it’s not usually this quiet, but I guess the rain contributed to its sudden loneliness. The rain kept falling so hard it felt like the sky was angry.
Lina's hands gripped the steering wheel harder, eyes fixed on the stormy road ahead, while the wipers fought to clear the water off her car windscreen.
I was still seated beside her—quiet and doubtful of everything. While I studied the blurry world outside the window, I could still feel my chest hurting me. I must have cried too much.
The silence between Lina and I grew heavier by every second, however,none of us was going to speak, so we let the growl of the car engine and the storm outside do the talking for us.
Suddenly, I leaned forward a little, squinting my eyes through the windshield. I thought I might have just sighted something—but I wasn't sure at first.
I leaned closer the more, then I saw it again. Something was standing on the road—at the far end of the road. It looked small. Too small. My heart skipped for a second, then I turned to Lina who was fully focused on the road. “Lina,” I whispered softly, sitting up straighter now. “What is that…over there?” I asked slowly.
Lina didn't look towards my side, she still had all her attention focused on the blurry road. If she didn't pay attention, the storm could move our car out of the road and into see deadly ditch.
“Lina, I'm talking.” I whispered again, sounding a bit firmer now.
“What?” She asked, frowning. She struggled to maintain keeping her eyes on the road while she threw me some quick glances.
“Over there? What is that thing?” I asked, pointing slowly at the road ahead.
The moment Lina looked ahead, her voice suddenly caught. “Oh my God…” she screamed.
The fire slowly became clearer to us as the headlights touched it—it was a little girl, she was standing right in the middle of the road. She wasn't moving. She remained rooted to the ground, drenched from head to toe, hair sticking to her wet face.
“Why is she standing there?” I whispered, clutching onto the edge of my seat like I was scared something was gonna tank me away.
I became totally restless. Our car was speeding towards her, and the girl didn't flinch—she remained there, under the rain.
“Lina, she's not walking away. Why is she there? It's pouring!” I cried.
Then the car lights suddenly flashed over the girl's face—pale, blank, and purely empty. She looked harmless,but why the hell is she standing like a ghost?
“Lina…I think you should slow down. I think the girl needs help. We need to do something, right?” I asked, though I was scared and unsure, but I just couldn't help but say my thoughts.
Lina didn't reduce the speed of the car. Instead, she continued to speed towards the girl, and if care is not taken, we might hit her.
“Lina…you will stop the car, right?” My voice was already trembling.
Lina suddenly began to curse under her breath and she continuously slammed her foot on the car brake. Nothing happened.
“Kate…I can't stop the car. I don't know what's happening.” Lina stammered, her voice depicted total fear.
I flung her one sharp glance then back at the girl on the road, “What do you mean it's not stopping. Just stop the car already, please.” I screamed. I can't believe we're gonna kill someone's child today.
If this car doesn't come to a halt. Then I'm scared it's gonna be a fatal accident and we might be responsible for the little girl's death.
“It's not working!” Lina shouted, frustration building inside of her.
My heart jumped into my throat. “What can we do?” I cried.
Lina didn't stop trying. She kept pressing harder onto the brake, but the pedal wouldn't even show any sign of response.
The car kept rushing forward, rain blurring everything out—making it even more challenging for me to see the road clearly.
“Lina, please…” I screamed, gripping my seatbelt tighter as we almost ran into the girl.
“Hold on!” Lina yelled, twisting the wheel sharply to avoid the girl at the dying minute. The tires screeched, and the car suddenly spun around, rain slashing against the glass.
The car kept spinning around, and my head hit the window so hard that it broke into it.
Then the car skidded off the road and plunged into a ditch—a ditch I never knew existed here.
The entire glass of the car shattered on our faces. My scream drowned in the angry thunder.
Even though I knew this was bad, however, I was certain that Lina would never be able to survive this. Her neck was sliced out and left dangling outside the window while blood oozed out of her.
Then all I saw last was darkness.
Then silence.
Darkness and silence.
It was all over.
Lina's gone.
And maybe I am too.