Chapter V
v
plink, plink as it cools. Wind rushes over the fields, through the trees.
How do I hear any of that? I hear my heartbeat too, going far too fast, and the rush of blood in my ears.
And the pain. The pain is suddenly all-consuming, for seconds or minutes or hours, I can’t tell. It doesn’t subside. But I need to do something, need to focus. Need to drag my mind back together so I can get out of here, get help.
Help. I need help. I open my mouth, but the sound that emerges is weak and ragged, and that only hurts more. The next sound is a sob, catching in my throat, and I taste the copper of my own blood.
Help. Why is there no one here? I stare out into darkness. No one for miles, maybe. I’m not sure where I am. Where I drove to. I was…
I was running. Away, but not from danger. From hurt.
This hurts. I try to shout again, body shaking with another sob, but the shaking makes things hurt more and I try to move my legs—maybe I can get out, maybe there’s somewhere nearby I can go—but they’re trapped and the throbbing pain in my arm is no good, either.
Help. The word scrapes against the inside of my throat. I’m done for. My right arm is clumsy and aching but not broken and I struggle with my seatbelt for a minute, but it lies tight and unmoving across my chest.
The world swims before me. I need to get out. I need to—
Something passes in front of my vision. I go entirely still. Is something else out there?
There must be. There’ll be animals. That fucking deer. Birds. Something. But it’s dark, and the moon is high, and I’m on a back road and there shouldn’t be people for miles.
I see it again. A passing shadow. There and gone. A whimper escapes between my pressed-together lips. Tears slide down my face, burning hot against the sudden cold of my skin. There must be something