Fragments

Prologue

"What is past is prologue,"

I can remember my legs pumping the pedals faster and faster, ignoring the slow ache in my calves.

Glancing at my watch instead of watching the road.

I was late. Mum was going to kill me.

The sky was an inky black. The road was hidden by the white ice. Meeting in the distance they split the horizon in half with a line that looked as if it had been drawn by a ruler.

I pedalled towards that line as fast as I could.

Beyond that line was a sloping descent that led directly into my village. It would take five minutes at most to get home.

Why hadn’t I paid attention to the road? Stupid, stupid.

There was a screech, a horrible echoing mechanical scream as headlights shot through the darkness from behind me.

I watched my shadow as I got hit.

Time didn’t slow down. One second I was on my bike, the next I hit the floor with enough force to shatter the bones in my body.

I smashed into the ground, breaking the ice into tiny razor-sharp shards that cut my fingers and cheeks.

I heard my bones snap. I felt blood soaking through my clothes and saw it staining the ground around me.

There was the sound of slamming doors, footsteps.

“Oh my god,” A voice, unmistakably female. “Oh my god, Gary.”

“I- I didn’t see her. I didn’t- Oh god. Is she still…?”

Fingers press against my neck, the inside of my wrist. Fingers that come away tainted scarlet.

Everything hurts, blinding pain, dull aches, layer upon layer of agony.

I force my eyes open. The stars are silver pinpricks high above.

“She’s opened her eyes! Sweetie, can you hear me? What’s your name?” It’s the woman, but I still can’t see her. She sounds close. I can smell alcohol on her breath.

 “Jocelyn Embers,” I try to say, opening my lips. But instead of words, blood and bile slides down my chin.

“Shit, call an ambulance. Hurry!” She yells, and I feel pressure on my palm as she takes my hand in hers. I close my eyes, trying to distance myself from the pain.

The man – Gary – is calling someone, presumably an ambulance. But I know they will be too late.

I can already feel myself dying.

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Dedicated to NikolausKnight,  because they made me the insanely gorgeous cover!