so awesome. I hope it happens. What about tomorrow? The sooner the better.”
“You bet. I’ll talk to him when we get—” I almost say home, but I stop myself. I’m not sure if they see it that way yet. “—When we get to the clubhouse.”
I turn on the radio and my sisters are in a happy mood again. Victoria is smiling and singing along, off-key and horrible while Veronica laughs as she sings too. I stare at her, then lift my gaze to the rearview mirror again. I’ve been waiting to hear them laugh like that again.
I focus on the road again, and the light ahead is green. I’m midway through the intersection when a vehicle out of nowhere slams against the driver’s side. Metal crunches against metal, and my sister’s screams ring my ears. Glass prickles across my skin, and my head jerks to the side. My body flies out of the seat, and I hit my head on the roof of the car. The seatbelt keeps me intact, but the car flips to the side. My eyes are blurry as I stare at the sparks flying against the pavement, and the passenger side window shatters.
But it doesn’t stop there.
The car flips through the air and Victoria’s books slam against the windshield. It’s all happening in slow motion. I almost don’t realize what is going on or happening. The car rolls and every other flip it’s my side hitting the pavement, then it’s Veronica’s.
Scarlett is going to be so upset when she sees her car is totaled. It has to be, right?
The squealing of tires surrounds us as other vehicles try not to hit us.
When the car flips again, my body is limp. The vehicle falls to the side I’m on again, only to skid and hit against something. I can’t tell what it is. The engine makes a clicking sound while smoke fills the cab. I cough and every part of my body hurts.
I taste blood as it trickles down my lip. I blink my eyes, trying to clear my vision, but I can’t. “Veronica? Victoria?” I barely manage to say, but they don’t answer. I yank on the seatbelt with all my might, but it doesn’t matter. I’m too weak and injured to get out. My face is pressed against the bent metal, and I swallow as pain spreads up my left leg. I grimace and try to lift my head again.
“Veronica?” I try again. “Victoria?” I need to look at them, I need to see if they are okay, but I don’t have the strength to turn my head.
“Oh my god, are you okay? Can anyone hear me?” someone shouts from outside the car. “They are really hurt. Someone call 911.”
I want to beg for help, I want to speak, but I can’t find my voice. I’m too tired. I’m scared. I’m so fucking scared. It’s just me and my sisters. They can’t die. I can’t die. Life is starting over for us now. This can’t be how things end.
“Hey, we are going to get you guys out of there, okay?” a man yells through the windshield. “Just hang on, okay? I need you to hang on.”
“My sisters…” my voice breaks.
“It’s all going to be okay,” he reassures me.
I’m in and out of consciousness, fighting the urge to succumb to darkness. I’m so tired. I’m so sleepy. Sirens wail in the distance, and relief floods through me. Everything is going to be okay.
“Veronica, Victoria, help is coming. You hear that?” My voice is hoarse, and the stranger in front of me gets as close as he can to the windshield. The hood is bent and crumpled, reminding me of a piece of paper crumpled up. He gets as close as he can to the windshield, the smoke from the engine clouding his face.
He snaps his fingers. “Hey, no. Keep your eyes open. Tell me about yourself,” he says. “Help is almost here.”
“Tired,” I slur. “Head hurts.”
“I know, but your sisters need you to stay awake. We need information. Do you know your name?” he asks.
Tears brim my eyes when I try to move, but my leg stops me, the agony almost unbearable.
“I know you’re tired, but talk to me. My name is Gregory. What’s yours?” he says, poking his head through the windshield.
“Violet,” I rasp.
“Violet. Such a pretty name. And your sisters?”
“Veronica and Victoria,” I whimper, the pinch of pain causing me to look down to see a piece of glass in my thigh.
Oh, that really