"Divine designs can sometimes be cruel. More than that, they may burn like molten iron tearing through one's entrails. Something akin to the abandonment of a blessing… only to fall into the cradle of a curse."
The storm roared like an unchained beast, and the narrow road was the perfect stage for a tragedy waiting to unfold. The slick asphalt reflected the lightning that tore through the sky, while the relentless rain turned every curve into a trial for anyone reckless enough to drive that night. At the heart of the chaos, a pickup truck struggled forward, its tires fighting against deepening puddles and the crushing weight of rain that fell like an impenetrable curtain.
—Mom… Rhafhaely fell asleep… she seems afraid of heavy rain…— The worried tone contrasted with the tenderness and quiet delight of soothing her little sister.
—She must be tired, dear. Today was a full and restless day for the three of us.— The comforting words were like a soft lullaby to them both. Cristhal's eyes remained fixed on the treacherous road. She had been a runner through the lantern-lit nights of Araxi, and even at her young age one could say she was a flawless driver. —I understand your sister. This storm frightens me… just a little. I have never seen one like it before.
—It's okay, Mom. Don't be scared. I'm here.
Ylihiam smiled from the back seat as she continued to gently stroke her little sister's nearly translucent hair.
—Oh… I almost forgot I have my brave and strong little girl.
—Yes, Mom. I'm not afraid.
As they approached a dangerous bend, known for its treacherous incline, the sound of an engine speeding in the distance broke through the roar of the storm. A luxury car, its headlights bright and piercing, surged along the opposite lane, indifferent to the savage weather. Its speed was reckless, as if the driver believed themselves untouchable.
—Are you going to show your little sister your secret garden?
She asked with curious warmth, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel, caught between the tender sight of her gentle eldest daughter protecting her younger sister… and the storm that would become her first and last merciless one.
—It's my secret garden, Mom.— At first the girl spoke with theatrical pride, only to melt moments later like raspberry syrup. —But yes, I will. She's going to love our purple Onyx.
—Yes, my love. She will love our home.
Cristhal smiled through the rearview mirror as Ylihiam sent her countless kisses, a wave of affection and tenderness glowing in the child's eyes within the dim back seat of the truck.
The pickup entered the curve first, its tires sliding slightly yet still holding control.
Ylihiam carefully held a strand of Rhafhaely's hair, as though it were the most delicate and precious thing she had ever touched. But suddenly, an inexplicable pain struck her. Her body bent forward, a silent scream trapped in her throat. Dark strands fell across her face, her eyes widening with a fear she could not understand. Instinct alone drove her body to react.
Before Cristhal could complete the turn, the luxury car appeared like a bolt of lightning, cutting across the road with merciless speed. The driver did not brake. Did not swerve.
The collision was inevitable.
—My girls… God…— It was all the desperate heart of the young woman could manage before the impact came.
The sound of the crash was deafening. Metal twisting, glass exploding, the storm howling around them like a chorus of ruin. The pickup, frail against the mass and force of the luxury vehicle, was hurled aside. It spun violently, its tires screaming across the soaked asphalt before slamming into a tree at the roadside. The rear of the vehicle was obliterated, leaving it barely recognizable. The cabin crumpled inward, shattered glass scattered across the mud like fragments of frozen ice.
Inside, the scene was worse.
The dashboard lay broken, the seats crushed, and a heavy scent of gasoline mingled with the metallic tang of blood filling the air. Rain poured through the shattered windows, soaking everything as droplets fell in a steady rhythm upon the motionless bodies.
—Hmm… ah…— The groan was so faint it was almost nonexistent.
Ylihiam writhed beneath the pain surging through her body, her arms wrapped around something, her frantic eyes searching for someone… or something. It was impossible to understand what she was experiencing in that moment.
The luxury car, in contrast, remained almost entirely intact. Its reinforced frame had absorbed the impact with ruthless efficiency, leaving only minor dents and scratches along the front. It looked like a predator that had just slain its prey, resting upon the road as though nothing in the world could challenge it. Its headlights continued to blaze, casting a cold and merciless light over the wreckage.
Inside the luxury car, the driver, a young woman with a disturbing smile upon her lips, watched the destruction with chilling indifference. There was no panic. No urgency.
Only quiet satisfaction as thunder rolled in the distance, like a dark applause for her handiwork.
The man beside her stared at the chaos in distress, though not the kind one might expect. His concern lay not with the shattered family, but with how he might shield the young blonde woman from the scandal this catastrophe might bring.