Undercity: Manifest

Prologue

She thought she killed someone once.

The car didn't stop dead. It rolled over him and she felt every break as his bones snapped. The feeling of being powerless was familiar; she knew the impact wasn't survivable, and it was her fault.

She hadn't had time to react as the dark figure, a man she realised, appeared from nowhere. There was a moment of paralysis before she was finally able to plunge her foot down on the break.

The familiar curvature and angles blurred as the car span out of control. She watched the signs and lights come in and out of focus and willed the inevitable stillness to take effect.

Finally, everything slammed to a stop. The air was forced from her lungs as an unfamiliar vice-like grip took hold. 

The silence was consuming. It took her brain an eternity to catch up with what had just happened.

Breathe.

As she tried to collect herself, there was a preternatural flash – lightening- she reasoned. She slowly moved her hand down to the handle of her car door and opened it. The movement was sluggish as the apprehension of what she was sure was about to be a life-changing confirmation, took hold. 

She killed someone.

As soon as her feet hit the uneven tarmac road, she realised she was numb. 

It had to be cold outside. 

Why wasn't she cold? 

Her body did not feel like her own. Something was different. She knew she was in shock, but despite the acknowledgement, she could find no comfort.

Then the pain hit. 

The pain in her head from colliding with the window. 

The pain in her neck from the sudden impact. 

But, the pain of knowing she was responsible for killing someone, that would come much later, and her life would never be the same again.

Her vision wasn't fully focused, but she could see enough to make out the form lying motionless on the road. 

Dead. 

She reached for her phone and pulled it from her pocket. 

Hands shaking, she dialled the emergency service number. There was an answer just as she reached the body. Her own body released a breath on impulse as she finally locked eyes on her victim.

'What's your emergency?' the voice from her phone asked.

'I...I killed a dog'.

She thought she killed someone.