Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 434

Just when I thought we were dead for sure, our car gave this crunching noise and shuddered to a stop, hanging on by what felt like a thread.

After what felt like an eternity, I peeled my eyes open, my heart racing, and saw Hannah peering down with wide eyes.

She turned back quickly, her voice sharp with urgency. "Don't you move a muscle. Stay still, Allie!"

I froze, but my gaze couldn't help looking downward. Below us was what seemed like an abyss, our car dangling over the edge, as if caught on something, swaying lazily, almost mockingly, in tune with our dumb luck.

"Don't move. We're caught on a branch, and there's still momentum keeping us here. It'll stabilize soon!" Hannah tried to reassure me.

Just as I let out a breath of relief, the car lurched down with a 'crack', and I screamed again, slamming my eyes shut, too terrified to even breathe properly, as if the slightest breath could tip the balance and send us plummeting.

We were at a 45-degree angle, gravity pulling us down. Especially me I was slanted, my whole weight hanging on the seatbelt. If it broke or came loose, it was game over for both of us.

Hannah was in a better spot, her body pressed against the door, looking much more comfortable than I was. But if my seatbelt snapped or came loose, I'd crash into her, and the sudden shift would surely send the car tumbling further down.

The situation was grim, any previous relief evaporating as my pulse hammered in my ears.

Hannah kept up her calm front. "Don't be scared. I'll figure out a way to get us out of this!"

As she spoke, she made a slight move, attempting to unfasten her seatbelt, but the car swayed alarmingly with the slightest motion. The tree branch wasn't as sturdy as we needed it to be.

I quickly said, "Hannah, stop moving, just wait... someone will come. Someone has to come."

I was hoping that passing cars would notice the accident and someone would stop to help.

Hannah nodded, trying to stay composed. "Right! You're right!"

I was amazed at her coolness, especially how she had handled the face-off with the van earlier. That wasn't instinct; it was Hannah's clear-headedness, her perfect timing. If I had been driving, we'd probably dead by now because I was petrified in that moment.

My right hand was still clamped on the car handle, stiff and afraid to move.

Hannah caught my strained look and softly said, "Allie, relax a bit. Keep your position but don't strain so much, you'll get tired. We don't know what's happening above, or if help will come. If you keep that tension, your arms will give out. Just relax... ease up. We're going to be okay. I'll think of something. We can't just wait here to die."

Her voice was firm yet gentle, and slowly, I began to loosen the grip of my aching arms. The car stayed put, and I felt a bit more at ease.

I knew what she meant. We had no idea what was happening above us, especially with the car that had been chasing us. But that loud crash, it must have been them hitting the van. I didn't know the state of the driver, but if he got away, I was sure he could finish us with just a rock thrown from the top.

"That car's got to be toast by now," Hannah said with a light chuckle, almost reading my thoughts. "You okay, Allie?"

"I'm fine!" I lied, feeling nauseous and dizzy from the adrenaline and the wild ride. But I didn't want to worry her.

Just then, we heard noises from above, and my heart leapt into my throat. I wanted to look but was too scared to move, fearing the car would fall.

Hannah heard it too and looked up before gasping, "...It's Larkin!"