Chapter Two- My Brother's Accident

Rachel’s POV

Six months ago...

We were all excited.

Tonight was the World Kickboxing Championship, and my brother, Ryan Cole, the reigning world champion, was set to defend his title in the finals—right here in our city, Baine.

This was the 2024 World Cup, and Ryan was determined to keep his crown.

We’d all taken a half day off work because the finals were scheduled for a Friday night. Everyone was meeting at our house before heading out. Three of Ryan’s friends were joining us, along with my best friend, Ash.

I had just finished my shift at The Nouveau Table, a high-end restaurant in Baine, and was heading home. When I arrived, Ryan and his friends—Casey, Max, and Nico—were chatting with Dad in the living room. Ash sat on a nearby chair, looking utterly bored.

He looked up when the door opened and smirked.

"Hey, babe, you're not going like that, are you?"

I rolled my eyes. My hair was a mess from pulling off my hairnet after work.

"No, ass. I still need to get ready."

Dad just chuckled and shook his head at our banter before heading off to find Mom.

I turned to Ryan. "So, bro, ready for your fight?"

He looked at me, his eyes sparkling.

"Hell yeah, I am," he grinned, excitement radiating off him.

"How good is your opponent?"

"He’s pretty good. We fought two years ago, and I almost lost. It’ll be a close match."

Ryan lived for a worthy opponent.

I motioned for Ash to follow me upstairs—I needed a quick girl talk session (even if he wasn't a girl).

Soon, everyone was ready. In one car: Mom, Dad, Ash, and me. In the other: Ryan and his friends.

At the Tournament

The arena was packed. Fortunately, we’d bought tickets early and were seated close to the front. The octagon-style cage was surrounded by black netting, with a grey mat inside and giant screens above showing the fight.

Excitement buzzed through the air—this was going to be close. Both fighters were top-tier, and even the sponsors and VIPs were watching with intensity.

It was a three-round match, each lasting two minutes and forty seconds.

The fight was insane—edge-of-your-seat, heart-in-your-throat madness.

Ryan took the first round. His opponent dominated the second. The third... was so close it nearly gave me a heart attack. But in the end, Ryan pulled through and won.

Five-time world champion.

We jumped to our feet, screaming and hugging. It was one of the happiest moments of our lives. After the tournament, we headed out to celebrate.

Ash, Mom, Dad, and I were in one car. Ryan and his friends took the other.

As our car started crossing the freeway at a green light, I watched in horror as a truck came speeding through the red, slamming straight into Ryan’s car.

Its tires screeched as the driver slammed the brakes and yanked the steering wheel. But it was too late.

The impact was deafening. The car flipped, rolled, and finally came to a stop.

Everything slowed down.

None of us spoke. Frozen in shock, we watched the twisted wreckage, unable to believe what we had just witnessed.

We leapt out of our car and ran to them. The passenger side was badly crushed, the windows shattered.

"Rachel! Quick, call the ambulance!" my dad shouted, rushing to the car and calling out names.

"Ryan! Casey! Max! Nico! Can you hear me?"

My mother broke down sobbing, her hands trembling against her face. Ash stood motionless, pale and stunned.

With shaking hands, I dialed emergency services.

"There’s been an accident. We need ambulances immediately at the crossing of Miriam Grove Highway and Harvey Avenue—four people are severely injured!"

Max and Casey were on the left side and slowly began to stir, showing signs of consciousness.

Ryan, in the driver’s seat, and Nico, directly behind him, had taken the full force of the crash.

Sirens blared in the distance. Soon, paramedics, police, and firefighters were all over the scene.

Two paramedics helped the truck driver into an ambulance to be checked.

Firefighters and paramedics worked together to pull Max and Casey from the wreck. Nico’s door had to be forced open, but they managed to get him out and into an ambulance.

Ryan was still trapped. His door was crushed in, and he lay unconscious, blood pouring from the side of his head.

My heart pounded in my chest as tears streamed down my face.

After what felt like an eternity, they pried open the door and carried him out. Dad rode with him in the ambulance.

Neither Mom nor Ash was in a state to drive, so I got us to Angelvale Hospital as fast as I could.

Between Ash and me, we contacted the other boys’ parents. Soon, the hospital waiting room filled with anxious, tearful families.

That night dragged on endlessly. Nurses and doctors hurried past, and we sat together, exhausted and terrified.

The four boys were all in surgery.

We sat huddled—tear-streaked, backs hunched—just praying none of them would die.

The Next Morning

Finally, a doctor came to speak with us and the other families.

"Max suffered a broken left arm and knee. His ribs were cracked from the airbag, and he has several cuts and bruises.

Casey’s head struck the car roof. He required twelve stitches and is being monitored for brain trauma. He has numerous bruises from hitting the passenger seat.

Nico sustained a broken right arm and leg, a facial cut, broken ribs, and various internal bruises.

As for Ryan..."

The doctor paused, solemn.

"The truck hit the driver’s side with full force. The impact snapped his body forward into the seatbelt and then backward as the airbag deployed. His spinal cord was damaged, and his right arm is broken. He has lacerations and contusions across his body.

When he wakes, he’ll need ongoing rehabilitation, and psychological support will be essential. Depending on how his nervous system responds... he may require more surgeries in the future."