Chapter 47 THE STUNT
THIRD POV
Stella ran out of the house quickly and flagged down a cab.
“Follow that car!” She instructed the cab driver as he revved the engine out of sight.
There were many cars on the highway and we suddenly lost track of them.
Her phone began to buzz. It was George.
She panicked.
“Why is he calling me?” Fear gripped her as she asked herself with trembling hands.
“Why are you following them?” He asked her as her heart froze.
“I— I.” She stammered, not finding the right words to say.
I have answers to your questions. Meet me in my car right behind you.” He said.
Stella froze as she turned swiftly. There he was—!
She got out after giving the cab driver his money as she slammed the door and rushed towards George. Not scared again but angry.
“What nonsense was that you did at your home??” She questioned him.
“Just wanted to pull a stunt on you. You don't like keeping your nose out of people's business so I thought to give you what you were looking for.”
“Are— are you saying no one died?” Stella asked as she was confused and couldn't believe him right now.
“No one died. I'm not a maniac who goes around killing people. Though one thing wasn't a stunt.” He said.
“Which is?” Stella asked.
“About to fuck that bitch before you showed up and ruined the fun.”
Stella's body went cold.
“So what are you doing here?” She asked, trying to have a conversation with him to know if he was lying or not.
“I have a business to catch in town.” He replied.
There was a hold up on the bridge as two big trailers were before them. George horned in anger for them to move quickly as he wanted to be in town that very day on time but those two cars kept him away.
"What was going on? These people were really frustrating me!" George complained loudly as he pressed his horn and hit it harder.
"Come on…there might be some heavy traffic or so…almost all cars were slowing down. Just be patient sir."
"I needed to be in town as early as possible, woman! I had business to run!"
"A little patience…maybe you can, so what's holding them up from other drivers?" Stella suggested.
George rolled down his car window and horned for the driver next to him.
"Hey man, what's going on at the front?" George asked in a loud voice as the blaring noise from other cars was loud.
"There's an accident at the front." The man replied back.
"What? How come? Will we be able to get over it?" George asked him again as Stella tried to figure out what they were talking about from almost the noise that the air carried.
"I don't know." He replied back.
"What's wrong?" Stella asked George.
"There's an accident at the front."
"Oh…that's bad. I hope the victims survive
it." Stella replied, feeling sad for those involved.
"And the road should be free to pass soon also. I really needed to get into the city as soon as possible." George continued to complain.
"Just be patient please…money is not as important as lives…please." Stella tried to calm him down.
George looked at her with a stern look and looked away when suddenly the ground began to shake.
"What's going on? What is happening?" Stella asked as the car vibrated. They looked out and saw other cars shaking too.
"What's happening?" People screamed to each other.
"The bridge is falling!" Someone from the front shouted to the hearing of the others.
"What? Oh no!" People got terrified on hearing that. The sides of the bridge began to fall off into the water beneath them. Cars began to fall off too as people got out of their vehicles to run for their safety.
"No……" Stella cried.
"What were you waiting for? Get out and run!" George screamed at her as he got out and Stella tried to do the same too when the floor underneath them began to separate.
Stella struggled to remove the seatbelt when the car stumbled to the right side where she sat. Her seatbelt entangled with the bridge wires at the side.
"What were you waiting for? Get out!"
George shouted at her again as she was not getting out. Stella kept struggling to get out of the car when suddenly, it began to smoke. A tanker with oil in front of them caught fire and spread to the nearby cars.
Everyone was running away as the fire spread so rapidly. Stella and George were close to getting trapped by the fire. George wanted to run for his life but Stella was still trapped under the car which had already somersaulted in her seat.
George stood there as he was confused on what to do. He wanted to run but also wanted to save the lady.
He stood there confused and petrified, this was someone he had just met a day ago…there was no use in saving a stranger by risking his own life.
"What were you waiting for? Run for your life sir!" A man shouted at him as he beckoned him to run away. He was the last to leave the place.
Stella looked at him with tears in her eyes as though she was asking for help and disappointed in him for wanting to leave her.
That look, that sincerity, penetrated into his heart and melted it. He cared if it was this lady. Probably there was much more about her.
Without much thought, George went toward the car and tried to open the door where Stella was trapped but there was nothing he could do as it was smitten by the ground and smashed.
The bonnet of the car was on fire already. The heat from the fire affected Stella as she coughed and cried in pain.
"Run…save yourself…please, don't risk your life for me…go…" She screamed at him as the fire covered the car.
George moved back because of the heat. He looked around to call someone for help but everyone had gone. The ground separated, leaving them on one side.
The weight of the car caused the ground to shake, further dividing it again.
Now George could only stand on the bridge side edge, either he fell into the water, or moved into the car that was already covered with fire. Stella coughed vigorously as she passed out.
On seeing Stella slump, George used all his strength, anger and power to raise the car, turning it over as it wanted to fall to the open ground by the other side with Stella in it.
The car parts were dividing and Stella's life was not only at risk but in danger. George raised his feet and stood on his toes to reach for her hand but could only grasp her fingers.
Using his strength a little so as not to lose balance and fall into the ground forward or into the water backwards, he reached for her bracelet and pulled it towards him.
It created a sore on her hand but he held it tighter and reached for her hand then pulled her out of the car through the window that was already smashed.
Because of the force and great strength he used in pulling her out and her weight, they both fell into the sea as he wrapped his hand around her body.
George tried to swim to keep his head and that of Stella sticking outside the water to catch their breaths as he cried for help too but no one heard him. Everyone had already left the scene.