CRASH INTO CHAOS CHAPTER 42- CRASH INTO CHAOS MARVIN POV When I opened my eyes , I didn't know if they were actually open . Everything was ... sideways . There was no up or down . Just pain and a buzzing silence like I was underwater and the world above didn't care if I surfaced again . When the crash hit , it wasn't sound I noticed first . It was the weight . It was almost like the air itself had slammed down on me . The steering wheel crushed against my ribs , and my head snapped forward so hard my teeth bit into my tongue . The airbag burst open with a deafening pop , shoving me back into the seat . For a moment , I thought I'd gone deaf . I blinked . My lashes scraped something sticky . Blood ? I tried to lift my arm but it barely moved . The windshield was gone ... or maybe it was still there , just shattered into a million glittering pieces clinging to the frame . Some of it was in my hair . Some on my hands . I could still feel the sting in my palm where a shard had already cut deep . Something was leaking from the dashboard . The smell of gasoline hit my nose hard and fast , followed by smoke ... thin at first , but growing . I knew what that meant , and if I didn't get out now , I wasn't going to get out at all . My side of the car had taken the brunt of the impact , it was crumpled , mangled , and folded like paper. It's a damn miracle I'm still in one piece . Guess luck hasn't completely given up on me yet . But that didn't mean disaster didn't make it out with me either . The door ... it was completely destroyed . Calling it a door at this point was being generous . I braced myself and kicked . The first time , the door barely budged . The second time , pain shot up my leg , but I didn't care ... I kicked again . It gave way this time with a low screech as cold air rushed in ... real air . The kind that tasted like life . I succeeded as I tumbled to the cold hard ground . Pain exploded in my body like I'd been broken in a dozen places . I could taste blood in my mouth as my vision swam with dark spots and blurs , maybe a black eye forming already . I was barely holding on . Then I heard footsteps . I tried to lift my head , but my neck felt like it shattered beneath my skin . Was it help ? Cops ? Someone ? For a flicker , I felt hope . But then came the words ... so cold and cruel , like a knife twisting in my chest . " This bitch is still breathing . " My breath caught , stuck like a stone in my throat . 1/4 CRASH INTO CHAOS Whoever it was , was who caused this . +25 BONUS I wanted to scream at whoever it was . To tell them to go to hell . But my voice was gone . I couldn't breathe . I couldn't scream . My mouth was open , but nothing came out ... just silence . Just horror choking every sound in my throat . Oh God .... why was I thinking of it now ? Maya's sour face and a glare that could make a grown man confess to crimes he didn't commit . Was this what they meant by your life flashing before your eyes ? Or maybe it was just guilt , creeping it's way into my bones . I thought the sirens were close ... so close I could almost taste them . But instead , all I heard was ... click - clack . That sound . The unmistakable , mechanical snap of someone cocking the gun again . He was going to shoot me . And I ... I couldn't move . My body was ice , but my heart was wildfire . My mind screamed do something , but my limbs wouldn't answer . I wanted to look . Wanted to see the face behind the metal . But I couldn't lift my head . Couldn't even breathe right . And in that sliver of a second .... p - pow MAYA'S POV I called him again . And again . Nothing . The ringing just cut off each time like it was mocking me . Marvin doesn't ignore my calls . Not unless he's drunk . Is he drunk ? Is he okay ? I stared at my phone like it might suddenly explain itself , but it didn't . Maybe he'd dropped his phone ... or perhaps he was in a place with bad reception . Maybe . Eventually , I told myself he was just too angry to pick up . Fine ... let him stew . He'd call when he cooled off . Minutes from now ... hours , tomorrow ? Whatever . I tossed my phone onto the bed and walked straight into the bathroom . The tile was so cold under my feet , it immediately gave me goosebumps . I peeled off my clothes one by one , letting them fall in a careless heap on the floor . When I finally turned to face the mirror , my bare body stared back at me , and for a moment , I didn't know if I should smirk at her , hate her , or just ... feel sorry for her . The mirror didn't look back at me like a friend tonight ... just a glass sheet showing me someone tired , and raw , and probably about to cry if she stood there too long . The water was hot , and sharp against my skin . I stayed under it longer than I needed to , like maybe steam could scrub off thoughts . Exactly as I expected ... It didn't . When I came out , I dried off , wrapped a towel snug around my chest , and headed straight for the closet . I reached into it and pulled out a nightdress . 2/4 CRASH INTO CHAOS +25 BONUS I'd already shoved my arms through the straps and was about to pull it over my head when it hit me ... Larry bought this for me . I could remember his smirk all too well . That smirk he always had when he'd already pictured me in it before I even touched it . " This is gonna look better on you than in the store window , " he'd said , and he wasn't I wore it and we laid in bed , just looking at each other like idiots . Did any of this even matter to him ? That bastard ... that infuriating bastard I just couldn't get out of my head . I used to love that look . Now , I couldn't stop imagining him giving it to Brandy . wrong . I yanked off the nightwear and hurled it across the room , then stomped to the closet and snatched out a crimson one with all the attitude I had left . I then slid into bed . Somewhere between staring at the ceiling and trying not to think , I sank into the Sandman's spell . ***** Morning crept in , and my ringtone was already throwing a tantrum . I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stretched , reaching for my phone . The number was unknown . Was it Marvin ? Or Larry ... and honestly , why now ? Like he just remembered I existed and suddenly felt guilty or something . Please . As if I had been sitting around , twiddling my thumbs , waiting for his apology . I stared at the screen like it might magically give me answers . But what if it was Marvin ? Would he finally admit he was an idiot , or would he just make my heart do gymnastics for no reason ? And Larry ... oh God , Larry . The thought of him trying to be all apologetic and charming made me roll my eyes so hard I almost saw my own brain . I exhaled , dramatic as hell , and swiped to answer . Because of course , I did . Curiosity , pride , stupidity ... they all teamed up to make me weak . " Hello ? " My voice came out sharper than I intended , like I was daring whoever it was to disappoint me . The voice on the other side didn't belong to either of them . " Is this ... Maya Perkins ? " the man asked . " Uh ... yes , " I replied , my stomach suddenly doing somersaults . " Who ... who is this ? " " This is Officer Daniels from Central Precinct , " he said , like he wanted every word to hit just right . " There's been an incident involving Marvin Perkins . " " Incident ? " I asked , but my voice was already cracking . " He was involved in a vehicular accident earlier this morning and , I'm afraid , sustained a gunshot wound to the neck . He's currently receiving medical attention at St. Luke's . " My mind froze . Gunshot ... neck ... Marvin ... I had no idea when my phone slid from my fingers and to the floor . The officer's voice was still coming through , tinny from the floor , saying my name , asking if I could hear him . I couldn't . 3/4 CRASH INTO CHAOS My knees went first . The floor rose up fast , next was my vision . It narrowed until the edges went black . The last thing I felt was the cold against my cheek before the dark took everything . +25 BONUS 4/4