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The crickets chirped across the parking space.
Mason hummed softly, as he approached his car. His keys in his hand, he lifted his thumb to press the button.
And froze.
His trunk was wide open. Slowly, he stepped closer, scanning the space. But there was no movement
No sound.
Nothing.
Quickly, he pulled out the drinks, slamming the truck shut, when suddenly….there was silence.
The crickets. The wind. It stopped.
His breath hitched.
He hit the lock button, but his car didn't lock.
"Shit!" He cursed.
He clicked again. But met the same result.
Fumbling with the keys, he shoved them in.
And he finally got the trunk to click shut. He pulled them out, and the keys slipped.
Quickly he bent down to pick them, when a swift movement caught his attention, Just at the edge of his vision.
He paused, his eyes shifting slightly.
Then he saw it, a pair of legs. Running.
Close and fast.
"Shit." Mason screamed. Stumbling back, his feet catching on nothing. As he fell to the ground, hard.
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The music pulsed through the air, loud enough that it shook the ground beneath their feet.
Rain stood apart from the crowd, her eyes drifting subconsciously into the darkness then back to the moment.
A strange chill crept in. Then, the crowd erupted into a cheer.
Her gaze scanned the scene and fell on Grayson. The reason for the sudden ripple.
He had climbed on the trunk of a pickup, his hands spread like he owned the entire night.
"Who wants to see something crazy!" he shouted, laughing with his tongue out.
A wave of excitement answered him, fueling his spirit. Hazel appeared beside him, immediately grabbing his arm. "Grayson." She called. "You are drunk. Come down."
He looked at her and didn't say a word. Like she was background noise.
"Grayson!" She called again, even louder.
"Relax." He pulled his hand back. "I'm fine. Stop trying to kill the vibe." he jumped down the trunk.
Hazel stepped in front of him, more serious this time. "I am not joking. Don't drive this."
"Or what?" He snapped, shoving her aside.
That small push was enough, Hazel stood there for a second. As though she wasn't expecting him to do that.
Grayson got into the car, he turned on the engine and a low growl spread across the clearing.
People started moving. Clearing to the side, and making a path.
Some took out their phones to record. Others stood to watch.
Rain didn't move, her stomach tightened without reason.
The engine roared, as Grayson rolled down the window grinning at the crowd. "Watch this?"
Hazel took a step forward again, "Grayson, don't!" But he wasn't listening anymore. The car rolled forward.
Someone in the crowd said. "No way he's actually doing this."
"I really want to record this." One added.
"Exactly. My phone keeps glitching." Another chimed in.
Rain looked around. But her unease grew even more.
The car was slow at first, then he hit the accelerator, as it shot forward. Grayson's grin grew even wider, as though teasing the crowd.
"Come on Gray." Luke yelled, as Hazel shot him a glare.
The truck drove round the burn fire. The speed, increasing at each turn.
The engine roared, the crowd cheered even louder.
Rain swallowed, her fingers digging into her skin.
"Grayson.." someone shouted.
Then, the car swung again,
But this time, it didn't come back clean. The turn was too sharp, the wheels skidded.
He tried to correct it. But It was too late.
The car veered violently, headed towards Rain.
The people by her side jumped out of the way.
Rain froze. Unable to move, as though her feet were glued to the ground.
"RAIN!" Nora's scream tore through the air.
But she remained still, as she watched the pickup drive towards her.
Then a sharp jerk of the wheel. The car swerved to the side, barely missing her.
For a second, time had stopped.
Then....
BOOM.
Metal slammed into stone. The Giant Rock.
The impact echoed across Sunset Cove. The engine died instantly.
Silence fell.
Not a sound was made. Everyone held their breaths.
"Grayson!!!" Hazel's voice broke first.
Instantly the crowd went wild.
Everyone rushed towards Grayson. Some, out of worry. Others, for the drama.
Hazel rushed in first, Luke closely behind her.
Rain fell to the ground, she couldn't feel her legs. Nor any part of her body.
Nora knelt by her side. Her hands gently cradling her face. "Are you okay?"
But Rain remained silent. Her hands trembled as she tried to process everything that happened.
"I..I am fine." She finally responded, inhaling and exhaling deeply.
Her focus drifted towards the crowd around the truck. The engine, leaking.
Luke pleaded with everyone to take a few steps backwards, but no one listened.
Hazel pulled the door open. Her breath caught immediately.
Grayson was slumped over the steering wheel. Unmoving.
A thin line of blood ran down from his forehead, his head had hit the deployed air bag, still half deflated against his face.
For a second, she couldn't breathe. Her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my God… Grayson."
She reached for him instinctively, and luckily he was wearing a seatbelt. She yanked the seatbelt free as he fell into her arms.
His weight pushed her down.
"Luke." She screamed, her voice cracking. "Come help me!"
Luke and two other boys rushed towards Hazel, lifting Grayson from her arms.
"Back up. He needs air." Tommy, one of the boys shouted at the crowd. Waving them away.
Reluctantly they stepped back. Confused.
Whispering. Some of their phones still raised.
Carefully, they laid him on the ground. In that moment there was chaos. Panicked voices, hands reaching out to check if he was breathing.
Hazel called out to him. "Babe…" but he was unresponsive.
Then, a cough. Grayson's body jerked, as he released another cough.
His eyes flickered open, with Hazel quickly pulling him into an embrace. "What…happened?" he muttered weakly.
Sighs of relief broke among the crowd. "Thank God." Someone breathed.
Laughter and shaky breaths filled the air.
People exhaling like they had been underwater. Luke bent his head slightly, relieved.
Just then, a voice cut through. "Look."
At first, no one moved, then heads turned towards the Giant monument. The rock stood still for a beat.
Slowly, a crack spilt through it. Like something breaking from inside it.
CRACK…
Another Iine tore down its surface. The sound, deep and hollow.
And finally….
The rock spilt clean, into two massive halves. They fell to the ground. The earth, shaking slightly.
Everything stopped. The voices, the phones.
The breaths of relief others had just began releasing, as the crowd stared. Their eyes wide and mouths open, surprised.
"Fuck!" Someone cursed, the panic exploded.
"Let's go—Let's go—Move."
People scattered in every direction. Their voices overlapping and bodies shoving past each other.
Hazel didn't hesitate, "Help me!" She snapped. Luke and Tommy rushed in immediately, lifting Grayson up.
"Careful. Watch his head." She said. They pushed through the crowd, heading straight to the car.
Rain was still, her eyes were locked on the rock. Spilt clean in two.
It felt unreal. No, it was impossible.
"Rain." Nora called. But she didn't respond. "Rain!" She called again, shaking her into focus.
Rain blinked like she was waking up. "We have to go." Nora yelled. Pulling her up.
She moved, but her gaze didn't. It remained fixed on the rock. Suddenly, Mason appeared. Jogging towards them, out of breath.
"Guys… you won't believe what I just—"
"Not now." Nora cut in, dragging Rain forward.
Mason stopped. "What.." Then his gaze shifted towards the monument.
He froze. The rock, in two. "What the hell…" disbelief flickered across his face.
"Move. Now." Nora said, she didn't stop moving. Grabbing Mason by his shirt too.
Rain's her legs were moving. But her mind was still back there.
Something had changed. And she could feel it.