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The silence in the car was deafening, broken only by Karina's soft sobs.
She wiped her face with trembling hands, her voice shaking as she whispered, "Please Winter. Don't do this."
Winter's chest tightened painfully, the words tearing at her already fragile resolve. Karina's voice became softer, pleading now, her tears falling freely. "I thought you cared. Just let me know. I thought..." She trailed off, her words dissolving into shaky breaths.
"Stop," Winter muttered, her voice barely audible.
But Karina didn't stop. Her emotions poured out, raw and vulnerable. "If you're going to leave me, just tell me why! What did I do wrong? Why-"
"STOP!" Winter suddenly screamed, her voice ripping through the quiet.
Karina flinched, shrinking back in her seat, wide-eyed and trembling.
Winter slammed her fist into the steering wheel with all her strength, the impact echoing in the confined space. Pain exploded through her hand, and she hissed, clutching her injured knuckles. Blood welled from the split skin, but she didn't care. Her chest heaved, her face crumpling as tears finally spilled down her cheeks.
"I can't do this," Winter choked out, her voice trembling with anger and despair. "I can't... choose."
Karina stared at her, horrified and heartbroken, her tears momentarily forgotten as she processed the raw pain in Winter's voice.
Winter breath out deeply, turned her head, her eyes locking onto Karina's terrified expression. Her lip trembled, her voice hoarse as she finally spoke. "Just... stay in the seat. Don't move."
Karina nodded hesitantly, fear mingling with confusion.
Winter locking the car doors with a deliberate click. She glanced at Karina, her eyes narrowing in warning, and then reached over, unlocking the handcuff binding Karina to the door.
Karina rubbed her wrist, her eyes never leaving Winter's face. "What are you doing?"
Winter exhaled shakily, running a trembling hand through her hair. "We're going to run," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Karina's brow furrowed, her confusion only deepening. "Run? What do you mean?"
Winter started the engine, her movements careful but determined. She reversed the car, the tires crunching against the gravel.
Karina's voice wavered. "But... but what about your mother?"
Winter's hands tightened on the wheel. Her jaw was clenched, her gaze on the road as she continued, her voice flat and hollow. "I can't hand you over. I can't lose you."
The words hung in the air like a bomb, and Karina froze, her lips parting in shock.
Winter didn't give her time to respond, pressing forward. "You have to escape. Go far away-fly somewhere they'll never find you. You'll be safe."
