Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 897

"Sorry, we haven't found anything yet. If there was anyone in that car, they're gone."

Clara's hand dropped to her side. She'd bitten her lip so hard it was almost bleeding.

She'd been standing by the river since sunset, waiting, watching, barely moving as the sky turned from deep blue to pitch black. The search teams kept working, dragging the water with their big nets and floodlights.

Finally, they pulled the car out. It was empty. Not a single clue inside. An expert came over to explain-because of the recent flooding, the current was strong enough to sweep away anything, even bodies.

The river was wide and fast, especially with the tide rising. People always gathered here to watch, but tonight, the crowd was bigger. Everyone wanted to see for themselves.

With the tide so high, there was no way anyone could have survived. If anyone had been in that car, they were gone.

Clara stared at the empty metal shell, her eyes burning, rimmed red.

Someone in the crowd recognized Dylan's name and started whispering. The news had already reported that Dylan was missing-maybe dead. Social media was a mess, everyone speculating, sharing theories.

Ryan finally found her by the water, after pushing through a wall of people.

"Clara, it's already midnight. Let's go home, okay?"

Her mind was buzzing. She barely heard him. All she could do was stare at the river, blank and numb.

Ryan tried again, gentler this time. "They haven't found a body. That's something. There's still hope. Let's get you home."

turned to him, her voice flat but stubborn. "He's

just disappeared. He was

steps faltered as she remembered how terrible he'd looked earlier- pale, exhausted, barely holding it together. Even if the car hadn't gone into the river, even a small accident could have been too much for

of control. She managed a few steps before everything went dark

"Clara!"

her before she hit the ground, panic

the hospital, Clara stirred and pushed herself up, wincing. She looked out the window, voice hoarse. "Take

you scared me to death. Let's

her hand to her forehead, throat raw. “I said I'm fine. Just take me home.

to be a nightmare, she thought. She'd wake up and everything would

breath, just

home,

to her room didn't bother showering, She just collapsed on her bed putting

nightmare. She'd wake up

tired she actually fell asleep

opening her door to make sure she was still breathing, terrified shred do Something drastic But

She couldn't go

"Clara."

the ceiling she'd seen

up a tray of food. He sounded desperate. "You've been

the food-she just grabbed her phone and

news.