Chapter 10: In the Rain
252 words
The lock’s click echoed like a gunshot. I stood on the sidewalk, the cold seeping through the soles of my shoes, staring at my life piled in damp cardboard boxes. Then, the sky opened up. It wasn't a drizzle; it was a deluge, soaking my worn coat instantly.
I dragged my suitcase toward the bus stop, every step sending a jolt of agony through my injured back. I collapsed onto the metal bench, shivering violently. I tried to think of a homeless shelter nearby, but my phone battery was dead.
A low growl cut through the sound of the rain. Sleek, silver, predatory. The Pagani Huayra approached slowly, hugging the curb. I knew that car. I froze, hugging my knees.
The sports car didn't slow down to stop; it accelerated into the massive puddle directly in front of the bench. A wall of filthy, freezing water slammed into me, drenching me from head to toe.
Through the stinging spray, I saw the window roll down just an inch. A hand holding a scotch glass gave a lazy wave before the engine roared, speeding away into the night.
The cold was no longer just on my skin; it was in my marrow. My vision blurred. The pain in my spine flared so hot it felt like my vertebrae were grinding together. Need emergency medical transport... need injury settlement... the thoughts fragmented.
The world tilted sideways. I slumped off the bench, my cheek hitting the wet concrete, and let the darkness take me.
End of Chapter 10
