Another day of skipping school. I could hear my parents' anger simmering from across the house, a tension thick enough to taste. I couldn't blame them entirely; after all, I'd taken a year off just last year. But that gap wasn't laziness. It was survival. My inability to socialize, the instinct to flee whenever conflict appeared, it had built a cage around me. People scared me: their judgments, their whispers, their constant assessment of me as less than.
I remembered vividly the most humiliating moments of my life: my father pounding on my door, shouting my name until my ears rang, venting his frustration at my mother, seeking advice from neighbors on how to make me comply, storming into school authorities to report my "behavioral nuances." And the judgments… they never stopped. Classmates, neighbors, strangers walking by, they all piled on, unknowing how much their attention worsened the anxiety gnawing at my chest.
Moving to my mother's hometown offered a temporary reprieve, but I knew the cycle would repeat itself. And now, with Thea… she'd been teasing me the entire time, pulling at my heartstrings like a cruel puppeteer. I was foolish to let myself believe she'd ever like someone like me. And now… screenshots of our conversations leaked, shame pressing down like concrete. Worse, she had a boyfriend all along. It didn't matter; I was predisposed to suffer, and suffering had become a quiet companion in my life.
I didn't want to go to school anymore, but this year I had to graduate. Pathetic, I know. But I missed her. I missed the way talking to her made me feel, the illusion that maybe I wasn't just invisible. I thought she might be my first girlfriend. But no girl would be seen with a social pariah, someone ridiculed by the world, a figure elevated only on a pedestal of pity.
I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. Life wasn't all misery. I had friends I liked, a decent car, and rich parents. That was something, at least. I pulled out my tissues and moisturizer, following my routine. A fleeting sense of normalcy. A sigh escaped me. It felt good, but the truth lingered: I'd never experience the real things, not like other people.
Then the phone rang.
"Sup, buddy," I said automatically, picking up.
"Let's go for a drive. Vanz is coming too, he's buying drinks," Joel's voice buzzed through the line.
"For real? Alright. Same spot, right?"
"Yeah."
"I'll be there in ten minutes. See you soon." I hung up, heart already thumping.
Drinking, driving, smoking, getting high, these were the only things that made my blood hum, the only things that made me feel alive. I threw on a hoodie, changed my pants, slipped into my running shoes, and styled my hair in a rush. Seven minutes later, I was at the gathering spot. They were there, waiting, grinning like we were immortal, like nothing could touch us.
We drove into our favorite stretch, a forested area, smooth asphalt threading through dense trees, almost empty at this hour. We drank, laughed, and passed the car between us, the world shrinking to the rhythm of the engine and the hum of our reckless hearts.
I'd had too much. Five cans of beer, and the dizziness hit like a wave, my vision blurring. My hands gripped the steering wheel, every nerve screaming, but the rush was intoxicating. Dopamine flooding my brain. Adrenaline dancing in my veins. Speed. Power. Escape.
Then, suddenly, headlights blazed through the darkness from a sharp turn. Blinding. My stomach lurched. Panic took over. I slammed the brake, jerking the wheel in a desperate, clumsy swerve. The rear of our car collided with another vehicle, a sickening crunch, metal folding, glass shattering. And then darkness.
I woke with a pounding headache, groaning, disoriented. What happened? Drinking and driving, like usual, but… no, this wasn't usual. Fuck. My heart thudded against my ribs.
"JOEL! VANZ! Are you guys okay? Wake up!" I shook Joel violently, fear clawing at my throat.
He stirred, swaying. "Yeah… yeah… I'm alright… dizzy though. What about Vanz?"
"ohh shit, Vanz? Vanz?" I shook him gently, panic creeping. His chest rose and fell, he was still breathing. Unconscious, but alive. Phew.
We were alive.
Joel exhaled sharply, relief washing over him. "Ahhh… thank God. But… DUCCE! WTF! You crashed my brother's car! He's going to kill me, shit, shit, shit, the car it's all fucked up !"
"i am sorry but it isn't my fault it's the other car's fault," I stammered, my own guilt twisting in my stomach. " and you know the drinks really got me messed up, the other driver… his headlight blinded me, sorry- sorry - sorry this can't be true, it isn't my fault trust me, it was that driver fault"
Vanzz disoriented, processing what just happened "Shit we are in a really messy situation, everything happened so fast i don't know how it happened, but we were all drinking and driving we can't just blame Ducce"
Joel shook his head violently, anger flaring. "I don't care, he is making excuses! What are we going to do now? This would have never happened if I was the one driving, You've fucked us all up Ducce! And why did you drink so much if you can't handle it? Ohhh God why Ducce why, couldn't you have slowed down in the turning point (grabs his hair in frustration, breathing heavily)
Ohhh lord save us (turns his head aggressively)
Wait… what about the people in that car?"
