A drive with Carl

The moment Carl stepped outside the room to make a call, I stayed frozen in the room, squeezed on the floor and my back against the wall, eyes on the floor, body trembling. Everything inside me was still vibrating from the chaos.

I stared at my hands. My fingertips were still stained red. I hadn't even noticed.

And then, behind me, I heard a whisper that jolted me like lightning.

"You bitch… you want to run away?"

I screamed.

It wasn't the kind of scream you rehearse in horror movies—it was primal, broken, the sound of a girl unravelling.

Anne.

She was talking. Breathing. Awake.

I didn't wait to process it. My body moved on instinct. I bolted out of the room like I was being chased by a ghost and ran straight into Carl, who was still on the phone. He caught me just before I crashed into his chest.

"Whoa! Hey—Sidney?"