Chapter 3
258words
The floor of the car was growing hotter, the heat searing the soles of my shoes.
And then I saw it.
A flicker of orange.
Flames.
"It's on fire! The car's going to explode!"
I whipped my head back to Jason, my voice a desperate plea.
"Jason, save me! Open the door! The car is on fire! It's real this time! Please... I'm begging you..."
"Have you completely lost it, Emma? To get my attention, to make me feel sorry for you, you'd set your own car on fire?"
"You'll stop at nothing, will you? Look at yourself! Your face is a mess, all smoke-stained and tear-streaked. You think that's attractive? I'll tell you what it is. It's pathetic!"
It was getting harder and harder to breathe.
The smoke was like acid in my lungs.
With the last of my strength, I hammered on the window, my pleas becoming faint, muffled gasps.
"Open... the door... I'm... going to die..."
As he watched the black smoke billow and the flames lick higher, a flicker of doubt crossed Jason's face.
Chloe immediately tightened her grip on his arm.
"Jason, honey, her act is so convincing. It's starting to scare me."
"Let's just go. Your mom cooked all that food for us. It's Thanksgiving, we can't keep your parents waiting."
At the mention of his parents, that sliver of doubt in Jason's eyes vanished.
He gave me one last, cold look, then turned his back on me, pulling Chloe along with him.