I swallowed hard. "Shit… I don't know man, we need to check."
And with that, the three of us stumbled toward the wreck, the forest silent except for our ragged breathing and the distant hum of the road behind us. Each step brought the reality closer, closer, until the wreck came into view, a grotesque silhouette in the dark.
My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it against my ribs. The forested silence around us seemed to press in, thick and suffocating. My stomach churned, bile rising as the reality of the crash began to sink in. What the hell just happened? Are they… dead? This can't be real, i want to go back home, please tell me this isn't real."
I stumbled as I walked, my legs shaking. As I looked at Joel, he was right behind, I saw his face turned pale, eyes wide with panic. The scent of burnt rubber and gasoline filling the air, mixing with something far worse. Metal twisted, glass shattered, a shadow of destruction that made my stomach knot.
"OH MY GOD… DUCCE, WTF DO WE DO? BOTH OF THEM… THEY'RE DEAD… HIS HEAD… HIS HEAD IS LITERALLY GONE!"
I turned my head, every nerve screaming, and my eyes locked on the scene, blood everywhere, bodies unmoving, a horror so sharp it cut through my chest.
Joel's voice cracked, raw with horror. He dropped to his knees, shaking violently, gasping for air.
"Oh fuck… oh fuck… this can't be real…" I whispered to myself, shaking, my hands trembling so badly I could barely steady them. My chest felt tight, as if someone had clenched a fist around it.
From behind, Vanz's voice cut through the chaos, Vanzz rushed in to see the scene for himself, His gaze flickered between the wreckage and us, tension coiled in his broad shoulders. There was fear there too, sharp, unyielding, but he tried to keep it contained. "ohhhhh this is bad news this is really bad, they are dead both of them …. Now what do we do?"
I sank to the ground, my knees scraping against the dirt, my voice barely audible. "I… I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry… sorry… sry… srrrrr…"
Joel was already on the floor, shock and grief twisting his face, in a state of denial.
A few minutes passed as we processed what just happened and how it happened, I was sobbing uncontrollably while Joel was sitting there on the ground dumbfounded, frustrated. Vanzz stood there trying to keep up his composure but he was visibly shaken as well.
Vanzz lit up a cigarette assessing the situation, his gaze shifted between the wreckage, me and Joel finally looking up at the sky as he took the last drag of the cigarette, he then knelt beside us, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. "Let's relax, Ducce, Joel… what's done is done. We need to think. We need to figure out what to do before this spirals. Especially you, Ducce." His voice was steady, commanding calm I didn't feel.
Joel's sudden movement startled me. He grabbed my collar, shaking me so hard I could barely breathe. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, DUCCE! YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THE FALL FOR THIS, VANZZ AND I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!"
I froze, my mind scrambling. "W-WHAT? SERIOUSLY? WASN'T IT YOU WHO CALLED ME ? IT WAS YOUR IDEA TO DRINK AND DRIVE, HOW IS IT MY FAULT? IT WAS THE OTHER DRIVERS FAULT, HIS HEADLIGHT BLINDED ME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME IF YOU WERE DRIVING"
Vanz stepped in separating us, he stepped in between us his massive frame a wall against the chaos. "Both of you, calm down. Stop this."
Joel took a step back and turned the other way, buried his face in his hands, gripping the back of his head in frustration. "No no no, why did this had to happen, everything was going fine, we can't escape from this our life is over"
Vanzz pressed a hand to the back of his neck, jaw tight, eyes darting between us. "Joel, calm down. We can still fix this. It is absolutely crucial that we stay calm right now," he said, voice steady, but every word carrying the weight of the panic he refused to show
Joel stepped closer, fury radiating off him before he even spoke. "Listen, Ducce. Here's what happened. You asked for my car because you were heartbroken over Thea. You wanted to drink, drive, clear your head… and boom. You crashed."
I felt a hot surge of anger mixed with fear. "Seriously??? It could've been any of us! We were all hammered! This isn't fair! Fuck you, Joel… you fucking snake!"
His laugh was sharp, cruel. "Yeah? And you? A little virgin, running from everything because you're a pussy. You thought Thea would ever date someone like you? Don't make me laugh."
