Chapter 4
439words
The car began to crackle and pop as the fire consumed it.
Intense heat radiated through the glass, blistering my skin.
The terror of death washed over me like a tidal wave.
A primal survival instinct gave me one final burst of energy.
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME! IT'S ON FIRE!"
I shrieked, grabbing my phone and smashing it against the side window with all my might.
The screen shattered on impact, the sharp edges slicing my palm open.
Blood streamed down my hand, but I didn't feel a thing.
My horrifying screams finally made Jason stop.
He spun around, and when he saw the inferno that had once been my car, he froze.
But Chloe, standing beside him, let out a shriek even louder than mine.
"Emma! Are you setting off fireworks in the car? It's so pretty, but so dangerous!"
"I know this car is supposed to be fireproof and blast-proof, but you can't play with fire like this just to get Jason's attention!"
"Fireworks?"
Chloe's absurd explanation muddled Jason's mind once again.
Yeah, he must have thought.
A woman like Emma would do anything to get what she wants.
"You're a psycho, Emma!"
he screamed at the burning wreck.
My relentless assault finally paid off.
A crack appeared in the window!
A sliver of fresh air rushed in, and I pressed my face to the opening, gasping, my lungs screaming for oxygen.
But Chloe was faster.
She ran to her car, popped the trunk, and pulled out a wide roll of clear packing tape.
She sprinted back to my window.
"Oh no, sis, you broke the window! That's so dangerous!"
she said, her voice dripping with fake concern as she tore off a long strip of tape and expertly sealed the crack I had just made.
She even pressed it down firmly with her palm, making sure not a single wisp of air could get through.
"This is your car with Jason, you know! How could you be so selfish and just smash it up like that?"
"You-"
The precious mouthful of air I'd just inhaled was trapped in my throat.
Black spots danced in my vision.
Jason, now seething, stormed over.
"Have you had enough, Emma?"
He snatched the tape from Chloe's hand and, his eyes blazing with a terrifying hatred, began to wrap it around and around the crack, sealing it even more tightly.
As I stared at his face, so familiar yet so monstrously alien, my hand fell limp at my side.
My breathing grew shallow.
