All Sabrina Baelleigh could hear was the screech of tires as the car swerved, followed by the deafening crash of metal slamming into metal. Her mother's desperate cries, her father's final breath—they're gone in an instant.
"Sabrina, run!" Her mother's faint voice echoed in her mind, pleading for her to escape, to run. And she had—just barely.
"Please... no," Sabrina whispered, her eyes stinging with tears as she curled into herself. "I can't leave you alone."
"You must," her mother had said, her voice barely a whisper. "You... have to... take care of... Emma. Run... and... hide. Trust none!"
Sabrina understood exactly what her mother meant. It wasn't just an accident—this was no random crash. There had been people after them for a while, bad people who'd tried to harm them before. But this time, they had succeeded.
Sabrina's heart raced as she instinctively knew that the danger wasn't over. The people who had caused the crash would be coming soon to make sure they were gone. Her only thought was to protect her sister, Emma, and get out—fast. She had to run.
Then her mother had taken her hands, looking into her eyes as the life drained out of her. "Never forget....we love you... so much."
Those were her final words, and the last time Sabrina ever saw her parents.
As she turned to look at her baby sister, Emma, her heart skipped a beat. Thank goodness! Emma was still safe, curled up and sleeping soundly, unaware of the chaos surrounding them. Sabrina quickly checked her sister, gently brushing her hair from her face and listening for any signs of distress. She was unharmed, but Sabrina knew they couldn't stay here. The danger was still out there.
It was then that she saw the broken window of the car door—the one on her side. The shattered glass was all over the place, and she instinctively knew they had to escape, now.
Sabrina leaned over and unbuckled her sister's seatbelt, carefully pulling her into her arms with all her strength. "Emma," she whispered urgently, her voice trembling, "we have to get out of here!"
Emma stirred awake, her sleepy small face contorted in confusion, but Sabrina didn't have time to explain.
"Hold on to me, Emma!" Sabrina urged, her voice filled with fear. "We need to run!"
The world outside the car was spinning, but Sabrina was determined to get her sister to safety. Heart pounding and fear tightening around her, she pushed through the pain and ignored the bruises on her arm from the shattered glass. With trembling hands, she managed to open the broken door. The night was cold, and the world was silent except for the distant sound of sirens. She helped Emma crawl out of the car, trying to keep her as calm as possible.
As they stumbled away from the wreckage, Sabrina could still hear the faint cries of their parents in her mind, but she knew they couldn't go back. The wreckage was already too dangerous.
She held Emma tightly as they ran through the darkness, away from the scene.
"Stay close, Emma. Don't look back," Sabrina whispered, her voice choked with emotion as she held her sister tightly. But Emma, still half-dazed and frightened, started to cry, her small voice breaking through the silence.
"Mom... Mom!" she sobbed, reaching out with trembling hands.
Sabrina squeezed her tighter, trying to keep the panic in her own chest from spilling out. "Mom's not here, Emma. We have to go now. It's just you and me."
The truth was, she wanted to cry, too, but she had to be strong for her sister.
They found a hidden alley nearby, away from the wreckage, and Sabrina hid them there until help arrived. But it was too late. The damage had been done, and their parents were gone.
Sabrina glanced back and saw the distant lights and smoke rising in the air. She pulled her sister into the shadows, holding her tightly as she tried to catch her breath.
"Come on, Emma, we need to get away," she pleaded.
Emma's sobs echoed through the dark alleyway, her little body shaking in Sabrina's arms.
"I want Mom and Dad," Emma cried, her tears soaking through Sabrina's shirt.
Sabrina bit her lip and forced her own tears back.
"I know," she whispered. "I want them too."
As she looked down at her sister, she could see the desperation in her eyes.
"Why did Mom and Dad leave us?" Emma asked, her voice trembling with tears.
Sabrina swallowed the lump in her throat and fought back her own tears.
"They didn't leave us, Emma. They would never leave us. Something bad happened, and they couldn't come back."
Sabrina didn't want to frighten her, but she couldn't lie. She knew how much her parents loved them, and that they would do anything to protect them. But they couldn't.
She knew that if she stayed here, their parents' killers would find them. They would come looking, and they would never let her and Emma go. They would probably kill them, too. She had no choice.
Holding her sister close, Sabrina stroked her hair. "We'll be okay, Emma. I promise," she whispered. Emma continued to cry, and Sabrina held her closer. "We'll get through this together."
"Where are we going?" Emma asked, her small voice quivering with fear.
Sabrina swallowed the lump in her throat and brushed her tears away.
"Somewhere far, far away," she answered softly.
