The beginning of a life.

Chapter One

Emily

I had that dream again.

The one where I was thirteen again, sitting in the backseat, engrossed in my favorite game, Sniper Assassin, on my tablet while my parents laughed and shared jokes in the front.

“You turn me on!”Esther chortled in excitement, her laughter filling the air as she and my father sang along to Michael Jackson’s "The Way You Make Me Feel"—my mother’s favorite song. She always said it reminded her of him.

Though my dad focused on the road, he still managed to dance in his seat to the beat.

It was a lovely sight to behold, one I would never forget anytime soon. I could smell the familiar scent of lavender and cinnamon that clung to her clothes. Her laughter resounded in the car.

The time was almost ten o'clock, my parents loved late-night drives. The only light on the street was coming from the headlights and billboards. I was supposed to feel scared but being with my parents made me feel loved and protected, nothing in the world would harm me as long as I was with them.

All of a sudden the car stopped moving. My mom and dad exchanged a look before my mum reached out to unbuckle my seatbelt, her hands trembling. “ Hey Emmy,” She whispered, her voice barely audible. “ Me and Daddy are going out on a little vacation and we need you to stay with Uncle Rob and his family for a little while, okay?”

I looked up at her in confusion, “ Why can't I come along?”

“Honey, children are not allowed, it's an adult thing.”

“I'm not a child anymore mom, I'm thirteen,”

My dad stared back at me, smiling at me in amusement.”You are still my baby girl.”

I rolled my eyes, my mum leaned closer to kiss my forehead. “ I promise we will come back soon okay? Uncle Rob is going to take care of you and also you would be with Maya, your best cousin.”

“ don't argue with your Aunt Gianna either!” my dad added

“I'm not a troublemaker, I just want to be around you and Mom, why must I always stay back?”

She kissed my forehead, her eyes glowing in the dark. “Sometimes, honey, we have to do things we don’t understand. You’ll be safe. Just remember that we love you. Always.”

I got out of the car, finding myself in front of my uncle's house a frown spread across my face. My parents were in the car and they waved at me.

Then, suddenly, they were gone. I watched the car pull away, my heart racing as I stood there, alone. It was only a few minutes later that I heard the screeching of tires and the metallic crunch, a sound that still haunted me. I ran toward the scene, screaming for them, only to see the car catch fire.

I sat up in my bed, gasping, soaked in my sweat. My heart was thumping in my chest, and it took me a moment to remember where I was. I was no longer that helpless little girl. I was twenty-one, and today I had to catch a flight to New York City to see my mom and my uncle Robert.

I took a quick peek at the clock, and I froze. I was an hour late.

"Emily! You idiot!" I muttered to myself as I leaped out of my bed dragging my feet to the bathroom, splashing after on my face, then brushing my teeth. I hit the shower and in record time I was done.

I slipped into a black dress and a brown leather jacket, tying my brown hair back in a ponytail. Within minutes, I was ready to head to the airport. Glancing in the mirror, I smiled. "Today’s a good day. I’ll finally see my mom after so many years. I hope Dad’s proud of me up in heaven." I checked out of my hotel room and, luckily, made it just in time to board.

Once the plane took off, I tried to settle down, the roar of the engines and the steady hum around me oddly comforting. I closed my eyes, as my mind began to drift back to the nightmare I had earlier this morning, my parents’ laughter fading in and out in my memory, like whispers carried away by the wind.

No matter how much time has passed by, they were still with me in a way, I could feel their spirit hovering around protecting me from evil incidents.

No matter how much time passed, they were still with me in a way, haunting the quiet spaces of my mind.

When the plane touched down in New York City, I took a deep breath as I looked around the streets of New York City, and instantly it felt nostalgic, it felt like home.

This was it—the beginning of a new chapter. I was going to start a new life just like I promised my father. I pulled out my phone and dialed Uncle Robert’s number.

“Hello, uncle!”

“Emily! You made it safely?” He asked, his tone not very excited.

“Yes uncle, I just landed,” I replied trying to sound cheerful. “ A Lot has changed here, you said the chauffeur would pick me up right?”

“Oh yes, dear!”

“Where is he?” I asked impatiently.

“He is on his way. You will see a white Porsche 911 waiting outside arrivals.”

I smiled to myself in satisfaction. “ Okay, thanks, Uncle Robert.” I glanced around and spotted the Porsche along the side of the road. “ Oh, I think he is here. I'll see you soon!”

I hung up immediately and hurriedly made my way to the car. The driver got out of the car, he was a tall, thin man with dark shades, and he gave me a curt nod as he helped me arrange my luggage in the booth of the car. While I hopped into the back seat.

I had barely settled in when the car sped off down the busy road of New York streets.

As we drove the city blurred by, its high buildings and flashing signs overwhelmed me. I took in a deep breath letting myself relax for the first time all day. I can't wait to finally meet up with my mom and set a new life here

I was excited about becoming the CEO of White Nova Robotics, a smile spreading across my face as I remembered that I had fulfilled my dad’s dream to take over the company and carry on his legacy.

But as we picked up speed, something felt... wrong. The driver’s hands were tight on the wheel, and I could see him struggling to control the car, his knuckles turning white from the tight grip. His jaw was clenched, his clothes soaked with sweat.

“Is everything okay?” I asked in a confused manner.

He didn't say anything, his eyes were fixated on the road.

Suddenly he began to press the brakes but instead of slowing down the car seemed to speed up.

A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead as he tried again, harder this time, but the brakes still wouldn’t respond.

“Driver, what the hell is happening?” I asked my tone rising in fright.

"Brake failure ma'am," he muttered, barely sparing me a glance. "Hang on, I'm going to fix it!"

“You better fix it!” I blurted out feeling fear eating me deep. I gripped the seat belt tight, feeling the car veer wildly into an isolated area, the driver was still trying to control the car but nothing changed.

"Can’t you do something?!" I shouted, clutching the seat in front of me.

"I'm trying ma'am !" he yelled back, his voice strained.

“ well try harder or else we are both going to die,”

The car suddenly careened off the road and ran towards a line of trees along the edge of the street.

Would I die the same way my dad died?

This car was going to hit a tree and there was nothing either of us could do to stop it.

And just like I predicted.

It happened, and the impact was brutal. I hit my head on the window and everything around me spun; it was like the world had come to an end.

My vision turned to a blur, fading to black and I could feel myself passing out. The last thing I felt was the shattered glass around me And the distant sound of footsteps.

Somewhere in the darkness, I felt strong arms pulling me from the car. I tried to open my eyes, to see who was there, but I was too weak. I was slipping in and out of consciousness, my mind foggy and distant.

“Hey ma'am please, stay with me.”

The voice was masculine, yet comforting, i wanted to respond, to thank whoever was there, but my mouth wouldn’t form the words. I felt myself being lifted and carried carefully, and despite the pain, I felt a strange sense of safety.

“Hang on,” My savior murmured.