Page 98 of Pages of Amber

“What was that?”

As soon as the question left her, a second crash came. Amber screamed, trying to hold on as everything tilted. Her heart knocked about in her chest, her breathing shallow. Noah fought the steering to get the car under control, a look shed never seen before in his eyes.

Fear.

“Amber, what’s happening? Answer me! Oh God, please don’t take her away too. I beg of you. Please don’t take my daughter. Amber!” Her mom’s scream blended with her own as the blue car ran into them again.

Her phone fell from her hand as they swerved. Noah struggled to gain control of the steering wheel but it was becoming clear that this wasn’t an accident.

Another hit came again, slamming into Amber’s door this time. She screamed, scrambling away as a dark blue sedan came up right beside them. In her panic, she vaguely realized she recognized the car. The heavily tinted windows were still rolled up so they couldn’t who it was.

“Amber, get down.” Noah pushed a hand out to keep her in her seat.

She clung to him as they were pushed into the opposite lane, the few cars on the road swerving wildly to avoid hitting them.

“Stop!” she yelled out to the driver of the blue car. “Why are you doing this?”

The window rolled down and Amber sucked in a deep breath that stuck in her lungs.

Lexi stared her dead in the eyes, a sneer of her face as she careened into them again. Amber screamed as their car jolted, nearly hitting a parked cab.

“You’re not going to get away with this, Amber. It ends here and now.” Lexi cackled. “I can’t wait to see how you look in a casket.”

Her words and the chilling laugh that left her frightened Amber. It felt like she was looking at someone else entirely.

Noah sped up in an attempt to ditch her car but Lexi met them par for par. He was doing his best to keep them on the road while Lexi wanted to throw them off.

“This is madness. Stop this, Lexi. Please.”

“It’s too late for begging. You’re gonna get what you truly deserve. I’m done being in the shadows of your spotlight.” She yelled out the window. Her venomous glare hit Amber square in the chest. “You’ve ruined my life by being so perfect, Amber. They don’t see what I see. That you’re nothing. You’re weak, simple-minded and don’t have a backbone! Beverly was my friend before you stole her from me! That role was supposed to be mine before you ruined it! It’s all so easy for you. Well, I’m going to enjoy taking everything from you the way you did to me. I already look like you. All I have to do is replace you.”

Lexi was frothing at the mouth, her movements growing more erratic as she yelled. Using all her strength, she spun her wheel, aiming her last hit right for the middle of Noah’s truck. If she came at them like that, there was no way they’d stay upright. Her engine revved towards them, about to slam directly into Amber.

A loud pop sounded in her ears like something had exploded. “Noah!” she screamed. The car spun out of his hands as their tire burst.

Noah threw his upper body over her, his grip tight on her hand as he kept her down.

“Hold on to my hand! Don’t let go!”

She couldn’t answer because the next moment, the car hit the curb and turned over, smashing them into the heavy metal corners and slamming her head against the glass. She felt like they’d suspended in the air.

Time slowed down around her. Broken glass cut into her cheek, she felt numb in every part of her body, helpless to do anything as the car somersaulted onto its roof. She slammed her head, awareness leaving her for several seconds. She wasn’t sure which way was up and down or if they would survive. The seconds ticked to the end and she prepared to say goodbye.

As darkness invaded her senses, all she could feel was Noah’s hands in hers. All she could was the blood that stained every inch of the crushed car.

She’d done it.

She’d chosen herself.

Her happiness.

Him.

If this was to be their end, she thought as her eyes fell closed, there was still nowhere else she’d rather be.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

THE SHARP SMELL OF chemicals tickled her nose, pulling her from sleep. A fierce headache pounded in her skull, made worse by the bright overhead lights. Amber took a second to get her bearing through bleary eyes. The bedspread she laid on was scratchy and her body felt stiff and heavy.

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