Page 101 of Faking Forever 1
Suddenly, with the wavering of my steering wheel to warn 241
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me, a deafening crash filled the air as a massive pile of boulders tumbled down from my left side, rolling down in front of the truck, blocking my oath completely. Panic surged through my veins, and with no choice, I swerved the truck, gliding straight into the enormous pile on the passenger’s side. Everything flying, including me, my seat belt holds me back, tightening around me.
Right on cue, I could hear my phone ringing. And it rang, and rang, while I sat with closed eyes, a tight chest, and a lump in my throat the size of one of these boulders.
* * *
The flashing of the lighting snapped me back into my senses after I had sat in silence for a few minutes. I was alone—
it was getting dark, and I was now wedged in the middle of massive boulders. The gravity of the situation was probably greater than it looked, but I had two options: sit here and panic, waiting for more of them to fall on me, or find a way out and call for help. The second option is the only real option here.
Reaching down, I jiggle the seat belt, clicking the red button to release my body so I can grab my phone in the seat beside me.
“Great. I should’ve known.” I suck my teeth, glaring at the top right corner of the screen.
There wouldn’t be any connection at this time, which comes as no shocker, but am I still going to message anyone I can?
You bet your ass I am. Expeditiously, I send a message to my parents, Tate, Josh, and Sierra, watching the bubble go green with every single one. All I can hope is that my phone likes 242
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me enough to send regular messages to at least one of them.
Somebody has to answer.
Disregarding my tiny straw bag, I loop my phone charm around my wrist, manually unlocking the door to get out. I was facedwith one of the boulders when my feet hit the ground, nearly blocking my pathway to get out. The rain was cold, smacking my skin like wet nails. In seconds, I was soaked, creeping around each boulder like a maze until I’d reached an opening.
Blaring from afar, the fire hall siren was finally doing what it should have.
The weather siren wails at a distance, alerting the entire city.
It couldn’t compare to the vibration from the wind, sending my body into a slant as I tried to walk further away from the group of large rocks. Pulling on my sweater, I cover myself with it more, as if it shields any moisture surrounding me.
At first, I thought my equilibrium was off from shaking rapidly in the truck, but it wasn’t me or my balance at all. The boulders weren’t done doing their damage. The ground shook beneath me, racing to the second batch of giant rocks. My attention was grabbed as I looked up. I made a quick dash as far as I could, covering my head in the process as I listened to each of them fall like Jenga blocks.
Right on top of Big Red.
Somewhere amid it all, I found myself on the puddling concrete, kneeling on my bare knees with my head still covered. My brain was tricking me—making me believe the avalanche was still crashing. The wave of force it sent wasthatstrong. I can’t imagine that I’d be missing anything at that damn banquet now. It’s a miracle if they still have electricity.
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It’s more of a miracle that I’m alive. By now, if my mom isn’t sending for a search crew, I’m going to be forced to accept thatneither of my parents ever truly loved me. They have to know that something is wrong. I’m waiting for someone to walk up this road—if I’m lucky, they’ll be driving and here to save me. I don’t even care if it’s fucking Nicholas at this point.
This time, I genuinely need a supernatural phenomenon if I’m going to make it to any shelter.
Bringing my head up from my ball of safety, I look straight ahead, scaling the area for any road signs, only seeing one.
Maneuvering my wet hair from sticking to my face, I raise my body from the ground, feeling the weight of my clothes drag me down as I look closer at the sign.
One mile to North Middletown.
It’s right where Stillman’s is located. If I can walk there, I can at least change and hide in the greenhouse—if I can get there at all.
This is far from any romance movie or book I have ever read.
