"Oh my god! I thought we were going to die! "Janae cried, clutching my hand, her fingernails digging in like she'd never let go. Her grip was warm against the chill creeping through the car.
My legs trembled from the impact, but a strange calm settled over me, steadying my hands on the wheel. Fear can wait, my mother cannot.
"It's ok, we're ok…for now." I patted her back, expecting a warm embrace, but her father's voice cut through the moment.
"Good heavens, it's the house, I'm telling you! It will be the death of us- all of us! I'm telling you!" his voice cracked as he crossed himself, whispering a prayer under his breath.
"Mom?" I called Mom, to check if she would survive this moment.
"Your mother…her heart is bearly beating. We need to move, now."
"Again? Pa, I can't…I feel like my organs would come out of my mouth." Janae cried.
My heart was beating faster than ever, adrenaline is a strange little hormone. I felt more ready than ever. I stepped on the accelerator, not worried about any more pits.
"Tough luck, I need directions!" I steadied myself as I veered through the dark mélange trees.
We raced through the bare streets, a blur of empty houses and overgrown bushes. Up ahead, I spotted a rundown cottage, its roof sagging under layers of moss. I plowed right over the berry bushes in front without a second thought.
VROOM!
"Right!" Janae shouted.
I swerved onto a gravel road. For the first time in hours, the car felt stable. Thank God. We wouldn't be flipping over anytime soon.
"A few more miles!" the mayor yelled, his voice tense. "I know this place like the back of my hand!"
Mom stirred beside me, her face ghostly pale. "Trish..." she croaked, her voice barely above a whisper. Panic surged through me. Anxiety took over me. What if I couldn't save her?
What if I returned empty handed again?
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"Trish, we need to go!" I heard my mum yelling. I rubbed my eyes, yawning and blinking away the fog. I must've fallen asleep because I was viewing reality from a whole other perspective. I could see every molecule and hear every sound of the ocean.
I hadn't slept last night. Too much homework, too many late nights, but right now, none of that mattered.
"Trish..." Dad's voice called again, this time louder, more urgent. I frowned, my mind still groggy. Where was Avery?
"Coming!" I yelled, stumbling off the black beach. It wasn't really black, but covered in layers of grime. No one bothered cleaning it, and it reeked of neglect. I glanced around. There wasn't a single soul here, just the highway stretching out, desolate and strange, like a place people came to leave things behind.
"Aves, where are you?" I called again, louder now. The wind whipped past, cold against my skin. No answer.
"Avery! Not funny!" I sighed, frustration bubbling up. That girl was always pushing my buttons. So needy. Always needing help with homework, chores, everything. But now...now she wasn't answering.
"Pimple face! Come out!" I joked, half-expecting her to pop out with some snarky retort. But there was only silence.
"Trish! Let's go! Your mom needs to get to the hospital!" Dad's voice was impatient, and I could feel my pulse quicken. Where was she?
I turned in a slow circle, scanning the beach, the trees, the stretch of road beyond. Nothing. No Avery.
Sh-t. My breath caught. Sh-t, sh-t, sh-t. She's not here. What do I do? I was supposed to watch her. I was supposed to—
Dad came up behind me, his face tight with concern. "Trish, where's Avery?" His voice was tense now, edging toward panic. "Your mom could give birth any second."
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. Avery was gone.