600 years later...
The car sped through the dark street, heading towards the busy express way that lay about two miles away. On both sides of the road were large trees looking ominous in the dark. A half moon peeped out from the clouds in the sky and the hooting of owls could be heard distinctively. The night was dark, but the lit street lamps illuminated the road.
Hazel pressed her face against the window, staring at the trees as the car sped past. Her sparkly blue eyes looked up at the sky, watching the moon slowly come out from behind the clouds. A sweet smile graced her face as she turned and scooted forward, resting her hand on the front seats of the car.
"Momma",she called softly and leaned forward to smile at her mother.
"Yes sweety?",her mother answered and turned around with a smile. Her hand lifted and softly caressed Hazel's snow coloured hair.
"How's my birthday party going to be?",Hazel asked sweetly, staring up adorably at her mother.
Her mother smiled at her and turned around.
"It's a surprise sweety. Daddy and I have something planned for you"
"Really?",Hazel beamed and leaned the other way to stare at her father who was driving.
"Of course cupcake. You're gonna love it",her father assured her and winked at her through the rearview mirror.
Hazel giggled and sat back in her seat. She wiggled her pink shoes happily, anxious to know what her parents had planned for her ninth birthday.
"Will there be cake?",she asked after a while. "And presents. And balloons and ponies"
Her mother chuckled and turned to stare at her.
"Calm down sweety. Like I said, it's a surprise"
"It is impossible to be calm in this situation", Hazel whined and fell over in her seat, closing her eyes with her palms. Her pretty pink dress drew up over her knees with her movements, making her pink hose visible under the headlights.
Her parents laughed at her funny antics. Hazel was clearly impatient and she needed to know what her parents had in store for her.
Her father exchanged a meaningful look with her mother and they both smiled secretively. Reaching into the corner of her seat, her mother withdrew a decorated box with a white ribbon tied on top.
Hazel's eyes widened happily as her mother turned around and held out the box towards her.
"Daddy and I wanted to wait until the end of your party",her mother said with a warm smile. "But we can make this one an exception"
She placed the box in Hazel's chubby hands, chuckling softly at the way her eyes widened in awe.
Hazel dived into the box, ripping off the ribbon and fancy wrapping. She opened the box and a loud gasp escaped her lips.
Inside the box was a silver music box with a ballerina figurine poised in a pirouette. She clicked a button at the side and a sweet melody floated out while the ballerina turned slowly to the tunes of the melodious song. It was the most magnificent thing Hazel had ever seen.
"It's so beautiful",she whispered.
"Do you like it?",her father asked and be turned briefly to stare at his daughter.
"I love it Daddy",Hazel replied in a whisper, her eyes locked on the dancing ballerina.
"Happy birthday sweety",her mother wished her and leaned forward, placing a kiss on her hair.
"Thank you mommy",Hazel replied with a wide grin. She settled back on the seat and watched the ballerina dance slowly to the tune of the music.
Silence reigned in the car as they sped towards the busy highway. Hazel's parents planned to throw a small birthday party for her in one of the small five star restaurants in the city. Since they lived in the country side, they didn't want to take Hazel to the local restaurants for her special birthday party. As they drove towards the express, the only sound in the car was the melody from Hazel's music box.
Suddenly a loud screech sounded and echoed around the forest surrounding the road.
Hazel jerked up in her seat, her blue eyes looking around fearfully. She pushed the button on the music box and the song stopped.
Her father looked around the dark road and tried to see past the illumination of the headlights while her mother reached around and tried to soothe her daughter.
"Momma what was that?",Hazel whispered in fear and her round blue eyes looked out into the dark night. Her lower lip trembled and she bit down on it, preventing herself from crying.
"I'm sure it was just an animal sweety",her mother said in an attempt to console her. She turned and looked over to Hazel's father and they both exchanged worried looks.
Suddenly the street lights behind them began to go off. One by one, the street light turned off gradually until the road was plunged into darkness. The only light left was from the headlights in the car. Total silence reigned.
"Momma...I'm scared",Hazel whimpered and the tears she had been holding back spilled down her eyes.
"Don't be scared honey. Don't be scared. Mommy's here",her mother whispered to her while her heart slammed within her in dread.
Hazel's father pressed down on the accelerator, increasing the speed of the car. He needed to get out of the rural area as soon as possible. There was a rumour that it wasn't safe to be on the country road at dusk and he began to regret his decision to leave the home with his family late at night. As he sped down the road, he was totally alert to his surroundings.
Out of no where, something large and mighty slammed against the car, hitting it violently.
Hazel screamed out and pressed her palms against her ears as whatever hit the car the first time hit it a second time.
"Hazel get down!",her mother screamed while her father tried to steady the car on the road.
"MOMMY!",Hazel screamed again and got down on her knees, crouching low beneath the seat.
There were loud sounds of snarls and growls in the air and suddenly something crashed against the car again, shaking it violently. The windows shattered, spraying broken glass everywhere.
Hazel's father struggled to keep the car steady on the road but it was a loosing battle. With one last heavy hit from the snarling creature, the car swerved off the road and soared into the air. It crashed into the forest and somersaulted severally before coming to a stop upside down.