Mia drove like a madwoman, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were white. The engine roared as she sped through the streets, every second feeling like a blur. Her heart pounded in her chest, louder than the rushing wind outside. She barely noticed the red lights or the cars she passed, only focused on getting to the school.
When she finally pulled into the parking lot, her body trembled with adrenaline. She parked and sat there, gasping for breath, her lungs burning from the weight of everything crashing down on her. Her fingers trembled as she clutched the steering wheel.
Her mind kept replaying the image-Hannah's body, the word "BLOCKED" carved into her skin. She could still see the blood dripping, and hear the screams of Hannah's parents. It made her stomach turn, and for a moment, she thought she might throw up right there.
What the hell was happening?
She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down, but the panic was relentless. Just as she was about to open the car door, a loud knock on the glass startled her. She jumped, her heart slamming against her chest, only to find Sebastian peering in with wide, concerned eyes, panting from running after her.
"Jesus," she muttered, placing a hand on her chest. She rolled the window down, trying to catch her breath.
Sebastian, still out of breath, leaned on the car. "Mia, what the hell... I've been chasing after you! You can't just run off like that!"
She shook her head, her voice shaking. "I... I couldn't stay. I needed to get away."
"I know, but you're scaring me," he said softly, his eyes full of worry. "Let's not do anything crazy, okay?"
Mia didn't reply, just nodded. There was a moment of silence between them, the weight of everything heavy in the air. Then, they both turned their heads towards the crime scene, where the flashing lights of police cars and media vans painted the night in harsh blues and reds.
"Do you want to see?" Sebastian asked cautiously.
Mia didn't answer but opened the door and stepped out of the car. Together, they walked toward the scene, pushing past the growing crowd of onlookers, reporters shouting questions, and the blinding flash of cameras.
As they reached the front, Mia's eyes fell on the stretcher where Hannah's body lay, now covered with a sheet. Blood still splattered from her mouth, staining the white fabric. Her parents were nearby, crying uncontrollably, holding each other as the media swarmed them, desperate for a story.
Mia's stomach churned. The smell of blood, the sight of it all-it was too much. Her legs wobbled, and suddenly, she couldn't breathe. She turned away, tears welling in her eyes, and ran from the scene, the nausea overtaking her.
"Mia!" Sebastian called, quickly running after her. She didn't stop until she found a quiet spot away from the crowds, leaning against a wall as her body heaved violently, the contents of her stomach spilling onto the ground. She coughed and retched, the image of Hannah haunting her with every painful breath.
Sebastian caught up with her, his face pale as he knelt beside her. "Hey, hey... it's okay," he said softly, rubbing her back as she gasped for air. "I'll get you some water."
He quickly sprinted back to the car, grabbed a bottle of water, and returned. "Here, drink this."
Mia took the bottle, her hands shaking as she took a few sips, the water cooling her burning throat.
Sebastian crouched next to her, his voice soft. "Do you want to go home now?"
Mia nodded weakly, her head spinning.
"I'll drive, okay? You've been through too much," he suggested.
But Mia shook her head firmly, already pulling out the car keys from her pocket. "No. I'm driving."
Sebastian frowned. "Mia, come on. You're not in the right state to drive-"
"I said I'm driving," she insisted, her voice strained but determined. Sebastian looked at her, then sighed in defeat, knowing he wasn't going to win this one. "Fine. But I'm staying with you."
They didn't notice the figure standing in the distance, watching them closely. Officer Hallowe, his arms crossed, observed as Mia and Sebastian walked back to the car. His eyes narrowed as Mia got into the driver's seat.
Why was she here? He watched her carefully as she drove off, suspicion gnawing at him.