Page 163 of Love Undiscovered
“Remi?”
“I flattened the tires on her car. She won’t be going anywhere.”
My stomach drops like a lead ball. Even though part of me didn’t want Remi to follow, I still hoped she was. I wanted the big climax after my grand gesture.
Helen looks at me. “Aren’t you proud of me, Chancey?”
“Why would I be proud, Helen?”
“Because. I flattened her tires just in case I didn’t kill her. And look? I didn’t kill her after all.”
“Helen, Remi needs medical attention, how is that supposed to happen when she doesn’t have a car.”
Fuck. Why didn’t I leave the rental keys with the girls?
“Mmm, not my problem,” she says. “But you’re still proud, right?”
“I… am… happy that you didn’t kill anyone.”
She exits the freeway at the offramp for the park. The place where we had our first date is actually just on the outskirts of Rainbow Park, a huge two hundred and fifty-acre plot of wild hills, flat land, and hiking trails, interspersed with picnic areas and playgrounds. When I brought her here for our date, we took an old fire road to get to the top of the largest hill, mountain really, and had a picnic. We were on my bike, so trespassing was much easier than if we’d been in a car.
Helen drives past the entrance to the park. The fire is close enough to see flames. I know she’s headed for that same fire road. If she takes it, we’ll be driving straight into the fire. She turns left and heads up the fire road. Her little blue car bouncing and sliding along the uneven dirt surface.
How can I be such a terrible detective? I saw this car, I knew it didn’t belong. Why the fuck didn’t I do something?
I look over at Helen. Beads of sweat break out on my forehead and upper lip. I don’t know how to get us out of this safely. And where are the fire crews? I was counting on this area being flooded by officials.
Why isn’t anybody on this road?
She seems intent on getting us to the top of the small mountain. Her car slides backward almost as much as it climbs. She’s having a hard time controlling the car with one hand still holding the gun. The flames are a few hundred yards away.
“Helen, stop the car. This isn’t funny.”
“No, Chancey, we need our date.”
“Helen, this is dangerous, you are heading right for the flames.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
“Helen, goddamit, stop the fucking car!”
“Everything is going to be perfect, Chancey. We just need to get to the top.”
She tries to accelerate; the wheels spin then catch throwing the car forward and side to side.
I use the motion of the car to try throwing myself against either her or the door, whichever will give me the most traction.
She’s going to kill us both if she doesn’t stop the car. I think if I angle myself just right, I think I can get the door open and throw myself out. I can’t worry about Helen right now.
The car starts to fishtail to the left, giving me enough momentum to get my door open. The heat is immense, the roar of the fire near deafening.
I barely hear Helen scream, “No!”
What I do hear clearly is the shot, seconds before I feel the bullet enter my thigh. Or maybe it just feels like it takes that long to hit me. I curl into a fetal position and roll myself out the door. I hit the ground hard and look up to see where she is. Just in time to watch as she careens straight into the wall of fire at the crest of the hill. It’s like the flames opened its massive mouth giving her access, then closed and immediately swallowed her back up.
I wait for the car to back up and reverse down the hill, not quite believing what I’ve just seen.
But it doesn’t. And the fire is approaching fast. I try to stand, but with my leg shot, and no use of my hands, I can’t. With no other option, I shut my eyes and start to barrel roll down the big hill.
