Page 91 of Wicked Elites

After starting the engine, I reversed out of the courtyard and drove toward the academy gates at twenty miles per hour. As soon as the roads became treacherous, I would drop down to ten and be extra careful.

I cleared the driveway and entered the darkened, main road. Trees and hedges reflected in the moonlight, but I put my headlights on full beam to light my way. My heart thrummed a steady beat.

“It’ll be fine,” I told myself. “Just take it slow.”

The road made a few sharp turns—nothing I couldn’t handle at such a slow speed—then I joined Hard Knott Pass, the stretch where Mom and Dad had died. My throat became hoarse, and I choked back a sob. How could fate snatch them both from me on the same night?

My heart thrummed a steady beat as I negotiated the treacherous road at a ridiculously slow pace. My headlights warned me of upcoming turns and gave me the assurance I needed to continue driving.

Moments later, bright lights filled my rearview mirror, making me squint. Some inconsiderate person had left their lights on full beam. I slowed down on the roadside and stopped.

The car behind me stopped about thirty feet away.

“Overtake me,” I shouted. Seriously, what was wrong with some people?

Then the car backed up.

I furrowed my brow. “What are you doing?”

They didn’t need to reverse to overtake me. There was plenty of space both between us and on the other side of the road. I couldn’t even track its progress in the rearview mirror, because its lights were blindingly bright. I slumped in my seat and waited.

Seconds later, the other car crashed into my rear corner, sending my car over the side of the mountain. My heart exploded in my chest, my stomach lurched from the upside-down movement, and a scream tore from my lips.

As I tumbled down the slope, I caught glimpses of a figure in black standing at the edge of the mountain.

Ice filled my veins and spread toward my extremities. I couldn’t tell if the person was young or old, male or female, white or Asian. But as the car rolled me toward my death, I was sure of one thing:

This was no fucking accident.

END OF BOOK ONE

READ BOOK TWO