Alison's excitement bubbled up as she stared at the wide open water, the sun dipping below the horizon and washing everything in a cozy orange light. Fishing trips with her folks were some of her favorite memories, and this day was no different. The thrill of waiting for a big catch, the ocean breeze filling her lungs, and the precious moments spent with her family all came together in a way that made her heart sing.
When darkness began to fall, Alison's initial excitement shifted to a nagging discomfort. The sky transformed into a deep, menacing grey, and the clouds seemed to swallow up the last traces of sunlight. It felt like the air was thick with something strange and eerie, as if they were completely alone in the world.
"Mom, Dad, look!" Alison exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly as she pointed to the horizon. "The storm is coming!"
Her mom's eyes squinted, worry creasing her forehead. "This storm is definitely odd," she remarked, her voice laced with a touch of anxiety. "Thunderstorms usually don't whip up this fast."
Nodding in agreement, Alison's dad scanned the horizon with a concerned look. "You're spot on. This doesn't feel right. We need to make our way back to the shore, like, now."
But Alison wasn't budging. She had been anticipating this fishing trip for weeks, and a little storm wasn't going to spoil it. "We can't leave yet!" she said, her voice getting more urgent. "We still need to reel in the fish!"
Her mom had this serious look on her face. 'We'll get the fish later, Alison. For now, we've got to focus on keeping safe. Your brother is home alone, and we need to hurry back to him.'
Alison's heart skipped a beat at the mention of her sibling. She had been so caught up in the excitement of the fishing trip that she had forgotten all about her little brother, left alone in the house. A pang of guilt shot through her, followed by a wave of fear.
As the storm raged on, the wind howling and the thunder booming, Alison's fear gave way to panic. The boat rocked violently, threatening to capsize them at any moment. Her mother clutched the side of the boat, her knuckles white with fear.
"We have to get out of here, now!" her father yelled above the din of the storm. "Hold on, everyone!"
Alison's heart was racing as she clung to the boat, her eyes fixed on her parents. She had never seen them so scared before, and it only added to her own fear.
Just then, a massive wave crashed over the side of the boat, sending them all tumbling. Alison's world went dark as she was submerged underwater, the icy cold liquid closing over her head like a vice.
She struggled to surface, her lungs burning, but the water was too deep. Just when she thought all was lost, a hand grasped her wrist, pulling her up.
Alison broke the surface, gasping for air. Her father's face was inches from hers, his eyes wild with fear.
""Alison, hang on tight!" he called out, his voice almost drowned by the howling wind. "We've got to get out of here!"
Alison shivered, her teeth clacking together in terror. She clung tightly to her dad, wrapping her arms around his waist as the storm howled around them.
While they fought to keep their heads above water, Alison couldn't help but think of her sibling, alone in the house. Is he safe? is he scared? (Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one tumbling over the last.)
That thought filled her with dread, and she couldn't help but grip her father's hand tighter.
As Alison pulled herself out of the river, it was like the air was just gone. She could feel the water sloshing around in her lungs, and fatigue took over her body, leaving her trembling. She coughed up all that river water, her stomach working hard with each gag. Her legs turned to jelly, and she ended up collapsing onto the soggy soil.
Alison realized she couldn't just hang around. Her parents were out there in the river, desperately trying to survive. Summoning all her strength, she got up on shaky legs, her eyes darting through the dark, searching for any hint of assistance. The night was eerily quiet, with just the faint chirping of crickets and the occasional hoot from an owl breaking the silence..
Alison moved ahead, her legs shaking like leaves in the wind. She nearly lost her balance, her sight fading in and out, but there was no way she could quit now. Help was out there somewhere. With every step, she sensed her energy slipping away, yet she pressed on, fueled by sheer determination.
Right when she stepped onto the roadside, two headlights popped up in the distance. Alison felt a surge of hope as her heart raced, and she started waving her arms like crazy to try to stop the car.
"Help! Help! Help! I really need someone to come help me!" Alison yelled, her throat raw from all the shouting. "You've got to assist me! My mom and dad...they're in the water and can't swim!"
The car came barreling at her, and for a split second, Alison feared she'd be flattened. But then, she heard a voice from within calling, 'Stop the car!'
With a sudden slam of the brakes, the car screeched to a stop mere feet from Alison. That's definitely AListair Cooper's ride.
When the car finally came to a halt, Alison gathered every ounce of strength left in her and staggered towards it. She reached the window and started banging on it desperately, her fists thumping against the glass.
"Help me, please!" she cried, her voice trembling from fatigue. "My mom and dad... they're in the river... they're going under... you have to save them, please!"
Alister didn't budge an inch, his eyes glued to the anguish on Alison's face. It was like he was a statue, completely ignoring her desperate words, his features betraying no emotion at all.
Turning to Alister, the driver sought his opinion. "Sir, would it be okay if I opened the door?" he questioned.
With a quick glance, Alister said, "No."
The driver quickly shifted his gaze back to Alison, who was pounding on the window with wild, fearful eyes. Yet, Alister's face didn't budge; he was staring straight past her, lost in thoughts that seemed far away.
Alister squinted, his tone laced with contempt. "Why should I give a single thought to some...some...disheveled nobody?" he scoffed, eyeing Alison's unkempt appearance. "Do you realize how pricey this car is? I'm not letting some...some...broke person mess up the seats!"
He sneered, his lips twisting into a derisive grin. "These people? I couldn't care less. They mean nothing to me. Just a bunch of garbage."
Waving his hand nonchalantly, Alister addressed the driver. 'Just take me away from this place,' he instructed.
The driver gave a quick nod, glancing at Alison's worried expression before focusing back on the road. The car started rolling, the tires making a crunching sound on the gravel as they drove off.
Alison's hand lingered on the car window, her fingertips gliding over the glass while the car pulled away. She took a few steps after it, her gaze locked on Alister as he disappeared in the distance.
As the car disappeared into the darkness, Alison stood there, frozen in shock. Her eyes widened, her face pale with horror. She felt as though she'd been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her.
Tears filled her eyes, and an overwhelming sense of despair hit her like a tidal wave. She was left all alone, stranded on the side of the road, with no one in sight to help her.
There was Alison, frozen in disbelief, her thoughts swirling chaotically. It all felt surreal. Alister Cooper, the guy she had admired for such a long time but never dared to approach, had just callously walked away, leaving her alone by the side of the road.
How could he do that? Alison wondered, her thoughts swirling with confusion and pain. I really believed he was a good guy. I thought he had a kind heart. Looks like I was mistaken.
She recalled those moments when she spotted Alister around town, always grinning and full of charm. Back then, she believed he was sincerely nice, but now it hit her that it was just an act.
Alison couldn't believe it; she thought to herself, 'I had no idea Alister Cooper could be so cruel and cold-hearted.' A wave of nausea hit her as she reflected, 'I never imagined he could just abandon someone like that.'
With a fierce resolve igniting her spirit, Alison dashed into the shadows, her feet thumping against the ground as she raced toward... where exactly? That was still a mystery.
Reality washed over Alison like a wave, and suddenly, her legs couldn't hold her anymore. She crumpled to the ground, her vision spinning and fading as she felt herself slipping...