The rumbling was loud, powerful. Terrifyingly real. The truck’s brakes squeaked, clashed, but it wasn’t enough.

The truck’s bumper hit the rear area of Carmen’s bike, hurling her away, making her fly in the air, literally.

Carmen didn’t even have time to realize what was happening.

In the cabin, Shane felt it. Her ears heard something, but it was muffled and far away, but her heart told her exactly what had happened. She was still in the bathroom, her shirt still unbuttoned over a white tank top.

In her veins, the blood froze and she stared at her reflected image in the mirror for what seemed like forever. Then, she ran out of the room and the cabin and down the glide path.

She heard a voice. A male voice. It was yelling, panicking. Then, the road turned silent again and Shane’s rapid steps were the only audible sound.

“Carmen!”, she yelled at the top of her lungs, running faster and faster, a breakneck speed, toward the main road, “Carmen!!”.

Panting, she glanced at the truck, sleepy and silent as a predator, and saw Carmen’s bike. It was shriveled up, unrecognizable.

And then, she saw Carmen.

She would lie on her back on the concrete ground, her legs slightly parted. The shorts she was wearing were blood-stained, and her face was sweated and pale. Her eyes were open and, when they saw Shane, Carmen smiled tiredly.

Panting, completely breathless, Shane fell on her knees beside her and took her hand into her owns. It was warm and dry and motionless.

“Carmen… Carmen…”, she repeated, her eyes wide open, her voice cracking in terror, “…Carmen…”.

“Shane…”, Carmen whispered slowly.

“I’ll get help”, Shane looked around frantically.

“You’re here…”, Carmen whispered again, “…Stay…”.

Shane’s body was shaking from head to toe. She shook her head.

“No, I should get help”.

“Don’t go. The driver went”, Carmen said, smiling gently. Her lip was cut and bleeding.

“Please, stay. Please, stay with me”.

Shane felt tears running down her cheeks. It was the first time. It wouldn’t have been the last one.

“I’m scared”, she confessed to Carmen, croakily.

Carmen blinked, frowning slightly. Her smile disappeared.

“I screwed up…”, she said, tiredly, swallowing hard, “…I wanted to show you everything…”.