Something snapped inside me. Rage, fear, guilt, all tangled into a sharp edge. I lunged, swinging at him, my fist connecting with his nose. The thud of impact made my stomach drop. Joel staggered, bleeding, eyes wide with fury, and shoved me hard. We collided with the dirt, rolling, fists flailing. Shouts ripped from both of us, voices cracking with adrenaline and panic.
Vanz's deep voice cut through the chaos again, louder this time. "SHUT THE FUCK UP! BOTH OF YOU! THIS ISN'T HELPING!" He grabbed my shoulder, and pulled me away, shifting me to the other side, forcing us apart. My chest heaved, every breath sharp. Joel scrambled back to the car, hands over his face, muttering in disbelief. I sank to the ground, trembling, staring blankly at the forest around us.
Vanz moved toward the wreck, scanning the twisted metal and gored bodies. I followed with my eyes but couldn't look too long; nausea coiled in my stomach. When he crouched near the debris, he noticed something odd: a container, strange and glowing faintly. His curiosity piqued, he tried to open it, but it refused to budge.
Heavy, yet light, perfectly sealed. He searched briefly for anything identifying the people in the car, finding nothing, before returning to our vehicle and placing the container carefully on the trunk.
He turned toward Joel. "You alright, Joel?"
Joel exhaled slowly, trying to compose himself. "No… but I'm calmer now. Can you… tell Ducce I'm sorry for what I said earlier? I… I just got overwhelmed."
Vanz nodded. "It's fine, man. I'll handle it. You rest for a bit. Soon, we'll figure out the next steps."
Joel slumped back, eyes closing, surrendering to exhaustion.
Vanz shifted toward me, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder, warmth and steadiness amidst the storm of my thoughts. "You okay, Ducce?" His tone was gentle now. "I'm sorry I couldn't mediate faster. You know Joel, he doesn't always mean what he says in the heat of anger. We'll get through this… together. But we need to focus."
I bowed my head, chest tight, relief and fear mingling in a nauseating swirl. "Yeah… yeah, you're right."
Vanz let out a slow breath, smiling faintly, a flicker of nostalgia softening his features. "Remember when we were kids? Stealing snacks down the street while James distracted the shop owner… and that one time Joel… well, you remember how he pulled down his pants to distract the shop owner, so we could escape." He chuckled. "Those were the days."
I smiled faintly, Memories surfaced like old photographs pulled from a drawer "Ahahaha… yeah. Those were really the days. Funny how fast time goes." Vanzz smiled and nodded in agreement, as we sat there looking at the sky remembering the old days and longing to escape from this nightmare.
Vanz glanced at the wreck again. "We need to call James. He can tow the car."
I shook my head, uncertainty gnawing at me. "Yeah… but what about that car and the people inside? I hope their last moment was quick and painless, I hope their family recovers from this, maybe this is it for me, whatever is coming I deserve it."
Joel emerged from the car, voice soft now, almost steady. "Relax, Ducce. We've got you. We aren't letting you take this alone."
Vanz nodded, placing a reassuring hand on my back. "We've been through thick and thin. All of us. So… we will get through this too?"
I swallowed hard, fear still tight in my throat. "I… I don't know. I… maybe… push the car off the cliff? Before James comes, so he doesn't get dragged into this?"
Vanz's eyes flickered, tension evident. "It might work… but what if we're caught?"
Joel hesitated, voice uncertain. "Yeah… maybe… maybe it's the only choice."
I exhaled, feeling the crushing weight of the night settle deeper. "I am sorry guys… it's my fault I should have driven slower and not drink that much, (I took a deep breath) I just hope for the best…. i didn't mean to do this to them"
Vanz's hand stayed on my shoulder. "It's done, Ducce. We can't change it. We deal with what's in front of us."
Joel took a step closer, nodding. "We'll figure it out. Let's call James first. He can tow my car. Then we'll deal with… the rest."
Joel dialed James, his voice hurried but controlled. "James? You there?"
On the other end, James sounded groggy and suspicious. "Yeah, what's up?"
"Something happened, man. Something crazy. I'll explain later. Just… come to the Akkin intersection. Bring the towline. Please, it's an emergency."
"Joel, it's ten at night. What the hell is going on?"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. But we need you. Please."
James hesitated, then sighed. "Alright… I think I know what this is. I'm coming. With the towline." The line went dead.
When Joel slid the phone back into his pocket, Vanz muttered, "Thank God, we got James."
"For real," Joel agreed. "If it weren't for him, we'd have no chance of getting out of this."
I leaned against the car, shaking my head slowly. "At least one problem's handled. But what now?" My eyes drifted back to the wreck.
