Page 46 of Choose Me

Everett reached across the seat to take my hand, his grip firm and comforting. I sniffled, trying to compose myself. "Thank you," I whispered hoarsely.

"For what?"

"For getting me out of there."

He didn't say anything; he just gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. The agent pulled onto the busy street and turned on the radio, filling the silence with soft music. I stared out the window, watching the city lights blur into colorful streaks. While I appreciated the calming music playing, my thoughts were in absolute turmoil. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried calming my nerves. My phone kept vibrating in my purse, and I knew it was James calling me. I turned my phone off and slid it back into my wallet.

Seconds later, Everett's phone started ringing, and I looked over at him. He stared at the lit-up screen displaying the name James and looked torn between answering it and supporting me.

"You can answer it," I told him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. But I don't want to talk to him."

He gave me a pained expression before answering. "Hey," he said, his voice firm.

I couldn't hear James' response, but Everett's expression grew harder, his jaw clenching tight. "She's safe. I am taking her home."

More talking on the other end.

"She doesn't want to talk to you right now."

The car slowed, and Everett glanced up to see the reason.

"Looks like the tracks are closed for construction." The agent driving announced. "Base, this is Sparrow One. Are you tracking the change in route?"

"Copy, Sparrow One—base tracking. Proceed with caution. Radio when back on normal route."

"Sparrow One copies."

I leaned over to peer out of the front windshield and saw an orange detour sign directing us to a side street to bypass the railroad tracks.

Everett glanced up to confirm. "We're fine. There's construction at the railroad tracks. Looks like we are turning right on Smith." He told James.

The side street went past some dilapidated apartment complexes, away from the bustle of the main road. I leaned back into my seat and was about to close my eyes when I saw two bright headlights heading toward the right side of the car.

"Look out!" I cried, but the impact drowned out my words. The car smashed into Everett's side and slammed our vehicle into the guardrail on my side. The impact flung me into the door, banging my head against the window. I lifted my hand to my head and felt blood dripping down my forehead. The car was tilted at an angle, the guardrail barely keeping the vehicle from tumbling down into the drainage ditch below.

I looked over at Everett, his face twisted in pain and his hand clutching his side. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice shaky.

"I'm...I'm fine," he groaned, but I could see the blood seeping through his shirt.

The screeching of tires drew my attention to the passenger side again. There was the briefest moment of calm before the headlights appeared again.

Impact.

I don't know how long we were falling--tumbling down the embankment. Time seemed to slow, and if I hadn't had my seatbelt on, I would have been thrown around the car like a rag doll. Still, my body lifted off the seat as the momentum of the car flipping held my body suspended in the air for several seconds. I could barely hear anything over metal crunching and glass shattering. The car flipped over, once...twice...three times, the world outside spinning around us. I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impact.

The car landed at the bottom of the dam with a thud, and everything went still.

For a moment, all I could hear was my labored breathing and the pounding of my heart. The smell of smoke and oil filled the air, and I looked at Everett. He was slumped over, unconscious.

"Everett?" I called out. My voice was hoarse. I reached over to touch him, but my seatbelt was locked, and I couldn't reach him. "Everett, wake up!"

There was no response.

Panic set in, and I fumbled with the seatbelt, my fingers shaking uncontrollably. Finally, the seatbelt clicked, and I managed to free myself. Blood dripped down my forehead and into my eyes, and my head was pounding. I felt around my belly to make sure I wasn't injured, and other than my splitting headache, it didn't appear that I was seriously injured anywhere else.

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