He said, gloating. “She’s in the shower. She already told me she doesn’t want to waste her breath talking to you.”
I bit back my anger. “Get her to the phone! This concerns her parents‘ lives!”
Chris mocked me. “Alex, are you insane? You’re still trying to trick people with this avalanche lie? Do you even know what Elara and
I are going to do tonight? Her soft, pliant grace, her passion… you couldn’t even imagine-”
M
I felt utterly indifferent to his vulgar taunts. Since Elara wouldn’t take the call, I resigned myself. I checked the time. Only a little
over ten minutes until the avalanche. If I didn’t leave now, I’d probably die here.
As for Elara’s parents…
MELAN
I started recording on my phone, simultaneously shouting through the door. “Mom, Dad, the avalanche is coming in ten minutes! A
Category Five avalanche! The entire town of Willow Creek will be destroyed! If you don’t leave now, you will truly die here…”
As I spoke, an ashtray flew out from inside the house, striking me squarely on the head. Immediately, my head exploded with pain,
and a wave of intense dizziness washed over me. Elara’s mother shrieked from within.
“You monster! Are you cursing us, two old people? My daughter was right, you’re just a lying swindler! Are you hoping we die early
so you can inherit our property? I tell you, dream on=”
I didn’t listen further. I stopped the recording, then forced my battered body into the car. The blow from the ashtray was brutal; I felt
like I could pass out at any moment. I slapped myself hard, forcing myself to stay conscious, then started the car and sped away
from the town.
At 11 PM, a deafening rumble suddenly erupted. The night sky behind me was even obscured by the churning snow.
The avalanche had truly come.
Chapter 2
4
I barely managed to drive five kilometers away. My head throbbed, vision swam, and I simply couldn’t hold on any longer. I passed
out right there in the car.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already the next morning. The avalanche had long since ceased. I thought of Elara’s parents.
After careful consideration, I decided to go back and check on their safety. Snow blanketed everything, and it was a struggle just to
reach Willow Creek Town