Joel's voice hardened. "We can't let James get dragged into this. We push it. Off the cliff. Now."
Vanz looked at Ducce. "Yeah… let's do it. Ducce?"
My face twisted with guilt, my voice trembling. "Ohhhh….ohhh…. (Breathing heavily) okay.….wait… wait "I lowered my head. "Let's send them off with a prayer."
The three of us stood together in the cold night, whispering prayers no one would ever hear, then braced ourselves against the mangled SUV. It teetered already on the edge, its weight shifting dangerously. With a strained push, gravity did the rest. The car tipped, then slid violently over the cliff. Metal screeched as it smashed against rocks, crashing louder and louder, bang, bang, bang, until the sound faded into the dark forest below.
I stumbled backward, collapsing onto the dirt. I gasped for air, clutching my chest, guilt spreading like poison through my veins. My eyes darted toward the cliff, then up at the empty sky. "Shit… shit… If we get caught, it's over. It's over for all of us."
Vanzz scanned the area nervously. "Nobody saw us. I think… I think we'll be fine."
Joel forced a grin, his voice hollow. "Yeah… we'll be alright."
But the silence after was unbearable. The headlights cast long shadows into the trees, our only source of light in the pitch-black wilderness. Vanzz and Joel stood motionless, staring into the dark abyss below. I stayed on the ground, eyes fixed on the heavens, wishing the stars could erase what we had just done. My body was heavy, my mind broken.
Then came the distant hum of an engine. A truck pulled up, headlights cutting through the night. The ground shook slightly as it drew closer. James climbed out, his boots thudding against the dirt. He froze the moment he saw the scene.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded, his eyes darting from the bloodstains to their faces. "Jesus Christ, what did you guys do?"
Vanzz raised his hands in a calming gesture. "James, relax. We'll explain later. Just… try to understand. We're all tired."
James took a step forward, panic and anger flashing in his eyes. "No. Tell me right now. Should I call the cops? Is someone dead?"
"Listen," Vanzz said firmly, his voice low. "Just help us tow the car first."
James clenched his jaw, clearly furious, but something in our faces stopped him from pressing further. With a muttered curse, he complied.
We towed Joel's car in silence, heading toward an abandoned lodge where no one lived. Inside, the air was stale, dust clinging to the old furniture. James brought food, thinking we needed strength, but the plates went untouched. I shoved it aside, appetite crushed under guilt. The group sat in tense silence, the incident weighing on us heavier than any chain.
At last, Vanzz broke it. He remembered the container, retrieved it, and set it on the table. The dim light flickered against its strange surface, pulling all their tired eyes toward it.
James frowned, confusion mixing with suspicion. "What the hell is that? Where did you get it?"
Vanzz hesitated. "When we crashed… it fell from their window."
Ducce and Joel stayed quiet, still drowning in guilt, their silence saying more than words could.
James's voice rose, sharp. "That doesn't make sense. Why would they just drive off? And what about the blood? That wasn't nothing. That looked really bad."
Vanzz rubbed his face, exasperated. "I don't know, man. It all happened so fast. They hit us, blood was leaking from their SUV, then they drove off. We couldn't even process it."
We felt the silence in the air. The container sat between us, cold, gleaming, and out of place. After everything we'd done, it was one more thing we didn't understand.
James's voice cracked with suspicion, his arms folded across his chest as he studied them. "This sounds like bullshit. None of this makes sense. Are you hiding something from me?"
The words cut through the silence like a blade. Ducce's stomach churned; he knew James wasn't wrong.
Vanzz leaned forward, waving his hand dismissively. "Forget it, man. We'll figure it out later… Let's just try to open this container first."
James muttered under his breath, frustrated, his face tight with anger. "Ahhh, whatever…this must be a really bad dream"
The four of us gathered around the strange object. Its surface was smooth, metallic yet alien, without markings or seams. Under the dim light, it seemed to swallow shadows, reflecting nothing back. We tried everything, slamming a rock against it, scraping it against concrete, searching desperately for a latch or a crack. Nothing. The container refused to yield, as though it wasn't meant to exist in this world.
I was drained and dizzy, and felt a sudden warmth at the edge of my nostril. I wiped my face and saw my fingertips smeared red. A drop of blood slid off and landed squarely on the container's surface.
The reaction was instant.
A blinding flash erupted, forcing us to shield our eyes. I gasped, frozen as streams of encrypted symbols, glowing, twisting fragments of light, spilled from the container, floating upward like living code. The characters spiraled through the air, then shot
straight into our heads. We felt a sharp pain in their head, then nothing.
Darkness swallowed us.