Page 3

Three—

Tyres screech, and my body jerks forward. The seatbelt pulls tight across my chest, and I yell out in pain as I’m pushed and pulled over and over. My arm bangs into the door and my knees are crushed against the driver’s seat, then I’m flung back, knocking the wind out of me. Jamie’s screams cut through the crunching of metal and squealing of tyres, and Mum swears.

The car tips, then crashes back down on all four wheels. I’m too scared to open my eyes.

My head really hurts. Everything goes dark.

A high-pitched ringing in my ears wakes me up, and it takes a moment to remember I’m in the car. My head’s pounding, and my body aches.

I pry my eyes open, squinting as the daylight stings them. I look in the rear-view mirror, but I can’t see Mam’s reflection anymore. I can see her arm down the side of her seat, though.

“Mam?” I call.

She doesn’t answer.

I look over at Jamie to see if he’s okay, but he’s facing away from me.

“Jamie?” I whisper. I try to move, but a sharp pain goes through my right arm and leg, making me gasp. I feel like I’m going to be sick. “Jamie?”

Why’s he not answering me? If this is one of his games, it’s not funny.

Jamie’s arms are resting at his sides like he’s sleeping. I stare at his chest, waiting for movement. Listening for sound. But the only sound is my own ragged breath as I struggle to control it.

Fear like I’ve never felt before sits heavy on my chest, making it hard to breathe. There’s no air.

“Mam!” I yell. “Mam! There’s something wrong with Jamie.” She still doesn’t answer me. “Mummy?” I whimper.

Tears drip down my cheeks, and I search frantically for my seatbelt buckle. Finding the button, I push it. Nothing happens. I try again, but it won’t budge. It feels like every second that passes, the seatbelt is getting tighter. I try to wriggle free, but the pain forces me to hold still.

I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t want to be here. I want to be home. I want Jamie to ask me to play with him, and this time I’ll do it.

“Jamie, I didn’t mean it. I don’t want you to shut up,” I beg, but he still doesn’t move.

A large tree outside his window has bent the door towards him. I reach for him, hand shaking, to see if he’ll move when I touch him⁠—

A knock on my window makes me jump.

“Shit,” a muffled voice says. “Is the ambulance on its way?”

I look out of the window to find a man staring back at me. He grabs the door handle and rattles it, but it doesn’t budge.

“Hey—hey, kid, you’ll be okay, they’re going to get you out.” He looks past me to Jamie, then moves to the driver’s window.

Turning away, he shouts to someone I can’t see. “There’s two kids in here, and a woman. I—I don’t know, one of the kids is awake, staring at me, looks about five or six—no, the doors aren’t budging. Everything’s crumpled—the boot?” He disappears, and the car wobbles as he tugs on the boot handle.

“No! Nothing’s giving. For fuck’s sake, are they bringing a fire engine? I think they’ll have to cut them out.”

The man turns his attention back to me, speaking more calmly. I’m not sure how long I listen to him talk through the window, but whenever I try to look at Jamie, the man asks me a silly question. I don’t want to talk about school or what my favourite subject is. I want to get this tight belt off and get out of the car.

The sound of sirens interrupts the stranger. “You’re going to be okay,” he shouts as he backs away from the car. The sirens get louder and louder, then there’s a moment’s silence. A loud whirring noise comes from behind me, and the whole car shudders.

I clench my fists and close my eyes. A breeze hits my face as my door is ripped away. The belt goes slack across my chest, and I finally take a deep breath. Arms wrap around me, and I scream in pain as I’m pulled from the car. I’m laid down on something firm, and a woman’s face hovers above me. She has kind green eyes that crinkle at the edges.

“My name’s Naomi. What’s yours?”

Through gasps of pain, I squeak, “N-Noah.”

“Hey, Noah.” She smiles gently. “Can you tell me where it hurts?”