Emma buried her head against Sabrina's chest, her tiny fingers clutching tightly.
"What if I don't want to go?"
Sabrina bit her lip, hesitating. Then, in the softest whisper, she said, "I'm sorry, Emma, but we have to."
Emma sniffled and nodded, her tears flowing freely. Sabrina wrapped her arms around her and held her close.
Sabrina pressed her lips together and felt her heart ache as her sister cried, but she knew there was nothing more she could do.
"I love you, Emma. I promise I will always protect you," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
With that, Sabrina pulled Emma's small form closer and began walking into the night, praying that they would make it to safety.
Sabrina jolted awake in a cold sweat, her breath coming out in shallow gasps. Her heart pounded in her chest as her eyes darted around the dark room, her mind still trapped in the haunting nightmare. The images from the dream were so vivid, so real. It felt like she had never woken up.
"Just a dream," she muttered to herself, trying to shake the fear off. But deep down, she knew it would haunt her forever.
She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the haunting images. It had been years since that night—the night her world had shattered.
She could still hear her parents' agonizing screams that pierced through the air. It was like she was reliving it all over again—the night her whole world was ripped apart. She pressed her hands over her ears, trying to block out the sound of their cries, but they were still there, echoing in her mind.
At that time, Sabrina was only twelve years old, holding her baby sister, Emma, tightly in the back seat of the car. They were driving home after a family dinner, laughing together. Then, out of nowhere, a dark figure in a speeding car collided with theirs. The force of the crash sent their car spinning uncontrollably before smashing into a tree.
She tried to close her eyes, but the image wouldn't fade. Her parents were trapped in the front seats, their faces twisted in pain. Her mother's screams still rang in her ears as she reached out for Sabrina, but there was nothing she could do. Sabrina tried to scream, to help them, but her voice wouldn't come. Her hands were shaking, frozen in fear.
The nightmare had felt so real, like she was still stuck in that dark moment of her life. She could still feel the weight of the loss, the terror of not being able to save her parents. But Emma was still here, and Sabrina was determined to protect her no matter what.
That was a long time ago, Sabrina thought as she stared out at the setting sun. A lot has changed since then. But one thing was for sure—her parents were right. Running away was the best option, even if it meant sacrificing everything.
"Emma?" Sabrina called out, her voice hoarse.
She threw her covers aside and hurriedly walked out of her room. The apartment was eerily silent, and she can feel the familiar uneasiness. She was used to coming home and finding her sister, Emma, sitting on the couch, her eyes glued to the TV. But tonight, she wasn't there.
"Emma!" Sabrina called out again, her voice louder. Her eyes darted around the small, cramped space, searching for any sign of her.
But there was no answer.
"Emma!" she repeated, her voice filled with worry.
Still no response.
Sabrina felt the panic start to rise, her chest tightening. She felt her pulse quicken as she frantically looked around the empty living room, panic starting to rise. Where is Emma?
Her heart pounded furiously against her chest. She knew that Emma had probably just stepped out to get some food, but the uneasy feeling was still there, gnawing at the back of her mind. She grabbed her phone and dialed her sister's number, hoping she would pick up.
After three rings, Emma answered, and Sabrina let out a sigh of relief.
"Hello?" Emma's voice sounded from the other line.
"Hey," Sabrina greeted with concern. "Are you okay? Where are you?"
"I'm fine, sis. Just doing some grocery shopping."
"You know you can't go out alone," Sabrina said sternly.
"I'm sorry. I was hungry and didn't want to bother you."
Sabrina frowned. "You know the rules, Emma. It's not safe. You should've waited until I wake up."
"I know, but I didn't want to wake you," Emma replied sheepishly.
Sabrina sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She knew Emma meant well, but she was still worried.
"I know you're a big girl now, but I just want you to be careful," Sabrina said softly.
"Please stop mommying me, I can handle it," Emma assured. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
Sabrina let out a sigh. "Okay, but please call me when you're on your way back. And don't go anywhere else. Straight home, alright?"
"Yes, sis," Emma replied.
With that, the line went dead. Sabrina placed her phone back on the table and walked back into her bedroom. She knew Emma was a capable young woman now, but she couldn't help worrying about her. Emma was all she had left, and she couldn't lose her. Not now, not ever.
From now on, they were no longer Baelleighs. They had left that name behind along with their past. Now, they were Dinsmore—Sabrina and Emma Dinsmore. A new identity, a fresh start, and a new chapter in their lives. However, even with the new name, the old fears and memories lingered, haunting Sabrina with every step she took.