THE OWL'S NEST 2

Chapter 2: Downhill Wind

The moment the drunk boy and his speeding motorcycle hit Will and his family's car, there wasn't any sound. It wasn't like that in the movies. There was just this sudden jerk to the left as their momentum suddenly changed.

Will instinctively bowed and shielded his head with his hands, when the movement had stopped, he looked up. The car's engine had a nasty clattering sound. The fan blades had broken apart and the whole front end was bent so the blades that were left were hitting the side of the radiator. The windshield was shattered. The color of the light was orange. The car was hanging on the curb. Will looked to his left and saw his Dad checking the boy on the asphalt. They were scarily a few meters away, indicating that the rider had flown far onto the road.

He checked his mother, sister and grandmother if they were alright, then he went out. He first tried to open his side of the door but it was so bent that it wouldn't budge. He crawled out of the Driver's side. He walked toward the drunk rider. His femur was sticking out. He was still breathing and he was alive. However he was so out of it that he didn't even know that he had broken his leg and shattered all the bones on his toes.

Will's sister held the hand of the drunken rider. It was so quiet, it was indeed 1 am in the morning, but that would all change in a few minutes as a whole slew of road officers and an ambulance came to the scene. Not long after, all of the friends and family members of the drunken rider came as well, all riled up and drunk.

It was so chaotic that Will didn't know what to do. The drunken boy's older friend was so drunk that he was zigzagging towards Will's Dad, trying to push everyone away so he could try and harm Will's Dad. "Ano ba nangyare??! Tatanungin ko lang naman yan e putang ina o!" The man cried out.

Will's natural reactions kicked in, but his Dad signaled to him not to attack. Instead, his Dad went inside the car and waited for the police to direct him to the police station.

Will felt really powerless, he believed so much that he was this invincible costumed superhero, but right at this very moment, their safety lay in the hands of the police. The angry man was held back as they drove to the police station.

Kate was wondering why Will hadn't messaged yet. It was already 1:47 am. Right on cue, she got a message:

"Wait lang, Kate, na bangga kami. Update kita mamaya lo bat na ko di ako naka charge."

She was shocked, she messaged back quickly:

"What!?? Ingat kayo jan, :'( maki charge ka para maka tawag ka kapag may emergency"

Having to tell his girlfriend this horrible news on Christmas day felt heavy. Will wished they had not tried to return for the salad at all.

2:30 a.m., the family of the drunken rider still have not met with Will and his Dad. His sister Mother and grandmother all went on ahead and grabbed a taxi home to keep them safe. He looked over his right, his Father, who had woken up early for Christmas Eve the morning before was starting to nod off. An old man without a comfortable bed, stranded in a police station. Will felt furious.

Will: "Pa higa ka nalang jan sa bench."

4 a.m. The other party still wasn't at the police station. Technically, they can only detain Will's Dad for a day here at the station. If the other party doesn't come back, they'll be free to go. Will walked outside for a bit. Anxious birds of prey need early morning wind to feel better.

The wind was weak. But it was cold outside and it smelled good. It didn't smell like it came out of a machine. He laid his eyes on their car. The entire front end was wrecked. He opened the door at the driver's side and grabbed Kate's Christmas gift. A black jacket.

It was on the floor covered in little shards of glass. Will's senses were sharp. Even though he was tired. It was the adrenaline and the sense that he could not trust anyone right now that was a stranger.

6:40 a.m., the family of the drunken boy finally arrives. They were surprisingly kind and were very apologetic. They had just come from the hospital where the boy was being treated.

It was revealed that the boy only borrowed that bike. Blood work showed Blood Alcohol Concentration of .080. The boy didn't even wear a helmet or a pair of shoes.

His parents and Will's Dad, together with Will's Aunt, agreed that they would instead avoid legal actions and help each other since it's "Christmas Day". And with that, they were all allowed to go home. 7:55 in the morning. Will and his Dad moved the wrecked car at the nearby cemetery. "A mean joke from the universe" Will thought. After that, they booked a Grab car and went home.

Will went up to his room. 10:40 a.m. He can't sleep. There was too much adrenaline and anger in him. Too giddy to just lay on a bed. Yet here he was, staring at the windows. Just a few hours ago, he was getting ready to come home and rest. With all the anger swirling inside his head, he somehow drifts into deep sleep.

After a short while, while he glides in black comfort, a bright headlight suddenly comes in from his right and he feels and hears the metal twisting all around him.

He wakes up angrier. It was the last time he'll ever sleep while he was alive.

The time was 10:41 a.m.