Prologue
*Esme*
“Esmeralda, slow down!” Maria exclaims, laughter bubbling up in her voice. The city’s neon glow paints a playful picture on her face.
I cheekily twirl to face her, walking backward. “It’s my birthday, Maria. I get to set the pace.”
Carlos, my loyal cousin, chimes in, his arm draped protectively over Maria’s shoulders. “Let her have her fun. She’s officially an adult now. Even if she still can’t drink.”
“Finally, someone gets me.” I say, spinning back around with a joyful skip in my step.
As our laughter begins to fade, a sudden, thunderous roar slices through the still night. My heart leaps into my throat, and I stop dead in my tracks. Two piercing lights materialize in the distance, rapidly growing larger and brighter.
“Wha-what is that?” Maria stammers, her eyes wide.
Carlos starts to answer, but his words are swallowed by the intimidating growl of the engines. Two cars, one matte black and the other a daring yellow, are racing towards us.
The sight of them, their headlights cutting through the darkness, leaves us frozen, our laughter replaced by a tense silence.
The world narrows to the two cars hurtling towards us. Their engines howl a monstrous, high-pitched screech, turning the festive night into a nightmare.
I can see their grilles, teeth bared in a cruel grin. They are racing, but Maria and I are right in their path.
“No!” Carlos roars, pushing me aside. His hands are a rough brand on my skin, a harsh reminder of the danger we are in.
I stumble, losing my balance and falling sideways. A searing pain shoots up my right leg as one of the car’s bumper grazes it. The pain is sharp, raw, real, but my mind is elsewhere.
Time slows, stretching the next few seconds into a lifetime. Carlos and Maria, caught in the headlights, are lifted into the air, their bodies spinning grotesquely before gravity takes over again.
Their terrified faces are forever etched into my mind, their screams echoing in my ears.
“No!” I scream, my own voice sounding distant and foreign. My heart feels like it’s being ripped apart, the sheer terror turning my blood to ice. I reach out as if to catch them, but they are too far, and I’m too late.
Tears blur my vision, mixing with the harsh lights of the cars. My breath comes out in ragged gasps, each one tearing at my throat. The world spins around me, the city’s neon glow now a sickening swirl of colors.
Pain, fear, and a soul-crushing helplessness engulf me. The joy of the night, the laughter, the celebration, all replaced by a deafening silence as the cars speed away, leaving devastation in their wake.
