Darkstar

Chapter Fifteen: The Chase

The next morning, as Alex was getting ready for school, he was distracted by a noise that caught his attention—a news report blaring from a nearby house. His sensitive hearing allowed him to pick up the details, and he quickly realized it was coming from Mr. Jennings' television. The news anchor reported a car chase unfolding live, but then said something that sent a chill down Alex's spine. "This is the same vehicle involved in a hit-and-run incident last week," the reporter stated. Alex's heart raced as he put the pieces together; this could very well be the car that had struck his grandpa. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him, igniting a mix of anger and determination to uncover the truth.

Alex didn't want to alarm his grandma, so he told her he was going to skip breakfast to check on the cows before heading to school. She replied with an understanding "okay." Before he went outside, he grabbed his grandpa's old ski mask from the coat rack, knowing it might come in handy if he needed to stay under the radar. With determination fueling him, he raced toward the last known sight of the car chase, his heart pounding with both fear and adrenaline. He needed to find answers about the car and the person responsible for his grandpa's accident.

Alex heard the sirens approaching in the distance and quickly pulled the ski mask over his face, feeling a surge of urgency. He ducked behind a nearby tree, his heart racing as he tried to catch a glimpse of the unfolding scene. The flashing lights illuminated the road ahead, casting eerie shadows through the woods. He had to stay hidden but couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to see what was happening. The weight of his grandpa's situation drove him forward, determined to uncover the truth behind the car that had caused so much pain.

As the car sped around the corner, it skidded onto a narrow side road that was hidden from the view of the pursuing police officers. The engine quieted, and the driver cut off the headlights, leaving the vehicle shrouded in darkness. Alex watched from his hiding spot, his pulse quickening as the police cars whizzed by without even a hint of noticing the parked car just feet away from him. He felt a mix of frustration and determination; this was the moment he had been waiting for, and he couldn't let the opportunity slip away.

Alex rushed to the driver's side door, his heart pounding in his chest. The moment he reached the vehicle, he spotted a man sitting in the driver's seat, panic flooding his face as he noticed Alex looming over him. The robber instinctively reached for a gun tucked away in his waistband, but before he could even grasp it, Alex reacted with a surge of adrenaline. With a powerful tug, he ripped the door clean off its hinges and hurled it into a nearby cluster of pine trees, where it lodged in the trunk like a dart.

The robber's eyes widened in terror, and he shouted, "Stop! Leave me alone!" His voice trembled, revealing the fear that now overshadowed his bravado. Alex stood firm, fueled by the urgency to protect his grandfather and confront the man responsible for the hit-and-run.

With a swift motion, Alex ripped the seatbelt from its lock and yanked the man out of the car, his muscles feeling stronger than ever. The robber, panicking, instinctively reached for his gun, but Alex was quicker. In one fluid motion, he snatched the weapon from the man's waistband and effortlessly bent it with a single hand, leaving it useless.

The robber's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the masked figure before him. "Who are you?" he stammered, fear creeping into his voice.

Alex's voice was low and steady, his anger barely contained. "I'm your worst nightmare. Are you the one who sent an old pickup truck into the ditch last week?"

The robber hesitated, confusion washing over his face as he tried to regain his composure. Before he could respond, Alex slammed him against the driver's side back door, the impact reverberating through the air. "Answer me!" Alex demanded, his heart racing with the weight of his determination.