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It seems worse the faster I go and as I reach the mountain's summit to the plateau, where it levels for a brief time before heading downhill. I decide maybe I should go easier on this thing. Something doesn’t feel right, and as I turn the corner to the parking spot where cars usually sit in daylight, going way too fast, I make the turn to bypass it, yet nothing happens.

The car doesn’t turn, the steering locks, and try as I might to force it, it won’t budge. My stomach leaps into my throat, and I impulsively slam my foot to the brake to try and control the forward motion at too high a speed as I head into the clearing.

My heart stops, my lungs freeze, and my mind goes blank as my foot slides without resistance all the way to the floor like I’m pressing air, and my eyes widen in horror as it hits me.

There are no brakes.

I’m not slowing down. The railings are coming at me at a speed of noughts as panic grips me, and I yank wit