Chapter 29
Ghastly Incident
Elena
(Flashback_Six months ago)
"Where are we going, mom?" Lily's voice was barely audible above the sound of the drizzling rain. She was still drowsy from sleep.
"Hush now," I whispered, rocking her softly in my arms. My eyes were narrowed as I stared out at the night, it was pitch black.
"Damn weather!" the driver cursed under his breath, he was squinting his eyes as he leaned forward, trying to see clearly through the raindrops that streamed down the windshield.
"The weather's horrible," I said, trying to make small talk. I couldn't believe how bad our luck was, the weather had been just less than half an hour ago.
I was still blank on how I was going to proceed but I knew one thing. I couldn't stay with Sarah, her words didn't hold much sway with Father and Damien. My mind flashed with the image of him entangled with Sophia, I was just a necessity.
I was done doing things for anyone.
The thought was like a weight lifted off my chest, I felt lighter and better.
My cell phone, usually silent suddenly beeped, startling me. My breath hitched in my throat when I saw the name flashing on the screen.
Jacinta
Why was she calling me? My eyes turned misty at the thought. We'd not spoken since that night Damien had paid her off and she'd made her choice.
"Hello?" I picked up the call and I used my other hand to wipe my eyes.
"Elena?" There was silence for a moment before Jacinta spoke up hesitantly. "How're you?" She asked slowly, hesitantly.
"I'm fine," I said, turning to adjust Lily who'd fallen asleep. What did she want? I wondered, I hadn't thought about Jacinta at all, except for the small fleeting moments when I'd briefly thought about her.
"Elena I'm sorry," Jacinta suddenly blurted out, her sudden words took me by surprise.
"It's not been the same without you," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I'm sorry things had to go the way they did. I was scared Elena," Jacinta's voice thickened with emotion and she sobbed.
I listened, numb and unfeeling, and for a moment I didn't say anything, simply listening to the sound of her sobs. I couldn't help but sigh, until a few months ago Jacinta and I had been inseparable.
Until Damien happened. I felt a prick in my heart at the memory of how I'd discovered the cheque. I couldn't blame Jacinta for accepting the money, I knew firsthand how cold and threatening Damien could be.
But she'd taken the money, taken the promise of staying away from me. She'd made her choice… and she hadn't chosen me.
Tears dropped from my eyes and my vision blurred, I hadn't even realized I was crying.
Crying for a friendship that was lost.
"Jacin—" I was about to speak when huge lights suddenly beamed at us through the windshield, blinding me for a few seconds. It took me two seconds to realize but before I could react.
Boom! Impact.
The impact rocked the car and I hit my head on the back of the front seat so hard I saw stars.
The deafening crash of metal against metal rang through the air as the car lurched violently, spinning out of control. My heart leaped into my throat as I was thrown sideways, Lily slipping from my grasp.
"Lily!" I screamed, reaching for her, but the force of the collision sent me tumbling against the car door.
I yelped as I was slammed hard against something, the force hitting me with a force so strong I didn't register the pain.
That wasn't all.
The car spun again, faster this time, the tires screeching against the slick asphalt. My body was flung forward as if I were weightless, my forehead colliding with the back of the driver's seat.
I felt the world tilt and my vision blurred, one side of the car lifted and my side met the ground in a crunching screech of metal and asphalt.
The window burst inwards, unable to take such a hit, and shards of glass rained down on me with some of them lodging in my back.
I didn't realize I'd been screaming until the car skidded to a halt.
"Lily," my heart stopped beating for a moment and then I sprung to action trying to move. A stabbing pain so deep suddenly assaulted me and I lost my breath, I could see dark spots beginning to appear at the edges of my sight.
To the side I could see the driver's crumpled figure, he wasn't moving.
"Lily," I tried to yell but no words came out of my mouth and the metallic scent of blood filled my nose.
I felt cold hands of fear grip my heart as I touched Lily with a finger, unable to move further. She wasn't moving, her head was cocked to one side so I couldn't see her face.
"Li—lily," desperation clawed at my throat and I used almost superhuman effort to inch closer to her.
I could see her face now, she had a small gash on her temple, probably where she'd hit her head. She was still strapped to her seat belt.
I reached out, my hand inching towards her arm, I breathed a sigh of relief when I found her pulse.
'Thank God,' I exhaled but a stabbing pain shot into me and I felt my vision waver again. I wasn't in good shape.
Dozens of glass shards had found a home on my back and even now I could feel the blood drain from me dying my dress red. But all that didn't matter.
"Lily," I whispered, it took me superhuman effort but I managed to unstrap her from the seatbelt and I held her in my arms.
My baby, I felt my heart break into pieces as I stared at her. She was pale and the gash on her temple was still bleeding, she was still breathing, only just.
Lily's face blurred in and out of focus as I held her, the last thing I saw was her pale fragile face.
Then, nothing.